For the first time ever, female surfers compete in the big wave event
By now, you’ve heard the story of Luke Shepardson, the on-duty North Shore lifeguard who took the win. A true heroic tale, Shepardson got the call to compete in the Eddie after being named as an alternative. While he made locals and underdogs proud across the surfing world, we cannot forget another historic moment during this year’s event. For the first time in the contest’s 39 year history, six female surfers were a part of the Eddie Aikau Memorial Invitational.
Brazil’s Andrea Moller solidified her spot in big wave surfing history as she became the first woman ever to paddle out during this event. Though female surfers were invited for the last planned Eddie, conditions did not permit the contest to run. This year’s Eddie was the first in seven years, being that the event will only run if the waves reach the 40 foot plus range.
Moller was joined by invitees Keala Kennelly, Justine Dupont, Emily Erickson, Makani Adric, and Paige Alms. Laura Enever was named as an alternate for the event, though she did not receive the call to compete. These women paddled out in the fifty-foot plus waves, shifting the perception of big wave female surfers forever.
“I’m approaching it as a historic event where women are getting to surf the Eddie for the first time, not as a contest, really,” Kennelly told Hawaii News. “But going in and surfing in an expression session with a bunch of my friends.”
