It’s going to take a couple days to recover from the spectacle, nay, carnage, that was the 2015/16 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Invitational. But for now, let’s have a look at some of the highlights from one of the greatest big-wave events in surfing history.
The wave
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but as good as Jaws, Mavs and maybe even Nazare might be, throw a handful of the world’s best out at maxed out Waimea Bay and you’ve got a spectacle on your hands. It looked thick, heavy and dangerous but above all it looked close. Occasional the Bay closed out, with 45-55 foot sets holding steady for much of the day. Today taught us that Waimea is more than relevant – what a beast of a wave.
The broadcast
Wow, could the WSL find another spot to jam a camera and microphone? The joint was wired and the footage zipped seamlessly from car crash to car crash and thinking back on it, I can’t even recall any of the commentary. Just perfect. The beefed up commentary team served plenty of highlights. Freddy Patacchia injected enthusiasm, Hawaiian waterman Dave Kalama was pure class and Chris Cote … well … Chris made Strider look good.
The carnage
Jeez, where do you even start with this one? Jet skis washed up on the beach, spectators at risk of being washed away? Between Twiggy’s wipeout and Koa Rothman’s death defying drops there was a swathe of bloopers. For my mind, Jamie O’Brien vaporising after being engulfed by cubic tonne of whitewater took the title until Kala and Makua got all tangled up in blue atop a cresting bomb. Think that’ll get a bit awkward back at the ranch?
Clyde Aikau
Goddam that was a sight to see. The look in his eyes prior to his first round heat was just priceless. The look of sheer determination and pride. At 66-years old he went out to the Bay with his trusty single fin and commanded respect.
The Hawaiian water patrol
They are in a complete league of their own. Watching them scoop up competitors from the soup and outrun 60-foot waves was a sight to behold. Few workplaces serve us hazards like Waimea. Tip your hat to the very skilled (and brave) waterman that ensured that the competitors were out of harms way.
Big Benny Wilko
The Australian who now calls Hawaii home received the call up after Noah Johnson went down down hard in round 1. The Narrabeen transplant drops the tools in his furniture-making shop, dusts off the 10’0 and gets the job done. Think he was stoked? “This is a dream of mine since I was 10. Eddie set such a good example with the lifegaurds here. Coming from Australia and living in Hawaii I can’t believe it.”
Jamie Mitchell
He surfed his first Eddie – fulfilling a childhood dream and finished in a fourth position with his top four waves, besting none other than Kelly Slater. After performances in waves like Jaws, Mavericks, Belharra and Cow Bombie he can now add his first hit out at Waimea to his impressive big-wave resume and be rest assured there are more to come.
Ross Clarke-Jones
But, and it’s not just because he’s Australian, but come on, who wasn’t feeling Ross Clarke-Jones today? 49 and according to the man himself, getting “thicker and wider as I age, just like my boards!” Ross was introduced to the surfing world at large after his balls out debut at The Bay 30 years ago. This year, as he has every year since then, he’s set up shop on The Rock for the entire winter, but unlike every other year, he’s flagged trips to Jaws and Nazare and just zeroed in on Waimea and my lord did it show. It was hard not to feel for the guy as JJ racked up the points in his second round heat, but the big guy can rest easy knowing he did good.
John John Florence
Yeah, he won. The Hawaiian became the youngest competitor to ever win the Eddie ironically in just his first appearance at the prestigious big-wave event. It neck and neck between Ross Clarke-Jones and John John before the Hawaiian hit top gear in round two. But in trademark Houdini fashion he pulled a rabbit out of the hat sealed victory after nabbing a pair of bombs. “Today means everything,” said Florence through a smile the size of a watermelon after win. “It’s the biggest accomplishment of my life.”
Brock Little
It was improbable to think he didn’t have a hand in today’s sequence of events. From the bombing swell, the carnage and the brass balled effort from every competitor who donned the inflatable jersey. The man made no bones about loving it large out at The Bay and his memory pretty much brought Kelly to tears in his wonderful post barrel, post heat interview.
“I just wanted to get a barrel for Brock,” said Kelly fighting back tears after his heat. “I miss Brock so much. He was such an influence on my life and a good friend. He was the kind of guy that challenged you to be your best and cut the bullshit out. There’s no one else like Brock.”
