Legendary surfing contest is on!

HONOLULU - A one-day surfing contest held only in extreme conditions was under way for the first time in five years Tuesday, thanks to the massive waves pounding Oahu's famed North Shore.

Thousands gathered at Waimea beach to watch the world's top surfers rocket down waves 30 feet high. Some arrived at 4 a.m. for a good spot, while others camped out all night.
The contest is held in honor of Eddie Aikau, a legendary Hawaiian surfer, Waimea Bay lifeguard and waterman. Aikau died in 1978 at the age of 31 when the traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe he was on capsized en route from Hawaii to Tahiti. Aikau paddled on his surfboard toward Hawaii's Lanai island, 19 miles away, to get help but never returned. The rest of the crew was rescued soon after.

..."We want guys who can't wait to pull themselves over the ledge and drop into a 25-foot wave," said Bob McKnight, president of Quiksilver, the event's sponsor. He was at a meeting in 1984 that led to the founding of the event.

...The National Weather Service is forecasting 30- to 40-foot waves, with some sets approaching 50 feet on the outer reefs as Hawaii remains under a high surf warning.

...The winner will take home to $55,000, while the total purse is $98,000.

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