Bodyboarders tackle Monster Waimea Bay Shorebreak as North Shore Swell Delivers
Waimea Bay, oahu, is currently delivering some of its heaviest shorebreak of the season, attracting bodyboarders willing to risk it all in the powerful conditions. A notable northwest swell, characterized by long-period waves, has been impacting the North Shore since Thanksgiving, creating “pure North Shore chaos and glory,” according to eyewitness accounts.
Waimea Bay holds a unique place in surfing history,being the birthplace of modern big-wave riding-Greg “da Bull” Noll first rode waves there in the late 1950s-and home to the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational,scheduled to kick off December 5th for the 2025/26 season.
While moast surfers avoid the notoriously hazardous shorebreak, bodyboarders have been fully committed. Video footage shows riders navigating massive, jumbled waves and experiencing brutal wipeouts. One notably harrowing attempt, around the one-minute mark of the clip, showcases a rider taking on a four-wave set, resulting in a violent “annihilation.”
“The bodyboard crew went all-in – big rides, long hold-downs, deep barrels, and some violent closeouts when the sets detonated on the sand,” a caption accompanying the video states. The conditions are described as creating ”the heaviest, mutant, below sea level, sand-bottomed washing machines in the world.”
The swell follows a season-opener bender on Oahu’s North Shore. While legendary rides like Bruce Irons’ 2004 Eddie Aikau win and Jamie O’Brien’s stunts draw attention,the bodyboarders are making their own mark on the formidable Waimea Bay inside shorepound.
Related: 20ft Waimea Bay Ahead of eddie Aikau Event: ’As Big As It Gets’ (Video)
Related: Massive Outer Reef Waves During Dangerous hawaii Swell (Video)
