Greg Long Wins the 25th Annual Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau

(Waimea Bay, Hawaii) Californian Greg Long has won the 25th annual Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau at heaving 25 foot Waimea Bay, taking home US$55,0000 in prize money and the most prestigious big wave title in world surfing. Long enjoyed an amazing day at The Bay, despite a shaky start in his first round heat, and was one of only two surfers to score a perfect 100 points for a ride, proving a worthy winner. In the 25 year history of the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, 2009 heralded the eighth time that Waimea has delivered surf big enough to run 'The Eddie', and Long's name joins a short list of some of the best big wave surfers of all time, among them Eddie Aikau's brother Clyde Aikau, Kelly Slater, Brue Irons, Ross Clark-Jones and Keone Downing.

The format of the 2009 Eddie differed from other surf contests. Each surfer contested two 45 minute heats, and their four top rides from the two heats were then combined for an overall total. Nine times world champion and surfing icon Kelly Slater threw down the gauntlet early, scoring a 98 out of a possible 100 in his first round heat, and leaving the water with a heat score of 290 to establish the highest overall score of Round 1. Long on the other hand, had a torrid time in his first heat, catching only two waves for a heat total of 66.

Ever resilient, Long didn't let his first round nightmare get him down, and his second heat proved to be the heat of the day as Long picked off one of the biggest waves of the event 15 minutes into the heat, a massive 25 footer that thundered across Waimea as the crowd on the beach erupted. The ride was Long's second of the heat, and the appreciative judges awarded him the maximum score - a perfect 100. Long's first wave had earned him 77 points, and as he settled into a rhythm he managed to catch two more waves, scoring a 75 and a 71 for each of these. Each of these waves eclipsed the Californian's first round scores, earning him a total of 323 points for his top scoring four waves and placing him in the lead position, ahead of former Eddie champion Kelly Slater who had managed to muster 313 points.

Hawaiian Sunny Garcia placed third with 292 points, while Kauai's Bruce Irons filled the fourth place slot with a score of 275 points. The only other surfer to score a perfect 100 point ride was Chilean Ramon Navarro, but unfortunately he was unable to back the score up with anything higher than a 66 and Navarro had to settle for fifth place.

Despite the skill and courage needed to surf monstrous waves, big wave surfing competitions often carry an element of luck in that it is the surfers that find themselves in the right place at the right time that catch the biggest and/or best waves of the day. Sadly for fortune was against South Africa's lone invitee, Durbanite Grant "Twiggy" Baker, who had his dreams of winning the most prestigious crown in international big wave surfing snatched from him when the ocean refused to co-operate with him. Despite enjoying the honour of catching the first wave of the event, Baker found himself out of position when the biggest and best waves of his two heats rolled through, and could only sit and watch as his rivals picked them off.

Baker's first heat was dominated by Californian Peter Mel who achieved a score of 167, while Baker's three waves were only enough to earn him a total of 92 points. Although still ahead of close friend and eventual winner Greg Long going into Round 2, the plucky Durbanite, who is affectionately known as "Twiggy" because of his small frame, was lying 21st and needed to dig deep to see his dreams manifested. Showing great fortitude, Baker went on to post a second round score of 211 which elevated him to 15th overall. Although not the result Baker was hoping for, it is still a notable achievement considering the occasion.

Baker's rise to the top of the international big wave scene has been meteoric, with the past two years firmly establishing the lithe natural-footer as one of the most fearless surfers on the planet. His rise to prominence in the international big wave fraternity has seen Baker win every big wave surfing event on the planet except the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational In Memory Of Eddie Aikau, and Baker was hoping to add this last crown to his collection.

1st Greg Long 323 

2nd Kelly Slater 313 

3rd Sunny Garcia 292

4th Bruce Irons 275

5th Ramon Navarro 267

6th Ross Clarke-Jones 257

7th Jamie O'Brien 252

8th Mark Healey 246

9th Garrett McNamara 243 

10th Noah Johnson 241

11th Shane Dorian 229

12th Makuakai Rothman 226

13th Reef McIntosh 222

14th Andy Irons 221

15th Grant Baker 215

16th Carlos Burle 202

17th Kohl Christensen 201

18th Kala Alexander 200

19th Peter Mel 195

20th Takayuki Wakita 187

21st Ibon Amatrian 187

22nd Clyde Aikau 168

23rd Keone Downing 167

24th Mike Ho 160

25th Darryl Flea Virostko 155

26th Brian Keaulana 148

27th Rusty Keaulana 122

28th Pancho Sullivan 70