The Eddie 2016 At Epic Waimea Bay The Biggest The Greatest

Please support your local surf photographers.
The QUIKSILVER IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU INVITATIONAL 2016 was the "greatest one-day Big Wave event in history" - WSL. The Eddie delivered epic conditions - Honolulu media said 60ft faces. Big sets, big drops, big wipeouts and some amazing recoveries. What an Incredible experience for all 25,000 of us filling that great amphitheater known as Waimea Bay. "Super Bowl Of Surfing" indeed. Congratulations John John Florence 13:20 and retiring Clyde Aikau 4:55 and all the invitees on memorable performances on a very memorable day 2/25/16.
(1)John John Florence 4:51,5:10,5:15,12:30,13:20 (2)Ross Clarke-Jones 1:11,1:50,10:12 (3)Shane Dorian 1:00,8:12,9:16 (4)Jamie Mitchell 1:50,10:36,11:18 (5)Kelly Slater 2:54,3:32,4:21,11:40 (6)Makuakai Rothman 6:44,7:24,8:06,13:50,15:09 (7)Dave Wassel 10:01,10:45 (8)Mason Ho 7:07,12:31,12:39,13:38 (9)Jamie O’Brien 8:12,9:07,11:18 (10)Aaron Gold 9:00,9:42 (11)Mark Healey 5:03,5:20,13:14, 13:33 (12)Takayuki Wakita 5:16,5:25,5:34,15:01, (13)Koa Rothman 6:55,7:24 (14)Ian Walsh (15)Reef McIntosh 3:26,8:30,8:36 (16)Kohl Christensen 1:11 (16)Grant Baker 2:54,3:48 (18)Bruce Irons 7:15,14:15 (19)Ramon Navarro (20)Danilo Couto 7:49 (21)Clyde Aikau 4:55,5:25 (22)Nathan Fletcher 4:59,13:44 (23)Sunny Garcia (24)Kala Alexander 7:24,13:38 (24)Peter Mel 13:50 (26)Greg Long 1:11,8:30,8:35 (27)Tom Carroll 2:30,8:55,9:50 (28)Ben Wilkinson 13:44,13:50 (29)Noah Johnson.
Photography © Kevin W. Smith
www.skystudioha...
Music © Purple Planet.
Music: "Meat Grinder" www.purple-plan...

[@skystudiohawaii]

04:01, 06:42, 07:08, 10:08, 11:40, 12:38

[@brettcomstock1156]

Watching this as I mentally get jacked up for this morning! THE EDDIE IS ON!!! I so very much wish I could be there today - in person. This is an extremely special event. I can hardly wait! This 2023 version may be monumental. Hanna Pa ‘a!!

[@LurgsHowToGuides]

Can't believe they are paddling to catch those beasts, absolutely incredible. Some serious wipeouts in there. And I never realised Kelly Slater was a big wave rider as well, that guy is unreal. He is a true legend and still ripping it up even at his age, just insane. And Clyde Aikau WOW, what an inspiration. I'm 47 so if I can surf at his age I'll be very very happy, but it won't be beasts like this.

[@TechnikMeister2]

In 1978 we were on our honeymoon to Hawaii. You see all those people standing at the top of the beach in the video? There's the road behind them and then there is a lagoon. See the people standing along the side of the road to the left? Well picture this. We were actually at the tip of the headland further along to the left. Its about 60' above the water. It started out like in this video but then this monster arrived. Its crest was breaking above where we were standing. It rose up into almost a verticle wall and wrapped around the headland, broke and took out all the people on the beach and along the road, and white water about 20' thick thundered over the lagoon taking all the people standing there plus a few cars. Then it hit the far rock wall and the backwash was almost as big. There were people all in the water and then I guess maybe 50 people were sucked back down the beach with the backwash and undertow. Now I was only 27 at the time. About 15 minutes later this combi comes up the road and all these older narly guys got out, got these 12' boards off the roof, climbed down the rocks and paddled out. We all just stood there getting a masterclass of big wave riding...no, foot straps, wetsuits, bouyancy vests, jetski rescue...nothing. It was the biggest beach break I have seen in all my life.

[@ricochetrabbit4618]

Stephen in OZ ... I know the jet skis add a new level of safety but I think they take away from the respect the Surfers used to command in the old days. Maybe only half those people would go out in such conditions without jet skis present.

[@Mezase]

@@ricochetrabbit4618 You bet, those monster waves are no joke

[@A-FrameWedge]

Chickenwise There would definitely be a much smaller group in the water at Jaws and Mavericks and Nazare any other big wave spots, or at least a smaller group of guys actually taking off

[@jdub6153]

@@ricochetrabbit4618 Word....

[@chadsmith8315]

@@ricochetrabbit4618 Eddie would go

[@0dbm]

Best camera angle yet Thanks

[@fritshits65]

having lived on Maui from `89 untill `93....( this is before pe`ahi was discovered ) we all heard about this Great Contest on Oahu..Thé Eddie Invitational...in Honour of one of the truly greatests ever....Eddie Aikau! .the best EVER surf contest......now 23 years on...I sat here in Holland ( my homecountry ) this past february.....watching on-line this unreal contest......and this is LIVE too! ( back then there was NO internet guys!) ..and that was feb 2016....a night I will never EVER forget....this is a fabulous recap....THNX SOOO MUCH skystudiohawaii for bringing us all worldwide this unreal footage from the One and ONLY....the Eddie Aikau Memorial!!! If you get too scared.....if the beach is shiffering already.....and the Breaks are realy that scary ; EDDIE would GO...... Maui ; NO ka Oi!!!!

[@martyjouett9949]

Nice video with a great soundtrack! No way would I ever surf that stuff!

[@kevinrice4887]

Ok,i'm only half way through this vid but have to comment now ! lol... This is insane!!! so many guys getting hammered,like destroyed and they keep going back for more,2 thumbs up,some big balls in that line up,hows the guy whose board came down nose first like a javelin and missed his head by an inch,f me,great vid mate...

[@bodylanguageconsultant]

Seeing this on video is amazing but being there live was ridiculous. The crowd went nuts at sunrise when the announcement of "the eddie is on" rang over waimea bay. The surf fans went nuts went Uncle Clyde Aikau paddled out. Being there live to see JJF, Kelly Slater and Sunny Garcia was fantastic.

[@stara808]

@ 5:43min or so the 5 jet skis all coming into the beach at once was from a HUGE set that CHASED them ALL in--it was very close and we were all holding our breath that they'd make it in! another unsung was Wakita, from Japan, who got ANNIHILATED over and over and kept going...got a huge round of applause on the beach.

[@TechnikMeister2]

It was 1978 and we were on our honeymoon. Standing on the western headland which is 50' high, these swells were wrapping around into Waimea Bay way above our head height. The white water was going up the beach, accross the road and into the lagoon behind, and was 10' thick. Cars, people, mobile homes...everything was wiped off the road and dumped inland. So who trotted down to the rocks below with an 11" narrow gun. Mark Richards with a big grin for everyone. He paddled out somehow. No jetskis in those days. He stayed out for two hours and showed his fearlessness. He said the big sets were about 60'.

[@zuvarian]

Great video ... Best ride IMO ... Ros-Clarke Jones 10:10 ... I used to live between Waimea & Sunset

[@riccardofacchielli3572]

Just Epic!!! There Is Just One BAY!!! CLASS...IC!!!

[@rosehuber1997]

I will never forget the time I went body surfing at wamea bay. The waves were not nearly as big as this but at 110 pounds I had one heck of a time getting up and out of the wave before it crashed down on me.

[@justinaberilla-ramento5035]

I camped in my car with my Gf n puppy that day, it was madness. The adrenaline was pumping watching the pros out in that condition! 🤙🏽❤️

[@patrealynn9749]

the waves and the wipeouts are amazing.

[@SurfCityHawaii]

John John may have won the event but Eddie's brother 66 year-old Clyde Aikau was the biggest hero of the day soldiering on with several injuries and winning the hearts of the crowd.

[@user-ps3rb9yc8x]

This Eddie was really a good one!!! After 2009 which it ran, then 2016 was just HUGE!!! I was filming it, and there were sets nearly closing out the bay! I was born and raised in Hawaii and we had a beach house right at Pipeline/ Ehukai! I was born in 1960 and surfing, especially the country was what I focused my life on, especially surfing pipe and otw!!! Yeah this was just insane with the jet ski's all racing out to get over the ones that were nearly closing out the whole bay! Still, December 1969 was the biggest I have ever seen it !!! I was 8 or 9 years old and it was massive!! Houses destroyed including our beach house and Kaena point had huge lefts that were the biggest I ever saw the waves get!!! Gregg Noll went out to makaha and road a huge wave. It was covered in Surfer magazine and the water was washing across the highway all over and it was historic!!!! This was back when it was so awesome living out there !! Just sugar cane fields everywhere and no crowds!!!! I'm truly blessed to have grown up surfing out in the country back when it was hippies and girls in crotche bikinis or just top less or nude!!!! It was just the best and being a kid growing up out there and living in Hawaii my entire life surfing was so great especially in the 70's!!!! It will never ever be like that again unfortunately but I was surfing Pipeline with only a small group of surfers who could Really surf it well and we got all the waves we could catch!!!! Used to love hanging out with Eddie Aikau at the Waimea lifeguard tower and talking to him. He was a Hawaiian icon if surfing like Duke Kahanamoku who my Dad grew up surfing with!!! No ka oi Aloha D.L.

[@beargrylls235]

Bloody hell, some got really pounded. Makes me more thankful to the "stable-leash-gods" ;)

[@skystudiohawaii]

Emily Ashima WOW！！！！！Awesome movie！！！！！ Thank you

[@stephennina]

Great vid...great music. I was memorized! So much respect for these great athletes!

[@martyjohnston700]

Eddie lives. Respect!

[@sanfranciscobay]

Great video. Better than being there in person and you summarized 4-8 hours into 16 minutes.

[@MoonbeamBear61]

Danilo Couto's ride was fantastic. Rough conditions.

[@theyoungupstarts1243]

To the surfers and pilots of yesteryear, i salute you. 🤙

[@drewetling7408]

11:40 just killing it

[@PaulOReilly712]

Jamie Mitchel due to his wipeouts and survival must be the toughest guy on earth :D I also heard a classic comment from a surfer from a previous big swell out at Waimea Bay. After a free surf in 35foot Waimea ( closing out )he was asked "what was it like out there? " He shrugged and said "It's like going to Gaol for something you didn't do! "

[@rodtemplar258]

great tunes

[@ronbroomell]

wow Kevin I finally got it to play for my.. AWesome ~ Aloha from Pahoa & Mahalo

[@chadsmith8315]

That is just such a legendary spot I mean look at all that water damn those guys are properly up there you gotta have some balls.

[@danceswithstone]

Thanks skystudiohawaii!! Awesome work!

[@johnbasiglone1219]

So, I'm going through the comments and I have not read one comment about Tom Carrol. If it is the same "Tommy" Carrol I'm thinking of, he was one of the best surfers in the mid to late 1980s. He must be in his late 50s, if not early 60s. If it was him, I was shocked to see him out there.

[@colindabreu994]

Tommy "GUN" Carrol

[@richardmclaren8549]

Agree. One of the best. 🐟

[@redeyestones3738]

Yes, it's the same Tom Carrol. And not the only guy out there in the 50-60+ year age

[@WS_00]

And it’s Tom Carroll (2 x L) just so you all know how to spell the legends name correctly 👍

[@redeyestones3738]

@@WS_00 nobody misspelled it Not sure what you're talking about. Or what 2 x L means.

[@johnmcculloch5736]

Dig that tripping music.

[@remamehta5342]

Fantastic

[@andres_pc]

thank to upload this content

[@sanfranciscobay]

3:50 That was a long free fall.

[@vaskylark]

Sports coverage on TV sucks anymore. I remember when surfing championships were on National TV now I can't ever find them on. I visited this beach as a kid nice to see it again.

[@PaBasser]

Finally got to see in person, of this epic beach. Visited it yesterday. I don't know how they got 25K spectators on that stretch of sand

[@69hau]

RESPECT ! Total Knar !

[@randymeyer6482]

I body surfed all my life on the Jersey shore, some up around 16-20 feet at Ocean Beach (Awesome day). In the late 70's the Navy sent me to Barber's Point, HI. I immediately sought out some body surfing at Sandy Beach. Was in a group, until after one wipeout I wasn't, and couldn't get back...caught in rip..."You wear no fins Brah...got to wear fins Brah.." They kept me from going through the Blowhole, which was where I was headed. Then I tried an 8 foot shore break at Waimea, and dove under a wave I was too far away from, and some guy who was on the wave piledrove me to the bottom...I thought my back was broken and had to crawl out of the surf.... Pacific waves are TOTALLY different animals, and unbelievably dangerous...I was done bodying in HI...but still had a good time..spent 1 1/2 years camped out on Waimanalo Beach...

[@MeloOnConsole]

20ft waves jersey false

[@lydellcristobal8819]

Eddie had pu'uwai , he was.a pono hawaiian bigvwavev ridder. aloha to Eddie no fear .aloha from kauai

[@hankspooner9023]

"They call me Eddie Aikau the big wave man of Hawaii." I used to sing that in 4-5 foot swell. (not in Hawaii).

[@ThatSB]

What song is that?

[@edwardecko]

One more for Eddie 🤙

[@sleepinglion1192]

Man!! At 1:26. He still had wave left to go!!!! I just wanted to jump into my computer screen and push the accelerator on the front of his board, drop back down into that.

[@tomseadon9965]

Great video! Great Waves, Great Surfing, Great music, Great Photography, Who could ask for anything more? Like how that guy at 8:00 recovered 3 times! That was great!

[@gustavohenninger9872]

Waimea is Waimea!

[@redeyestones3738]

I remember this contest as having enormous waves. Bigger than the average waimea waves. But didn't see any of them in this video.

[@windy6455]

uncle clyde is a fucking beast

[@johnsumner6185]

4:15 - Imagine the pull on the leash !!

[@lydellcristobal8819]

Eddie, big wave hawaiian surfer legend with peace in his pu'uwai. , i get .choke aloha for Eddie n his ohana no fear kauai

[@therealborischang]

Do they use leashes in huge stuff like his? Or would it risk tearing muscles/ligaments?

[@TechnikMeister2]

Nah. Tame. 1978. We arrived and we knew it was big becuase the white water was washing over the road into the lagoon. When we could we drove across and up and around to the point which is 40-50' above the water. The swell was wrapping around the point as a slight angle to the beach and there was a strong offshore wind. These swells were rising up to the height of where we were standing. The younger guys were all shaking their heads. Then thses older guys arrived grinning from ear to ear and unstrapped these thin 10' guns and gave us a demo of big wave surfing. No straps, no tow in, you have to go in off the rocks around the point and paddle around. It was awesome. And Mark Richards was with them.

[@anthonycorboy5122]

I watched this competition live in 1989 and the waves were bigger then this.

[@jamesgonda3785]

omg, 8:20 had some kinda *spit, lol 😎

[@mattlechner8442]

that's me on my medium-big board - did not need any Jet-Ski, but thanks

[@RNicolasRuvalcaba]

3:49 this is going to haunt my dreams tonight..

[@tomseadon9965]

Nicolas Ruvalcaba That was one HELL of a free fall! He probably DOES have nightmares about it!

[@BillsCovers55]

Like jumping off a four story building that's on fire and then having the burning building collapse on top of you.

[@foonatt]

Were there two(or more) swells in the water at the time? It looks wonky and unruly for offshore winds

[@skystudiohawaii]

Lapo Coutinho. I was watching your Eddie Aikau contest video and became very happy when i saw it is me on the first wave, on the freesurf before the contest! you think there is a chance i can get the original footage ? Sorry Lapo can’t find that clip anywhere. If I do find it I will send it. Much turmoil here right now as we are in the middle of relocating Sky Studio Hawaii.

[@TechnikMeister2]

Please...the name of the music?

[@skystudiohawaii]

@@TechnikMeister2 . . . Music: "Meat Grinder" www.purple-planet.com (in description).

[@LuxeXx]

Shit, this contest should've paid $10,000,000 with conditions like that...

[@nancyleedunn]

Can you see the surfers from the beach? I have always wanted to go to Hawaii in the winter to see the big waves.

[@skystudiohawaii]

+Nancy Dunn . . . Yes but a big lens helps you get closer. At Pipeline spectators are really close to the action.

[@nancyleedunn]

+skystudiohawaii Thank you!! Great video!!!

[@sanfranciscobay]

11:00 is a good example of what you would see if you were a spectator at Waimea.

[@godsnut6350]

Waimea doesn’t get big like this every though but it’s pretty fun when it’s winter

[@danceswithstone]

All you kids out there want to see a perfect "athletic stance"? The one your coaches tell you to get into? The one that'll prepare you for _whatever_ is coming your way... Well then take a look at Mr. Dave Wassel's ride @ 10:00

[@brutismaximus1]

I love Kelly but that drop in at 3:00 wrecked the guy on the inside. I would have been so pissed if that was me.

[@A-FrameWedge]

Kane Campbell Actually Kelly stood up way before Grant Baker, so I think it was his wave.

[@johnmcculloch5736]

Who plays this music and what is this song Any replies are really appreciated...

[@skystudiohawaii]

Music: "Meat Grinder" www.purple-planet.com (In description)

[@sanfranciscobay]

2:23 the poor surfer who went over the falls backwards while paddling forward. He's to the right of center wave.

[@angelgray717]

epic vid mahalo

[@ThatSB]

Considering 60 foot swell is required, these waves look smaller than expected, no?

[@danceswithstone]

Epic Kelley Slater wipeout @ 4:46

[@hubb712]

looks like the ski;s have their work cut out for them... saving mass amounts of lives that day...

[@realquirkyvideos1197]

First of all many thanks to skistudiohawaii for this great footage! Wonderful relive and see these brave watermen in action... .. some respectful question/requests: i) sound: would you not consider putting up a version without any music.. or just minimal music here and there - and not rock guitar ( which is on so many surf movie sound tracks that it becomes a kind of emotionally dead blanket on the action and so repetitive to listen to. It just tints everything the same like a really boring filter.. does anyone agree? The sound of just the live ocean and the atmosphere of the crowd would be so much more nourishing to listen to ... and it would honour you photographers/film makers .. like bringing your persistence and hard work catching all the rides.. talk about the troubles and blessings of the day ii) editing: could you not cut the rides so that you see more of the actually finish.. the surfer falling off.. pulling out over the top and then a few moments of him paddling, maybe hold the camera on the wipeout until the rider surfaces or is rescued? iii) voiceover: I appreciate very much that you identify the riders with their names where you can - would it not be possible to contact them afterwards, even over skype or by phone ( if they have flown to different countries) and let them see their ride(s) and make a short commentary about that particular ride - what is was like staying under the broiling water etc.. speak to a few people.. you could then over lay a bit of commentary edited over the actual rides or in the aftermath of the ride while the surfer is recovering paddling out.. i * * * This would enhance the already great work you have done - and give it identity and a completely different vibe to the film. You would have a HIT on your hands .. because no one else has done this...

[@skystudiohawaii]

Thanks for your input Realquirky. Sorry, there is no other way to fit a 12hr. day into a 16 min. movie without tight editing. Some would say just turn the sound off and play your own music. Others think this music is appropriate - can't satisfy everyone's tastes. But I have been making more vids lately with just the ambient surf sounds. Many seem to like this departure from the norm. So maybe I will make a version with just Waimea Bay's sound. I have included in the description a link to a water photographer's recounting of the day you may find interesting. Cheers.

[@etamommy]

Agree with the suggestion of leaving sections (more of them because you did do it a bit toward the end of no music = it is awesome just to hear the furious sound of the crashing waves! Photography is fantastic though!

[@derekinhawaii]

I washed the Eddie in the late 90's that had larger waves than this. SO large in fact that they closed Haleiwa harbor. So the surfers used helicopters to get out to the waves

[@ung427]

Why does Kelly Slater always get tubed, even at massive wiamea!! ??!!

[@nancyleedunn]

At 11:43, are those people just in that water bobbing in the waves? Or are the cameramen? And how do the jet skis not get knocked over?? So many questions! I'm going to have to go see this for myself soon!!

[@m3erw]

+Nancy Dunn The people are cameramen, they'll take photos of the pro surfers for magazines and articles, or they're just there for a hobby.

[@magorkel1746]

+Nancy Dunn I wonder about shraks eating the guys. do guy ever get eat by shraks?

[@XtraFilm-zf8jq]

+magorkel some guy get eatin by shraks

[@magorkel1746]

Xtra.Film oooo, that hurts! did Eddie get eat by the shrak?

[@nancyleedunn]

I wonder that, too! They seem much more vulnerable than guys on a surfboard would be!!

[@loic4577]

What is the music and the drone ? 👍👌

[@skystudiohawaii]

Sounds by Waimea Bay and www.purple-planet.com "Meat Grinder".

[@callmeishmael3031]

Florence won, but I don't see anything by him that really stands out in this video?

[@skystudiohawaii]

(1)John John Florence 4:51,5:10,5:15,12:30,13:20

[@alhassant9204]

Greg should packed a parachute

[@anthonywike8042]

no footage of Sunny?

[@robertssimon9643]

how the fuk did kelly not win that ???? he was the only one that got barrelled ?

[@kaneolamaui56]

Got to go

[@A-FrameWedge]

JOB got annihilated by the lip. The jet skis take away a little of the prestige of the Eddie Aikau Invitational.

[@evansman33]

no way bells is bigger than waimea bro

[@SuperJuiceman11]

so nonbody wears a leash in these type of conditions? when you lose your board? half hour swim?

[@pweter351]

no they have leashes normally just very long also have jet skis to pull them out of impact zone, Kelly has one at 8:49

[@robertssimon9643]

Danny Dingo did you not see the 50 jet skis bra ?

[@MindBodySoulOk]

This is real surfing, not tow in shit. Good music too

[@MindBodySoulOk]

What music is this?

[@skystudiohawaii]

See description.

[@mikemccourt6225]

When you hear those car horns honking...

[@turtlesarecool1488]

Kelly Slater looked more consistent than any other surfer out there

[@sirql8]

the only rider in this clip getting shacked.

[@MeloOnConsole]

Well obv he’s won 11 wsls

[@pogostickwebservicesltd7094]

slater barrel ftw 11:41

[@Killemgrillem00]

Surf hero's.....I saw it once but it was flat...

[@clarkewi]

No mommy and daddy to help you out there. Such a mean wave.

[@convex7456]

Man one guy ate foam bad. At least a few min

[@DaGooster]

What a bumpy shit-show! Kudos for even trying to surf that stuff

[@adventure_trail_guy]

Funny thing about this is that if yhr Eddie wasn't on there would of been 200 local punters charging this thing harder than these guys just too get a wave in the crowd.

[@jasonsmith7518]

As soon as you see the board fluttering you know the guy is probably going to get smoked.

[@shaunmorrice9693]

why is it ok to drop in on each other

[@journeyman6752]

Would be better if they actually pulled into the barrels.

[@jaimebustos2546]

Everything about this is too knarley!

[@feereel]

77 smirnoff was bigger

[@jaimecoburn1339]

it should be called wipeout bay

[@LizardMan420]

6:26 And Yes the Silly Hawaiian Local WaterMan damn well knows this is extremely dangerous but they do it anyways...! Mabe it is the standard on how to get the Jet Skies back out proficiently as fast as possible ? Epic . Dealing with Jet Skies in Waimea shorebreak is way more dangerous then surfing this shit

[@point7point724]

I dont understand how that contest gets judged. Its the same thing over and over. A huge drop down a massive face, the surfer almost gets knocked over by the whitwater and then some pumping and the wave loses its power and the surfer either keeps pumping or kicks out. I respect these guys immensely but it's boring to watch after the seeing 4 or 5 guys do the same thing.

[@itcantbetruebutis7778]

Not near the biggest Waimea can offer. But great day nonetheless