30-Foot Waves Hit Hawaii

Colossal waves pounding on Oahu’s famous North Shore allowed surfers to exclaim “cowabunga” for the first time in five years on Tuesday with rarely seen extreme conditions. The one-day surfing competition, called “The Eddie,” is only held when waves top 20 feet on Waimea Bay. With Tuesday’s 30-foot waves, spectators watched on as the world’s best surfers took to the sea for only the eighth time since the contest’s inception in 1984. Professional surfers like Kelly Slater made up many of the 28 competing in “The Eddie,” which is named for a legendary Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard, Eddie Aikau, who died at age 31 in 1978 on a canoe voyage. His brother and winner of the competition in 1987 vied for the title again at age 60, but Greg Long took home the top honor and $55,000. “I’m humbled to be even in this event,” Long said of competing against those whom he has plastered on his bedroom wall.