'The Eddie': Hawaii Big-Wave Surfing (PHOTOS)

Surfers in Hawaii gathered on Oahu's North Shore this week for "The Eddie," a competition in Waimea Bay that occurs only when waves top 20 feet. It is the first such event in five years.

Waves reached a jaw-dropping 30 feet high, and Greg Long edged Kelly Slater to capture the $55,000 top prize. Below, check out photos of the stunning waves.

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Comments

[brahdog]

03:22 AM on 12/21/2009

meh...i zhoke!

[TMS]

10:20 AM on 12/12/2009

Wasn't even that big, by Hawai'ian standards. Half of the energy from that swell missed us by a few degrees to the Northeast. First couple of days it was a little junky abd crumbly too, with onshore winds. Cleaned up on the 3rd day. Was fun over here on Maui.

[lmpub]

09:50 PM on 12/10/2009

Wow! Those are some tasty waves!

[miamivalleyjournal]

08:27 PM on 12/09/2009

WhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo and AloooooooooooooooooooooooooooHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa:)

[ramper]

05:29 PM on 12/09/2009

I'd go, but I can't find my snorkel.

[WaimeaWidow]

04:43 PM on 12/09/2009

Eddie would go!!!

[Kristen777]

04:39 PM on 12/09/2009

I'm so jealous. That's my idea of absolute freedom!

[Donald]

02:42 PM on 12/09/2009

FYI, the name of the event in question is "The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau", in honor of a well-known Oahu lifeguard and popular big-wave surfer, who sadly lost his own life 30 years ago in an heroic effort to save others. Please don't reference an informal nickname, i.e., "The Eddie" without putting it in its proper context. It's disrespectful.

[sleek]

02:57 PM on 12/10/2009

Howzit.
Lighten up brah, Eddie don't mind.

[ontariogirl]

02:34 PM on 12/09/2009

Unbelievable!!!

[Richard Lawrence James]

02:24 PM on 12/09/2009

- Thanks for the awesome, narly, energy!!!

[ie]

02:13 PM on 12/09/2009

Awesome!

Does global warming make waves bigger?

[tuberider]

01:54 PM on 12/09/2009

If 9 surfers can get along on a 25 ft. Waimea bomb, why can't we?

[Gover]

03:55 PM on 12/09/2009

Please surfers getting along?

Surf in the wrong part of Hawaii and you'll get your a** kicked by the local surf-gangs. It's all a bunch of food-chain nonsense for who has the "right" to surf this or that spot.

If you don't dedicate your life to surfing you're not welcome. If you're not a local or a big name star you're not welcome.

Ask Da Hui about getting along.

[uhuhuh]

01:22 PM on 12/09/2009

Great!

[Garioch]

01:16 PM on 12/09/2009

Insane but a really good insane.

[mjeffn]

01:12 PM on 12/09/2009

goofy-foot rocks