(photo: Chuck Babbit)
Big Wave surfers from around the world are anxiously tapping their feet on the floors of airplanes, rushing to Hawaii’s famed North Shore of Oahu for a once in a century swell forecast. Monday saw wave faces at 30 feet, but this storm could produce faces up to 50-70 feet. The world’s best big wave surfers are all on it, hoping that the Eddie Aikau Memorial surf contest will be called. Waves were big enough Monday, but conditions were too rough for the contest. Today remains a possibility, judging by this report plucked from the NOAA site:
OAHU-
700 PM HST MON DEC 7 2009
HIGH SURF WARNING FOR NORTH
Surf along north facing shores will continue at heights of 30 to 40 feet with occasional sets to 50 feet on the outer reefs through Tuesday.
The Quiksilver in memory of Eddie Aikau is an annual contest meant to honor Eddie Aikau, one of the world’s greatest big wave surfers of all time. Eddie is legend in Hawaii, known for the phrase, “Eddie would go,” because Aikau was such an exceptional lifeguard and waterman that he’d attempt rescues in wave heights that no other would touch and surf bombs that no one else dared. For surfers, the phrase, “Eddie would go” is essentially a measurement for the ultimate apex of what is potentially surfable– if Eddie would go, it means it’s possible. Eddie was lost at sea when his vessel developed a leak on a voyage meant to commemorate the ancient migrations routes used by the Polynesian people. Eddie attempted to paddle his surfboard to Lanai to go for help. He was never seen again. In his honor, the Eddie Aikau Memorial contest lives on.
