Hawaii's very own Landon McNamara has claimed victory at the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, braving what can only be described as mountainous waves to honor the legendary namesake of the competition, Eddie Aikau. The event witnessed waves upwards of 40 feet at Oahu's North Shore, making for a spectacular display of bravery and skill in the world of big wave surfing. McNamara not only took the top spot with a score of 135.80 but also snagged the Best Wave Award with a perfect 50-point ride, according to a report from Hawaii News Now.
"This is a childhood dream of mine, something I’ve been working at since being a little kid on the beach here, watching these events go down," McNamara expressed, with a sentiment that reflects the awe and respect surfers have for The Eddie. "I don't know what to feel right now. I’ve already cried 10 times,” Hawaii News Now quoted the champ. He attributed his win to a bit of serendipity with local fauna, "Both my heats, I had a turtle I was following. For real. ... They say Eddie picks the winner, and I’m so grateful he picked me." The list of top finishers included notable names like Mason Ho, Billy Kemper, and last year's winner Luke Shepardson, among others.
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is not just any surf competition, it’s an event that runs only when the conditions are just right — or should we say, absolutely gnarly. Boasting a selective history, this was only the invitation-only competition's 11th event in its 40-year history. Some 25,000 spectators gathered to witness what turned out to be a historic day, a day when competitor Greg Long, the 2009 winner of The Eddie, was honored with the Aloha Spirit Award on his retirement from the competition.
As for McNamara, the victory also has a personal touch, his father, Liam McNamara, serves as the contest director. He described the conditions with an excitement befitting the day, "The conditions are amazing. There’s a strong offshore breeze right now,” Hawaii News Now reported. “We’re looking for an amazing day of competition. This is a historic day. We want to make sure we start it with a bang and we end with a bang.” McNamara’s win points not only to his prowess on the waves but also to an artistic side; he's a musician whose debut album clinched the top spot on iTunes in 2016, as noted by KHON2.
