It just goes to show that age is relative, here 66 year old brother of legendary Eddie Aikau takes off on a 35 foot wave in his heat. Today’s surf competition on the north shore at Waimea is definitely the Superbowl of Hawaiian sports as thousands of people lined the beaches to watch some of the most legendary surfers take on the largest waves of the year, sets we’re 40 and 50 foot.
On Thursday, March 1st, 2018, Clyde Aikau won the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing competition. This was his first time winning the event since 1987, and at age 57, Aikau is now the oldest winner in the history of the competition. The conditions on Waimea Bay were perfect for big wave surfing, with waves reaching heights of 30 feet. Here’s a look at how the competition unfolded.
Aikau Paddles Out to Join the Competition
As soon as the competition started, Clyde Aikau was out on his surfboard and paddling towards the huge waves. He joined the other surfers who were already out there catching some impressive rides. When asked about his thoughts on the competition, Aikau said: “It’s just nice to be able to compete again…It feels good.”
Action from the Competition
The waves were huge and the action was non-stop during Thursday’s competition. Many of the surfers took some impressive wipeouts, but Aikau managed to stay on his board and catch some massive waves. After all of the scores were tallied, it was announced that Aikau had won first place with a total score of 27.33 out of a possible 30 points.
Is Another Day of Competition Possible?
The conditions on Waimea Bay are being monitored closely in case another day of competition is possible. The waves have to reach a certain height—20 feet or higher—in order for the event to continue. Right now, it looks like the waves will be large enough for another day of surfing, but only time will tell for sure.
Clyde Aikau is back on top after winning the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surfing competition. This is his first victory in the event since 1987, and at 57 years old, he is now the oldest winner in history. Stay tuned to see if another day of competition is possible as conditions on Waimea Bay are being monitored closely.
