The 2016 Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational is widely understood to be the greatest surfing event to date. 1.2 million surf enthusiasts from over 200 countries tuned in, including Australia, the US, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and even Burkina Faso. Over 1000 outlets other than the WSL covered the event, and clips on Facebook have been viewed more than 13 million times. Not bad for a surfing event.
On the day of competition, faces up to 60 feet were seen roaring through the Bay. Clyde Aikau, event competitor and brother of Eddie Aikau, said it’s the best Waimea Bay he’s seen in over 40 years. Somewhere around 25,000 inundated the North Shore, eager to witness history in the making.
“One of the things that made The Eddie so special,” said Jed Pearson, the World Surf League’s EVP for Content & Programming, “was that we were able to share the history of the event and the story of Eddie’s legend and his relevance to Hawaiian culture to surf fans around the world.”
If there was one person who can weigh in on the feeling down at the Bay on that fateful day, it’s former big-wave world champion Makua Rothman. Here Makua describes the intense atmosphere down at, what he calls, “the greatest surfing event of of all-time.” It’s safe to say Eddie Aikau would’ve been proud.
