Waimea Bay Tries To Call “The Day”

During a normal winter of frequent Eddie buildups and letdowns, the swell that hit the North Shore yesterday would have started the murmuring. The woulds, coulds, and shoulds could’ve echoed aplenty. A yellow light might have flickered. And, to many displeasures, the Bay probably would’ve called the day off. Then the debate would spark: Was it big enough? Were there a few? Maybe. But, not enough to honor the greatest North Shore lifeguard to ever have a contest held in his name, Sir Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau. No sir! 

“It was borderline,” says photographer and filmmaker, Matt Catalano on yesterday. “There were only a couple sets that closed out the bay. But, there were definitely some waves in the Eddie range (20ft Hawaiian).”

“Early this season there was one other day that got big, but that was pretty much the first official Waimea day,” Matt continues. “John and Nathan Florence were standouts. Then so were Billy Kemper and Torrey Meister.”

Would the Eddie have run? Perhaps not. But when Waimea puckers her lips, she sure is a torturous specimen.