We want to send a Million Mahalos to Faith Wenzl who does so much behind the scenes. 

At the end of the EPIC Day there were still 15-25′ sets (and 30′ waves did steam roll the line-up thru the episode peak)_ 430pm Sunday Waimea buoy still pumping 18′ at 18-20sec. SNN

The Surf World’s most prestigious event ‘ THE EDDIE’ had a glorious day. it was worth the wait. 

Mark Healy “best big day of Waimea I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Billy Kemper, “Best day in surfing history.”

 Dave Wassel “This is an epic Eddie Aikau Invitational. It is as good as it gets.”

An estimated 50,000 spectators have crowded into Waimea throughout the day!

For nearly 40 years the contest has now run 10 times.

The Top 3 Waves were added up over the 2 heats for the 40 competitors.

WINNING for the WINTER OF 2022/23 Contest Date: 22 JAN 2023:

1st place is Lifeguard Luke Shepardson! 

Front page image: JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM (more from JammAquino.com HERE)

2nd place is 2016 Winner John John Florence

3rd place is Mark Healey

4th place is Billy Kemper

5th place is Kai Lenny 

6th place is Zeke Lau who also won ‘Wave of the Day’

7th place is Landon McNamara 

8th place is Keli’i Mamala

HUGE CONGRATS to Women made history today! They took on the waves for the first time competing in XXL waves alongside men.

Out of the 40 surfers set to compete, six were women.

“We’re watching history in the making right now,” said surfer and “The Eddie” participant Keala Kennelly.

“To actually be in here on this day and put on a jersey and paddle out … and now it’s not just me, I’ll be there with five of my other sisters, you’re watching history in the making.”

Stay tuned for the full story here on SNN. Mahalo

Waves need to be ‘at least’ 20 feet -all day- for the Eddie to be called on.

• winter of 1985/86 -Sunset- Denton Miyamura
• winter of 1986/87 – Waimea Contest Date: 21 DEC 1986 – Clyde Aikau (at age 30)
• winter of 1989/90 – Contest Date: LATE JAN 1990 – Keone Downing (at age 36)
• winter of 1998/99 – Contest Date: 1 JAN 1999 – Noah Johnson (at age 25)
• winter of 2000/01 – Contest Date: 12 JAN 2001 – Ross Clarke-Jones (at age 34)
• winter of 2001/02 – Contest Date: 8 JAN 2002 – Kelly Slater (at age 29)
• winter of 2004/05 – Contest Date: 15 DEC 2004 – Bruce Irons (at age 25)
• winter of 2009/10 – Contest Date: 8 DEC 2009 – Greg Long (at age 25)
• winter of 2015/16 – Contest Date: 25 FEB 2016 – John John Florence (at age 23)
• WINTER OF 2022/23 Contest Date: 22 JAN 2023: Lifeguard Luke Shepardson 

• Eddie Would Go™

  The biggest surfing event in the world returns for the 2022-23 Season through March 23rd.

  Share in the love of the legacy of Eddie Aikau…

  If you want to learn more about the legend…get your copy of the best-selling book and 20-year anniversary of “Eddie Would Go” by Stuart Coleman.

  We will likely break the record of our last event which saw over 1.2 million streaming views from fans from over 200 countries around the world…

  

  ABOVE John John Florence won the last Eddie Feb 25th, 2016, in BIG Waimea Bay. Photo: Tom Servais

  Just as in year’s past, the contest will run if surf heights consistently reach 20-feet between December 14, 2022 through March 23, 2023.

  The Eddie invites surfers, alternates, and legends to showcase their high-performance surfing at Waimea Bay.

  The Eddie invites surfers, alternates, and legends to showcase their high-performance surfing at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu.

  Front page photo Opening Ceremony: Pete Claproth 

  Our History:

  The Eddie is the premier Event in the sport of Surfing – The Super Bowl of Surfing.

  The Eddie Big Wave Invitational celebrates the current lineage of big wave surfers, as well as the ones that came before. The legend of Eddie Aikau is an important part of Hawaiian Culture. Eddie Aikau was a championship athlete, a waterman, and a family man who truly cared for others.

  Eddie was not just the 1st lifeguard at Waimea Bay; he was the 1st lifeguard for the entire North Shore and saved over 500 people throughout his career.

  Eddie would brave the waves that often reached 30 feet or more, when no one else would go out.

  It’s important to keep his legacy alive and inspire the next generation to live like Eddie did.

  The 34th annual Eddie Big Wave Invitational is aiming to bring focus onto Hawaiian Culture, with a goal to share the stories and legacy of Hawaii with the world.

  With the Waimea Valley extending behind Waimea Bay, this is an area rich with historic Hawaiian Cultural significance.

  2022-2023 INVITEES

  Aaron Gold

  Andrea Moller

  Billy Kemper

  Eli Olson

  Emily Erickson

  Ezekiel Lau

  Grant Baker

  Greg Long

  Ian Walsh

  Jake Maki

  Jamie O’Brien

  Jamie Mitchell

  John John Florence

  Josh Moniz

  Justine Dupont

  Kai Lenny

  Keala Kennelly

  Keali’i Mamala

  Kelly Slater

  Koa Rothman

  Kohl Christensen

  Landon McNamara

  Lucas Chianca

  Luke Shepardson

  Makani Adric

  Makuakai Rothman

  Mark Healey

  Mason Ho

  Michael Ho

  Nathan Florence

  Nathan Fletcher

  Nic von Rupp

  Paige Alms

  Peter Mel

  Ramon Navarro

  Ross Clarke-Jones

  Shane Dorian

  Taio Shipman

  Tikanui Smith

  Tyler Larronde

  MEN ALTERNATES

  Mikey O’Shaughnessy

  Kahea Hart

  Chris Owens

  Dave Wassel

  Ben Wilkinson

  Joey Cadiz (Aloha)

  Reef McIntosh

  Mike Pietsch

  Torrey Meister

  Ryan Seelbach

  Chris Bertish

  Jamie Sterling

  WOMEN ALTERNATES

  Bianca Valenti

  Laura Enever

  Raquel Heckert

  Silvia Nabuco

  Polly Ralda

  Isabelle Leonhardt