Eddie Would Go

Kauai's Bruce Irons, younger brother of current three-time world champion Andy Irons, got to enjoy the rare gift most of all, as he won "the Eddie" in his first time participating in the event.
"Today doesn't seem real," said 25-year-old Bruce, who earned $55,000 with the victory. "I caught the biggest waves of my life. To win the Eddie Aikau -- I can't believe it."
The first Eddie experience "was everything I expected and more," he added. "The vibe ... there's so much energy, it's such a heavy feeling. ... I'll go to my grave happy that I won the Eddie Aikau." Several thousand spectators lined the beach and both cliff sides of the bay to watch the surfers paddle into quality waves that were averaging 30 to 50 feet in face value in the morning.