
(FeaturedNews.com) – On Sunday, on-duty lifeguard Luke Shepardson won the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational while taking his break. According to the Sydney Morning Herald Report, the 27-year-old lifeguard managed to defeat 40 competitors among whom was two-time world champion John Florence.
Shepardson managed to score 89.1 points out of a possible 90 while on break from his duties as a lifeguard which included making sure that the estimated 50,000 spectators were alright.
Shepardson recalls that after competing he had to go back to the tower so that he could make sure that everyone was safe until his shift ended at the end of the day. He added that this had been a dream come true for him, as he had only wanted to “be part of The Eddie” or even just make it “on the alternate list.”
Shepardson’s win was also celebrated by the C&C of Honolulu Ocean Safety, the lifeguard command center he belongs to. The group posted on Instagram a message celebrating Shepardson and his win.
According to the surf contest’s website, the Eddie is “the Super Bowl of Surfing” and it began in honor of Eddie Aikau, the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay and the entire North Shore. Aikau during his time as a lifeguard saved more than 500 people.
Shepardson is actually the first lifeguard to have won the competition. The Hawaii Public Radio noted that this particular competition included some gigantic waves, many of which were between 30 and 40 feet.
WATCH:
🌊🏄🏼♂️ Yesterday North Shore on-duty lifeguard Luke Shepardson won the Eddie at #waimea in front of his home crowd ✌️ What a memorable day of surfing celebrating the legacy of Eddie Aikau#surfer #surfing
@petenajarian pic.twitter.com/fl7etdaeMP
— Gary Cowabunga (@gary_icloud) January 23, 2023
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