What occurred on January 22, 2023, at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu is nothing short of historical. We’re simply doing our best to document Hawaiian Surf History here.
Hands down, the most epic surf event in recent memory and other surf photographers, some of whom have been filming these events for a long time, agreed and said similar things. What a coincidence that exactly one year after 2022’s (Jan 22, 2022) biggest and most epic Waimea Bay Surf day, we have another epic day, just bigger, sunnier, more exciting, and better in every way!
Eddie Aikau was a Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. As the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu, he saved over 500 people and became famous for surfing the big Hawaiian surf, winning several awards. In 1978, He sacrificed his life trying to help the crew aboard the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa. In Eddie Aikau’s honor, “The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational” Waimea Bay Big Wave Surf Contest was held on Jan 22, 2023 for the first time since February 25, 2016.
Also, reported by Derek Rielly from Beach Grit about Luke Shepardson winning the contest:
HONOLULU COUNTY LIFEGUARD LUKE SHEPARDSON WHO WON WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS BIG-WAVE CONTEST ON “BEST DAY IN SURFING HISTORY” CUTS SHORT INTERVIEWS TO RETURN TO WORK, “I GOTTA GET BACK TO THE TOWER TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS OKAY!”
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– Mahalo
If you know who an Unidentified surfer is, pls help us with mention in the comments. Mahalo
Dawn Patrol Surfers (Pre-contest free surf) (7am-8am)
02:09 Kai Lenny (Maui, HI)
02:16 orange & black (Unidentified)
02:42 red (Unidentified)
02:52 Kai Lenny (Maui, HI) & (Unidentified)
03:13 Bodyboarder? (Unidentified)
2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Surf Contest (8am-4pm)
03:53 Shane Dorian (Kailua-Kona, HI)
04:20 Grant Twiggy Baker (blue) & Michael Ho (orange)
04:31 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
04:45 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
05:02 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
05:29 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
05:55 Michael Ho (Oahu, HI)
05:57 Paige Alms (Maui, HI)
06:01 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
06:55 Landon McNamara (Oahu, HI)
07:19 John John Florence (Oahu, HI)
07:46 Kai Lenny (red) & Aaron Gold (blue)
08:43 John John Florence (yellow) & Jake Maki (orange)
09:12 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
09:23 Aaron Gold (Hilo, HI)
09:42 Chris Owens (Oahu, HI)
10:02 Mason Ho (Oahu, HI) & Lucas Chianca (Brazil)
10:30 Ezekiel Lau (red) & Taio Shipman (orange)
10:50 Ezekiel Lau (Oahu, HI)
10:55 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
11:02 Keali’i Mamala (Oahu, HI)
11:22 Mark Healey (Oahu, HI)
11:39 Ezekiel Lau (Oahu, HI)
11:55 Nic Von Rupp (white) & Ezekiel Lau (red)
12:11 Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Brazil)
12:22 Keali’i Mamala (Oahu, HI)
12:35 Shane Dorian (purple) & Peter Mel (black)
12:38 Lucas Chumbo Chianca (Brazil)
12:45 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
12:50 Billy Kemper (Oahu, HI)
12:56 Makani Adric (Oahu, HI)
13:01 Jamie Mitchell (Australia)
13:09 Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)
13:18 Tikanui Smith (white) & Grant Twiggy Baker (orange)
13:27 Kohl Christensen (Oahu, HI)
14:07 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
14:18 Tyler Larronde (Maui, HI)
15:12 Michael Ho (orange) & Ross Clark-Jones (yellow)
15:30 Luke Shepardson (Oahu, HI)
15:44 Mikey Red (Oahu, HI)
Update: To watch our video on the 2024 Eddie Aikau
To watch this video in the highest 4K HDR Resolution possible:
To watch similar videos check out our North Shore Surf Video Playlist:
To watch a our follow up edit to this video with some of the unused footage and extended scenes of this event click here: “The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Revisited 4K”
#hawaii #surfing #4k #waimeabay #eddieaikau #eddieaikau2023 #dji #mavic3 #bigwaves
It is very brave from the guys
These are difficut and big waves
A wave of 2 meters hurts like a boxing match
Morrocan surfer here
But a the and it is such a delight and thrill,
The best way for me to connect with
The ocean
Everybody should trie it
loved watching this. was so grounding.
felt at home❤
I could surf study it … even i would make the line up ….
We need the lifeguard red pad to have wrist loops to help the person to shore
Understatement of the year, "that drummer's really good".
Wait until he finds out it's just 3 guys.
I think I saw one chicky….. but not surfing… hahaha mmmmmm
I just have a hard time to understand how you can survive being caught in a 30 feet+ wave. That is some astonomical pressure on the body
Beautiful song ❤ good video
That’s incredible when you fall off of a wave.
Silny upał
Weak.
It's been a while since I've seen a perfectly edited YT vid. this is how it's done
Suck musik
Ahhh The Trusty Seas
Lose the jet skis.
surf, or not
I wonder how many ppl die every year at this event? That’s insane.
Demmmmmaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiisssssssssss!!!!!. Super!!!.
100% garbage waves
I tried riding 12-ft. waves at San Onofre. Exhilarating but scary. Can't imagine dropping in on these monsters.
Makes me want to infiltrate an organised crime gang and bond with them so much that I struggle to bring them down.
90% wipeout half of which potentially are fatal great spot
The Ocean Tribe doing ocean things.
anyone know a similar video with just the surfing, without the annoying dramatic soundtrack ?
I used to love that beach when lived there.
Lets go!
THERE'S AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE IN THE WORST SPOTS THINKING,…FAKA, I GUTTA MAKE DODO!
I lived in Mililani as a kid in late 70s while my dad was stationed at Hickam. I remember him taking me there to watch surfers and being so amazed at how fearless they were. Thanks for the video and walk down memory lane.
oh hell no, what was that 40 ft wave. These surfers are crazy.
wow awesome …but am sticking to cycling thanks
You can dive from the rocks during high tide.
I was caught in a rip current there in 1974. Nearly drowned.
Remarkable.
I body surfed Waimea once in 1980, once. I fell into a wave 20 feet high right off the beach. I rode a tube for 15-20 seconds. I pounded me into the sand and I was held under 3 feet of foam until I finally came up for air only to be smashed again by the second wave a spewed up onto the beach. Wasn’t hurt, gained a respect for the surf. Two locals passed by and said “ good ride brah but you better quit before you get killed”. They were right, I did. What a memorable experience!
California is so cool
They are all super sexy and cool to that of somebody
how do you not die when these waves crash on you..
Woow
This Is Heaven
I remember being a kid and watching the mountains rolling in during 1996 winter.
This is A.I. for sure