"It’s clear that the qualifying swell conditions simply weren’t there this year."
It has been a real bummer winter season on Oahu’s North Shore, this year. Small kine waves, choppy, windy business, little flare. The already dour mood turned even more sour, yesterday, when the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was officially called “off” for 2025-26.
Contest director Liam McNamara, tasked with delivering the bad news, declared, “As we reach the end of the waiting period for The Eddie, it’s clear that the qualifying swell conditions simply weren’t there this year. Although we had one solid day of big surf, this season was largely lackluster when it came to the large waves we need to run the event. We’d like to sincerely thank everyone who committed their time and support to The Eddie this year. Their dedication is what allows us to continue to honor Eddie Aikau’s legacy.”
Surf fans, everywhere, struggling both mentally and emotionally.
If the Eddie had run, it would have been the first time in its 41-year history for a three-time-in-a-row binge. But who could forget Luke Shepardson’s wildly inspirational win in 2023 wherein the on-duty North Shore lifeguard stole hearts with a display of blue-collar bravery not seen since Harvey Keitel’s turn as Jerry Bartowski in the 1978 classic Blue Collar?
Or last year’s mega heartwarming victory by Liam’s boy Landon?
Alas, that’s it, that’s all and the who’s who of invitees will have to sit on their hands until 2026-27.
Presenting sponsor Rip Curl’s general manager of marketing, James Taylor tried to put a positive spin on the sad, saying he was “hopeful for the development of El Niño conditions at the end of 2026” though which kind of crystal ball can predict the weather a year out?
Speaking of James Taylor, which is your favorite Sweet Baby J tune?
Me?
A Fire and Rain man through and through.
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Sponsors for the Newcastle CS include Fatboy electric bikes, which are basically outlawed now in NSW if modified to not require pedalling, and the Beaches Hotel which hosts all the after-party stuff and is owned by a family whose son is a well known rapist.
Sounds like me checking the forecast once in a blue moon and never deeming it worthy. Not worth waking up early and making the drive. Getting too grumpy to face the M1 and the crouds, not surfing enough to feel like I’d capitalize on good days either, basic lose/lose
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
wanna know what I was thinking? I looked at all those giant boards in that picture, and I wondered to myself, what would happen if I paddled out to my local on one of those, on a 2 foot day, and just started hogging every little lump in sight over and over and over until I had my fill
like that’ll ever happen…
BREAKING NEWS
DS&SS is alive and well, and still watching the proceedings here, but not making comments by choice.
Thinks all the political crap was always shit, hence his food photos and ‘alternative writings’ to throw changes of direction into all the boring shit.
Can’t be fucked anymore cos there’s sooo many lame-aloids to contend with, who are basically low-knowledge idiots.
Thinks its hilarious that Strayan Cunt got banned, and that a few other bannings wouldn’t hurt BG as a whole.
Been having a break from the booze for health reasons after medical advice, and feeling better for it…
Nice to get a DSS&S update. Good for him, staying away. The political fail on BG is over the top. If I were admin, I’d place a sticky atop every comment section here that says “Anyone bringing politics into a non-political thread will be suspended for 30 days. After three times, permanent ban will ensue”.
No one interesting would be left. You do realize the principles have been baiting politics because the surf and adjacent stories aren’t floating this boat.
Well there really aren’t too many interesting people left now are there? Many have already bailed, mostly due to the political garbage. Of the interesting people that remain, there’s not a mother’s son of them that doesn’t transform into a blathering idiot when politics darken the BG doorstep. This includes Chas and DR, btw.
Time to get ready for Mahalo in Indo 2026. Should start in about 8 weeks.
Higher than normal chances for it to run 2026-27. Book it.
Mrs. Puss is gonna throw in “something in the way she moves”
Dez and Chuck i must ask you why so many adds i can’t get rid of and now my phone heats up only when on your site, now this is impressive because trust me i frequent far more dodgy sites and i don’t have any kind of case on my phone so i’m not making ish up to be funny it’s quite odd
Just got to update and install all of your Adblocks. It’s madness to sail the high seas without them. Stack them one upon the other. Install as many, reputable ones, as possible.
Someone on an earlier thread was complaining about lack of local coverage in comments of CS in Newcastle.
Welp… I’m here on the other end of beach at 5:45am. It’s pissing horizontally and dark AF. The swell is shown on the charts as 8 feet at 8 seconds. From what I can see out back with the lights at the beach, it’s probably correct.
Wind south at about 25 knots currently and will slacken off over the day.
Looks pretty straight here, but down there it takes the predominant southern swell and wind much better.
I’ll wait for some daylight to see, but I doubt I’ll be paddling out this morning.
We had to call off our board riders comp yesterday due to shitty conditions. I reckon they won’t be running down the beach today either.
Tomorrow it’ll be half the size but the wind will be light onshore, probably almost glassy in morning and again late afternoon if recent pattern holds.
To be fair, Merewether is holding shape pretty well considering the wind. . Apologies for the potato quality photo in between rain squalls. Probably about 15 people out there. They just sent a large drone up. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Aaaaaand now it looks like this. Hard to tell but that’s a 6’ set I estimate. OK I’m going to work now. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Some intense pigeon action going down on the cams. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Guess the conditions imprioved enough that they are running it.
Watching thread?
Wow the day really improved.
I need to have more faith in Merewether to hold the southerlies.
Never hang out down there.
What boardriders are you doing? Reef?
Yup
Opinion nobody is interested in alert: was thinking, looking at the CS line-up, mid year cut would have made more sense for them. Guys at the bottom travelling here and all over there with no statistical chance. Last few should probably just be those within reach, otherwise burning money.
Is Matt Banting still around?
He’s gotta be high on the list for a Quey battler legends heat
Favorite James Taylor tune?
Less content for our north shore youtube officianados sounds like a win to me. Which one is your favorite or least favorite? Here is my break down from most favoritist to least favoritist.
1. Mason Hoe
2. Nathan Florence
3. Koa Smith
4. Koa Rothman (The Koa’s are interchangable)
5. JOB
Truth be told I only really watch the occasional Mase vid.
One thing they have in common, they’re in the group…
Nathan irks the absolute shit out of me.
the content is great, but, on mute.
Sick of them all , even nate does more advertising than surfing half the time
I still watch Nathan and Mason, but skip around the video just to watch the surfing.
Dunno
But the worst is the Mason Ho & Jamie O Show.
Jamie’s kinda ok, but Mason really shows what an actual halfwitted moron he really is, always butting into the conversation between JOB and the guests, and stringing random letters together to make nonsensical word sounds.
Ya can tell that some guests wish he wasn’t there.
A complete and utter bozo.
Bloody disgrace really, deserves a good boot up the arse.
If it wasn’t for his great-uncle Don being a popular famous luau singer, his Dad and uncle Derek may not have had the opportunities they did, and Mason wouldn’t have lead such a charmed life and would probably be sucking dick down Hotel St, or in East LA…
I think Dane Sushi would dislike how judgmental you are.
I haven’t dabbled in that but 100% trust your judgement on it B and B.
I just like that his clips are non commital. 9 mins . That’s all I got.
his surfing clips are good but listening to mason talk is murder on the ears
Trawl with a Sasha doll…swell will build…ripcurl GET FUCKED
I’d rather watch Two Lane Blacktop then listen to his music at this point. Check it out if you haven’t seen it yet. Amazing movie.
Easy–triggers all the beauty of a Lowcountry summer day: the humidity, the Carolina blue sky, the egrets and herons, the salt in the air, the sand between toes, watermelon and boiled peanuts:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV_MCQm8iFM&list=RDoV_MCQm8iFM&start_radio=1
Man…. he has such a sweet voice.
Dez also very absent. The sordid tales take my fancy!
Xox