Eddie Went

On Thursday, February 25 2016, the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave event occurred for the first time in 7 years. The prestigious event is always held at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of O'ahu and has to meet certain requirements to be run. This event is always special but what made it certain even more significant this year was the passing of Brock Little. Brock played an influential role in surfing but especially in big wave surfing. He recently passed away at the age of 55. Everyone was calling this year's swell the "Brock Swell" and it added even more "mana" to an already highly spiritual event. Over all it was an awesome day. The weather was beautiful and I had a prime location to shoot and enjoy as history unfolded. A big mahalo to the Owen Ohana for your aloha. All photos were taken with a Canon 7d mii and a Canon 400mm f2.8.

The Arena ft. John Florence.

John John Florence making the drop, he would eventually go on to win the event with a total score of 301.

Waimea shorebreak was firing on all cylinders.

Mark Healy on a bomb.

Jamie O'brien heading out...

.... and heading down while Kelly Slater gets stuck on the top.

What it takes to run an Eddie, Big waves.

Koa Rothman, blue jersey, big blue wave.

Everyone was frothing on the event, even the shorebreak.

No takers?

Ross Clarke-Jones and Jaime Mitchell, sharing is caring.

Shane Dorian navigating.

The Hawaii Water Patrol were also putting on a show outrunning waves.

Clyde Aikau, younger brother of Eddie Aikau, was the oldest competitor of the event at 66.....

.......and he was CHARGING.

There was so much energy, aloha, and mana throughout the day.

Hands up Kohl Christenson.

Nathan Fletcher rocky start but made the drop.

All the "sick" people from O'ahu and more.

Would not want to be caught on the inside of that.

Hang time.

The deep and the deepest.

8 hours of non stop action, a day to remember.

Video to come soon!