Surfers at the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational in Hawaii tackled waves as high as 50 feet on Sunday, showcasing impressive rides and dramatic wipeouts. The competition, held at Waimea Bay, drew over 20,000 spectators to witness the thrilling action, with waves towering above three-story buildings.
“The conditions are insane right now,” said Luke Shepardson, the 2023 champion, between heats. “There’s monsters coming in right now. The last couple sets were treacherous. But yeah, it’s 50, 60 feet on the face…” The contest director, Liam McNamara, confirmed that the waves reached around 50 feet.
‘That was the one we were waiting for’ – The North Shore’s own Landon McNamara leaves Waimea Bay in awe by landing an epic wave late in the second round of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational ▪️ Watch it LIVE on television w/ KHII or online at https://t.co/pXqsZJgQiX……… pic.twitter.com/VMW3q9Wcd9
— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) December 23, 2024
This year marked the 11th time the contest was held, as it can only take place when the waves reach a minimum height of 40 feet. Hawaii’s Landon McNamara, 28, claimed victory with a total score of 135.8 points from three waves, which included a perfect score of 50 on the highest-scoring wave of the event. McNamara won a prize of $50,000 and 350,000 miles with Hawaiian Airlines.
‘That’s going to be tough to beat’ – Haleiwa’s own Jamie O’Brien adds to his North Shore legend by sticking a monster wave at The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay▪️ An EPIC day continues on Oahu’s North Shore ▪️ Watch it LIVE on television w/ KHII or online at… pic.twitter.com/OF9Dk3yvIK
— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON) December 23, 2024
During the trophy presentation, McNamara reflected on the significance of his win, saying it was a childhood dream come true. “I’ve been working on this since, you know, a little kid on the beach here watching these events go down,” he said, visibly emotional. “I don’t know what to feel right now. I already cried 10 times. That’s why there’s no tears right now.”
McNamara also shared that he felt as though he was chosen to win by Eddie Aikau, a legendary big-wave surfer and lifeguard who passed away in 1978 while attempting to rescue others. Aikau’s legacy is deeply tied to the event, as he was known for his bravery in the surf.
The competition, sponsored by Rip Curl, attracted some of the world’s top surfers, but Hawaiians dominated the leaderboard, with eight of the top nine finishers hailing from the Aloha State.