Fisherman Kickstarts The Pe’ahi Challenge – A Grassroots Digital Big Wave Event Pitting Pros Against Joes

For years, contests at Jaws—Hawaii’s iconic big wave break—have been mired in logistical and bureaucratic issues. The World Surf League (WSL) has struggled to secure permits, negotiate with local landowners, and manage the environmental and traffic challenges associated with large-scale events. These hurdles, coupled with the rising costs of hosting traditional surf contests, have left both the local community and big wave surfers to ennui.

Enter the Pe’ahi Challenge. Spearheaded by Daniel Goldberg, a local big wave surfer and commercial fisherman, the contest seeks to break away from the traditional competition model and into the realm of the digital. Much the same as the now defunct Vans Triple Crown of Surfing – it has eliminated the need for permits, spectator areas, large sponsorship and strict event dates. Rather, the Pe’ahi Challenge provides an open platform for surfers to showcase their skills throughout the entire Hawaiian winter season – 120 days.

“This contest opens it up to anyone and everyone,” says the founder. “Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a local kid chasing waves, this is your chance to be recognized.”

How It Works

The Pe’ahi Challenge runs for the entirety of the big wave season, allowing surfers to submit their best waves—captured on video or in photos—at any time. The contest will culminate in a year-end awards ceremony, with winners selected across various categories for both men and women.

• Key Details:
  • Duration: The contest runs from the beginning of the big wave season through March 1.
  • Eligibility: Open to all surfers, regardless of affiliation with the WSL or other organizations.
  • Submissions: Surfers or their photographers submit footage directly to the contest’s Instagram or website.
  • Judging: A panel of respected local surfers, all of whom have experience riding Jaws, will judge the submissions.
  • Divisions: Best Ride, Best Tow, Breakthrough Performer, People’s Choice, Biggest Wave

The contest eliminates the traditional invite-only structure of events like the Eddie Aikau Invitational or WSL’s Big Wave Tour. “You just have to show up, surf, and submit your wave,” Goldberg explained.

Unlike corporate-backed contests, the Pe’ahi Challenge is funded entirely by local businesses and private donations. With a current prize pool of $6,000 and trophies for winners in ten categories, the initiative prioritizes recognition over profit.

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“All the money raised goes directly to the surfers,” says the founder. “I’m not taking a penny, and neither are the judges. This is about celebrating surfing at Jaws, giving back to the surf community and supporting everyone involved—from the athletes to the photographers. Hopefully this contest puts a fire under everyone’s ass—so the seasoned pros can’t just surf once a year and expect to win,” the founder says. “You have to put in the work all season.”

As a side note: the current frontrunners are Tyler Larronde and Ridge Lenny, who got the first “20-25ft” swell of the winter last Friday and Saturday.

“Look, I know it’s not a huge prize purse. All the sponsors so far are local businesses and I’ve invested my own cash into building out our imperfect website. We’re keeping it fairly simple this year, it’s a bit of a test. But hopefully as the content begins to trickle out, so will the hype,” the founder says.

Let us pray for more bruise-colored blobs angled at 300 degrees (Norwest) to get this thing humming.

You can visit the Pe’ahi Challenge website or follow them on Instagram for updates.