Ride the Wild Slick

Breaking wave at Orange Beach, Alabama, about 90 miles from the BP oil fountain and now a universe away from Surfers' Paradise.


Oil Slick Orange, the complementary color of Ultramarine Blue.

Sad times.

Banyans, Last Week

1-1/2 Minute long surfing highlights. Footage shot by EfrankE on January 6 & 7, Wednesday and Thursday, of last week.

Second to the last rider is Kona-grown professional surfer, Shane Dorian.

The Eddie Now Pau

Hawai'i's most anticipated elite surfing contest today started and concluded exactly 25 years to the day from the first Eddie Aikau memorial event. Here's a brief summary of the one day Waimea Bay competition:

Winner: Greg Long (San Clemente); Winner's Prize: $55,000 (Scored one of his rides with a perfect 100 points)

Second: Kelly Slater (Florida) $10,000

Third: Sunny Garcia (Hawai'i) $3,000

Fourth: Bruce Irons (Kaua'i) $3,000

Fifth: Ramon Navarro (Chile) $2,000 - Navarro also won the Monster Drop Award for the most bodacious successful take off, scoring a perfect 100 points on the ride and winning a prize of $10,000

Miscellaneous Stats: Waves of up to 50 feet were reported. An estimated crowd of 50,000 spectators watched while packed shoulder to shoulder on the beach and areas beyond. This year's contest ran during a 48 hour period of the most sustained massive surf in the last 40 years.

To watch highlights and for the full report go here

Also the London Daily Mail has some great photos here

Finally, click on comments option at the bottom of the previous post. Gym buddy, Rick, has a personal history overlapping with Eddie Aikau's.

The Eddie is ON!

On the 25th anniversary year of the first Eddie Aikau Memorial surfing contest, and for only the 8th time, the event is on today at Waimea Bay. The surf is up, WAY UP, 25'-30', and competition is expected to continue into tomorrow. Quiksilver has it on live webcam at http://live.quiksilver.com/2009/bigwave/live.php?btn_live=_over