The 11-time World Surf League (WSL) champion, Kelly Slater, needs no introduction when it comes to surfing. The legend not only has expertise in shining at the sport in his 50s, but has an encyclopedic knowledge of his passion as well. When the 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational saw a lifeguard win one of the most prestigious surfing events it reminded one surfing enthusiast of Slater’s words, shared about ‘The Eddie’.

Kelly Slater has been competing in surfing events since 1989. With his first world championship title in 1992 and his most recent one in 2011, he is the youngest and oldest surfer to win a WSL title. In his entire surfing career, he has seen not only the sport grow but also the mindset of the surfing generation. Surfing enthusiast and author Dave Reardon took to Twitter to share Kelly Slater’s wise words on the sport. The GOAT of surfing shares his vision on why ‘The Eddie’ isn’t something that the new surfing generation fears.

Surfing in the big waves isn’t the same anymore?

Kelly Slater’s surfing career has made him a reservoir of knowledge and motivation for all up-and-coming sportspersons. Dave Reardon’s Twitter post, which gives an insight into Slater’s mind, reads, “Kelly Slater once told me that waves worthy of The Eddie are waves that drive fear into the fearless. That’s why the contest so rarely goes on. Today it looks to be a go. #TheEddie”

In this year’s contest, Luke Shepardson joined surfing’s biggest names as the winner of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. The lifeguard isn’t scared of being at the mercy of waves, as his passion for the sport is endless. Taking a leave from his job to participate in the event, Shepardson casually took on some of the largest waves, and wrote is name in the surfing history books.

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Incidentally, the founder of the contest, Eddie Aikau, was a lifeguard by profession himself.

History and the present scenario

Eddie Aikau is seen as a legend to date, as he was a lifeguard at Waimea Bay who saved more than 500 people before his mysterious death in 1978. The legend has been honored with the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, which is hosted whenever the wave is 30 feet or higher.

The scenario of the event has changed over the past years. While only professional competitors would compete and win in these dangerous waves, this year was an exception. Luke Shepardson’s win has also sparked an interest in other lifeguards to take part in future editions of this event to honor one of their own. Moreover, for the first time this year, women competed in the big wave surfing event, in the same category as men.

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What did you think of this year’s event? Let us know in the comments.