surf’s up!

January 22, 2023 11:30 AM

The Eddie, a Hawaiian winter surfing competition held only when wave heights exceed twenty feet, is being held today for the tenth time since it was established in 1984. The most recent Eddies were held in 2004, 2009, and (previously) 2016. YouTube livestream.

I know basically nothing about surfing, so please correct/clarify. Contest concludes at 4:30pm Hawai’i time.

posted by fantabulous timewaster (11 comments total)

I saw a news story on this a couple of days ago, and looking for a livestream was in the back of my mind—thanks for finding it!
posted by not_on_display at 12:06 PM on January 22, 2023

“‘Eddie Would Go:’ the meaning and origin of the popular saying,” Surfer Today, Undated

Cf. eddiewouldgo.com
posted by ob1quixote at 12:52 PM on January 22, 2023 [8 favorites]

This is great! thanks
posted by OHenryPacey at 1:39 PM on January 22, 2023

I was watching this on and off this afternoon. It was pretty wild and chaotic but HUGE. And I know nothing about surfing either, being from the Mass Bay area. Thanks for posting it!
posted by not_on_display at 7:32 PM on January 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

Maybe because I caught a glimpse of the Hawaii state flag with its UK flag in the canton, but I now find that surfing has much in common with cricket: most of the players spend most of the time hangin' about in a vast open space waiting for something to happen.
posted by BobTheScientist at 11:48 PM on January 22, 2023

If you can get it, the ESPN film Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau is really really good and will make you an Eddie fan for life.
posted by JanetLand at 5:36 AM on January 23, 2023

JanetLand: “If you can get it, the ESPN film Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau is really really good”

“Upon The Tides - ESPN Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau“
posted by ob1quixote at 7:39 AM on January 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Eddie Returns With Women Competing For The First Time. I enjoyed watching this yesterday, and seeing that they had at least one woman competing in every heat.
posted by TwoStride at 9:59 AM on January 23, 2023

…surfing has much in common with cricket: most of the players spend most of the time hangin' about in a vast open space waiting for something to happen.

Maybe, but batsmen don’t generally run the risk of being crushed by a 50 ft. wicket.
posted by TedW at 2:37 PM on January 23, 2023

We watched a bit of the livestream last night and the height of the waves was just jawdropping. I don't surf on a board, and it's wild to think these folks are able to keep their boards under their feet in conditions like this.

The NYT covered it today; here's a gift link to the article.
posted by thecaddy at 3:14 PM on January 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

Surfing Massive Waves Waimea Bay - Spectacular footage of Eddie 2023 shot from drones that look in constant danger of getting wiped out along with the surfers. This is one to watch on the biggest, shiniest TV you can get hold of, I think.
posted by rongorongo at 1:01 AM on January 30, 2023