Last week, the surf world was giddy with anxious anticipation.
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was tentatively called on for Friday, February 17th as a large swell made its way towards Hawaii. But, as the details surrounding the swell became clearer, the event was called off. Too messy. Bad timing. Lots of wind.
A collective sigh.
Friday was sketchy on the North Shore. Lifeguards put up caution tape at many beaches to discourage surfers and swimmers from going out. And although wild and wooly, Waimea Bay still had moments. Thus, some surfers still charged, despite no Eddie.
“Epic afternoon at Waimea,” noted Nathan Florence about the session. “Swell finally filled in, it was big and unruly, just me my brothers and a few friends sharing some big drops!”
“A wild afternoon at the Bay,” wrote Grant “Twiggy” Baker. “Big, windy and just a few die hards out.”
It was definitely big, potentially even Eddie sized. But due to the wind, and the timing in which the swell peaked, it wasn’t the day that the surfers or contest organizers wanted. And so, they’ll have to wait for another opportunity. The Bay calls the day.
Previously, before the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was called off for the Friday, February 17th swell, contest director Liam McNamara said:
“It’s a matter of the timing of arrival, and also the wind. There’s some questions with the wind, and questions of whether it will peak overnight. We need eight hours of competition, from 8am to 4pm. We need 50-foot faces. It’s a lot to ask.”
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