Haleiwa’s John John Florence wins the ‘Eddie’
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
A surfer competing in the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surf contest caught a huge wave earlier today.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
John John Florence heads into the water at the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surf contest earlier today.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
John John Florence paddles into the water at the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surf contest earlier today. Florence, 23, won the contest with a total of 301 points for his four scoring rides.
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
John John Florence rides a wave at the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surf contest earlier today. Florence, 23, won the contest with a total of 301 points for his four scoring rides.
COURTESY WORLD SURF LEAGUE
John John Florence of Haleiwa paddles with a big smile after posting the highest scores of the day to win the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau surf contest at Waimea Bay today.
• PHOTOS: Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, Feb. 25
Haleiwa’s John John Florence surfed to victory in the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave invitational today at Waimea Bay.
“It was unbelievable, a lot of good waves coming in,” Florence said. “I’m just so stoked to be surfing in it and to end it like this is amazing. I can’t believe this day. It’s the biggest (waves) Waimea holds pretty much, definitely Eddie conditions and an Eddie year and Brock Little swell. It’s such a sad thing that happened. He was a hero to me and my brother growing up. This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me so far in my surf life.”
Hawaii’s Brock Little, who was a big-wave charger, died Feb. 18 and was an inspiration to many of the Eddie surfers.
Competing against 27 others in wave faces of 60-foot-plus, 23-year-old Florence, who temporarily lost the lead to Kailua-Kona’s Shane Dorian before paddling out for his second heat, scored on bombs of 89 and 88 on a scale of 100 and he totaled 301 points for his four scoring rides.
Australia’s Ross Clarke-Jones, a previous winner of the event that requires at least 40-foot faces, took second place with 278 points. Dorian took third with 270. Twenty-nine surfers actually competed during the day, one more than the 28 originally scheduled. Hawaii’s Noah Johnson was hurt in the first round, so Ben Wilkinson took his spot in the second of two rounds.
The four highest-scoring waves of the competitors in their two one-hour, seven-man heats counted toward their final score.
The Eddie drew an estimated crowd of 25,000, according to World Surf League Hawaii general manager Jodi Wilmott.
“It’s just amazing,” said Hawaii’s Koa Rothman, who surfed in Round 1, Heat 4 and was snorting the excess water out of his nose. “Anytime you’re out there with six of your best friends, it’s just the best thing ever. I’ve surfed it pretty big here and it can get only so big before it starts closing out, but this is definitely up there with some of the biggest Waimea I’ve ever surfed.”
Rothman was in the same heat as his brother, Makua, and got on one big bomb with Makua and their friend Kala Alexander, who is from Kauai.
“I’ve always wanted to be on the same Waimea wave with them, especially at the Eddie,” said Koa. I was just having fun.”
Danilo Couto of Brazil, who scored one of the biggest waves of the first round, a 69, said, “It’s pretty wild out there. The size is definitely there — 20 feet (Hawaiian measurement, from the back of the wave), 25 feet, 30 on the sets. The conditions are a little stormy, little bumps, but totally surfable. It’s great day of surfing. It’s the challenge of big Waimea, positioning yourself, with big waves coming on the outside, so you’ve got to have a little cold blood and stay on the inside so you can actually catch them.”
Inside is perilous.
“I got caught five minutes before my heat and broke my board,” he added. “I had to come back to the beach and as I’m on the beach my heat started. I paddled out and missed a little of my heat, not much. But I got my bigger board so I actually felt more comfortable. I got a good one on my first heat and I’d like to add three more good waves (in the second round). It really helps your confidence. This is my first year surfing this contest. I waited a long time.”
26 responses to “Haleiwa’s John John Florence wins the ‘Eddie’”
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Aussie’s taking away the title from locals?
anybody but punk garcia
Saw Garcia’s interview by a local news station and the tatoo ‘Death and Taxes’ written across his chest in big letters is one the most ridiculuous tattoos ever seen. Yes, he has regular prison tats all over the rest of his body but does this mean Albert Hee is going to get the same tat when he has to do his stretch in prison for tax evasion?
This is old news. They all respect each other but now it looks like John John is ahead.
Wasn’t that “allie” out there at the point at the river-mouth in the Buffalo-Hide-Bikini?
Too quick with that comment, allie.
Where exactly is Kaila-Kona? Are there no proof readers?
it is just outside Melbourne
My puppies love Melbourne toast.
According to my friend google it is “Located just 15 minutes south of Kona International Airport, Historic Kailua Village (Kailua-Kona) is a lively seaside town in the heart of the sunny Kona Coast.”
Non residents can’t even pronounce these Hawaiian words, let alone spell it correctly.
I thought that Sunny Garcia was going to surf. Was it too big for him? Well who ever wins, wins. I’m not into surfing. I rather being paddling that just takes your breath away. You see creators that you would never see. Anyway it is their home and I’m just using it for the day. God bless those crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy surfers. Good luck to all.
A great contest this year — and nice to see a young guy from Haleiwa win it !
tutu–agreed. He was featured in one of the airline magazines either Alaskan or Hawaiian — makes a great ambassador for Hawaii. (And my wife thinks he’s cute!!!!)
Time to nurse those sunburns now.
Time to stand up all the way home to Waikiki on the city bus.
Just about every boomer has surfed in the ocean. Just about every Millennials has surfed on the world wide web of the internet.
It was a great day for a surf meet! Eddie would have enjoyed being around the big wave surfers. I mean you must have some good size balls to take of on those giant size waves. Clyde Aikau did a great job today. Surf’s up!
Obama likes to surf. He could have been a honorary member at that event.
My hat is off to Clyde Aikau, 66 years old. Nice work, Clyde!
Congratulations John John!
Congratulations to John John for the win. And congratulations to all of the participants. It was an amazing day!
agree..John John is a cutie. Garcia looked just terrified of the surf. Interesting how “outsiders’ took the day from the local folks.
When we were kids, and we played with our neighbors, my brother and I talked of our neighbor’s father as John John Father. We just made it up.
Since Waimea Bay is part of the Pupukea Marine Life Conservation District . .. I wonder where the near-shore fish go to get away from the the white water and heavy surge. Maybe they are surfing the swell under water!!
There were 25,000 people watching the Eddie surf tournament? That is better attendance than a UH football game formerly coached by Punaho grad Chow fun.