The conditions needed to be just right for The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational to take place
Luke Shepardson had his big break on Sunday.
The Hawaii lifeguard took home first place in one of the world’s most prestigious and stories surfing contests – The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, also nicknamed “The Eddie.” The event is considered to be the Super Bowl of surfing, and he won with a nearly perfect score of 89.1.
“I told myself, ‘I’m in it because I can win it,'” he told Hawaii News Now after the event. “It was super scary, the waves were huge, and it was a dream come true just to be part of ‘The Eddie,’ just to be on the alternate list.”
Shepardson, of North Shore, started the day on the lifeguard tower for Honolulu Ocean Safety and was able to participate in the event thanks to an extended break allowed by his immediate boss, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.