An estimated 50,000 spectators flocked to Hawaii’s Waimea Bay to watch a big wave surf competition on Sunday and some got a bit of an aloha with the surf.
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational aka The Eddie, requires wave heights that consistently reach 20 feet so it kind of rare (only held 10 times since inception in 1985). As the tide raised and huge sets rolled in, some reached the spectator and created chaos.
Lifeguards were super busy making 64 on Sunday alone as wave heights topped out at 50 feet. Fitting that Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard Luke Shepardson won the day and knocked out defending champion John John Florence.