(AP) — Luke Shepardson won one of the world’s most prestigious and storied surfing contests which was held in Hawaii over the weekend for the first time in seven years. Shepardson, a lifeguard, beat out reigning champion John John Florence on Sunday at The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational with a nearly perfect score. The contest held on Oahu’s North Shore goes forward only when the surf is consistently large enough during the big-wave surfing season from mid-December through mid-March. Before this year, it had only been held nine times since the initial competition in 1984. It honors legendary Native Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau.
© copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved
AP Photo
