UPDATE: Get the Complete Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational 2009 Results.
We showed up this morning at about 6:30 a.m., the north shore of Oahu was buzzing and the Waimea Bay was filled. People (our friends included) had camped out overnight in their cars, on couches, on floors, and anywhere that was safe enough to catch some shut eye. A couple guys and I decided to start the morning with coffee and an hour drive up the windward side of Oahu to avoid the rush.
When we got to the bay, the surf looked questionable Eddie size and there was a little disappointment in the air. Local surfers were still charging and by sun up the lineup was filled with 30 or so guys. Slowly, as the sun rose, the waves began to fill in and the size built. By 7:30, Downing made the call and it was on. The Eddie Aikau was a go for 2009, and boy, the bay would not dissapoint.
Immediately, Andy Irons and Kala Alexander got into waves. Long lulls would followed, then huge sets. The pattern continued. The crowd around the bay grew and by 9:00 a.m. shortly into the second heat, the traffic jam started. The sun was bright and the second heat featured Clyde Aikau and Kelly Slater. A 98 from slater stepped up the pressure on the others.
Sunny Garcia in the next, and defending champ Bruce Irons. The competition grew, the waves got bigger and the competitors didn’t back down. When the day was done, multiple surfers pulled off the shorebreak cover-up that Bruce Irons scored a perfect 100 in 2004 with, including, brother Andy Irons, Jamie O’Brien, and Kelly Slater himself, multiple times.
In the end, it was Greg Long’s perfect 100 that catapulted him 10 points ahead of Kelly Slater for the win. The top five finishers were. More results will follow.
1. Greg Long
2. Kelly Slater
3. Sunny Garcia
4. Bruce Irons
5. Ramon Navarro
Tags: Eddie, Eddie Aikau Big Wave Competition, North Shore, Oahu, Surf Contest, Waimea Bay
[...] Results Greg Long Wins the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational 2009 … [...]