Just in: The Eddie is No!

Words by Morgan Williamson | Interview by Jake Howard

After all the hype, anticipation and excitement, the Eddie was called off this morning due to lack of swell. Before 5:00 am fans packed Waimea Bay and listened to no roar emit from what was supposed to be a vicious sea. Cars lined up from Alligators to Rockpiles, the crowd was there, the scaffolding was built, the boys were ready to charge and the 20 foot plus (40 foot face) waves needed to run had yet to show up. The green light was put on Monday and all the heavy hitters flew out from their respected areas. Grant “Twig” Baker flew from South Africa after recently having a baby girl. And, Jeremy Flores made the leap from France, two flights that aren’t quick or easy for even the most traveled folk.

“The Bay is not gonna call the day,” said Glen Moncada, who made the official announcement this morning.”The surf’s not as we expected and unfortunately this storm got pushed further north and is heading towards California.” Which is good news for the Titans of Mavericks event. “Hopefully there’ll be another storm that comes through and we can build this city again,” Glen said through a smile but you could feel the disappointment from Kamehameha Highway to the sand and scaffolding. The swell’s set to peak over night, and the streak of misses continue for the Eddie. It’s been six years since Greg Long won in ’09. Maybe we’ll see another swell before the 29th, yes, it is a leap year and we get an extra day in the waiting period.

Where the biggest swells show is where Reef goes. Here’s him knifing an absolute demon during Cloudbreak’s day of days in 2012. Photo: WSL

Hawaiian charger and esteemed rhino hunter Reef McIntosh weighs in on the call:
“I woke up this morning, I live right here at Pipe and when the waves are big the house shakes,” Reef tells Stab. “The house wasn’t shaking and I thought that was a bit of a red flag, but you know, you still have to go down and check it out. When I got down to The Bay the beach wasn’t shaking, another bad sign. It was 4:30 or 5:00 am and still dark. When the sun came up it was clear, it just wasn’t there. I mean, it’s going to be here, but it isn’t now.”

“They got everyone together and made the decision,” Mr McIntosh continues. “That was that. Obviously I’m bummed, but I understand how hard it is to put an event like this on. I don’t want to say I’m a stickler to the criteria, but it’s the O.G. of big-wave events. If it’s not there, don’t run it. It’s not good for the contest to run in lackluster conditions. You have to keep the credibility, honour and prestige intact by not running in 15-foot surf or whatever you’re contemplating running it in. It’s gotta be legit. Eddie was legit, so don’t run it if it’s not.”

“We have until the end of the month,” says Reef. “I try not to look at long-term stuff. After you read maps for long enough it’s hard to get excited until it’s three or four days out because mother nature changes so fast. I’ve done that too many times to myself, so now I try and keep a more even keel. Until a swell actually arrives I try and be steady and ready. That way I’ll have the big smile on my face while I’m running down the beach when it does come.”