The past week has seen an unbelievable variety of surfing accomplishments by the greatest surfers of the modern era. And with the word ‘Greatest’ included in the title, one cannot exclude the greatest surfer ever, Kelly Slater, from being a part of the excitement. In this case, he was involved in two of the occasions, along with the new King of Big Wave surfing, Greg Long, and the former King, Laird Hamilton, with a lot of the action taking place on the mythical islands of Hawaii.
The amazing week started in Todos Santos. The greatest surfer who ever lived Kelly Slater, for reasons unexplained, was in Baja Sur texting his friend Mike Parsons to see where he was going to surf. Parsons replied that he was heading to Todos Santos, and Slater - who hadn’t surfed Todos in eighteen years – said he was in. Parsons picked up Slater, and with Greg Long, Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Ramon Navarro, Alfy Carter, Rusty Long and Mark Healey (most of whom were surfing Mavericks just the day before), the crew took a quiver that ranged from Slater’s 5’6’’ quad to Twiggy’s 9’6’’ gun. Together they had an absolute blast on a medium-sized, glassy Todos Santos day.
Slater borrowed Twiggy's 9'6'' to set up this turn.
Greg Long lining up for the ride of the day.
Twiggy snapping the gun.
Slater on his 5'6'' quad chatting it up with Snips.
Twiggy charging while Slater paddles by.
Fast forward a week. With a ridiculously-monstrous swell forming off the coast of Japan and heading west, Jaws and Waimea Bay, which both require similar swell size and direction, went completely berserk. And resident charger Laird Hamilton wasn’t going to miss the first big day at Jaws in a half-decade.
Laird Hamilton doing what he does best: Owning Jaws.
"Soul Surfer" Dave Rastavich decided to check Jaws out.
Ian Walsh shows everyone there's a left at Jaws.
West of Maui, Kelly Slater put on an amazing show and nearly won his second Eddie Aikeau, scoring a near-perfect 98 out of a hundred at Waimea. However, it was the new and official King of Big Wave Surfing Greg Long who stole the show, scoring a perfect 100 and becoming the first Californian to win big wave surfing’s most prestigious award. Kelly Slater finished a close second in the Eddie’s 25th anniversary, and first in five years.
Kelly Slater dropping in on a bomb.
Bruce Irons attempting to defend his five-year title.
Andy Irons attempting the end-of-the-ride-shorebreak-barrel made signature by his brother Bruce five years ago.
Kelly Slater stoked after his 98-point ride.
Greg Long celebrating his greatest career victory.
The excitement isn’t over, as the Pipe Masters, and a new ASP World Champion, is yet to come. And huge props to Surfline for providing great coverage and amazing photos of a wild week in surfing.
