This video captures the scene of Hawaii's Waimea Bay during the Quiksilver's Big Wave Invitational, a/k/a "The Eddie." The competition got started in 1985 as homage to surfer Eddie Aikau, who was lost at sea seven years earlier. Working as Oahu's first lifeguard, Aikau was known to dive into 30-foot waves to make rescues.
The date of the Quicksilver is dependent on weather conditions, and this past week the time was right. Contestants rode swells up to 60 feet high, and winner John John Florence walked away with the $75,000 first prize. Via Esquire
Mike Parsons on a 100ft wave
The first time I saw the footage I was blown away. The aerial shot keeps pulling back and keeps pulling back and keeps pulling back... but the bottom of the wave just never seems to come. And he manages to ride it all the way out of the spray. The Cortes Bank. Insanity.