Hawaii's unusual big-surf season a wave of money for North Shore

An unusual season of giant waves on the North Shore has resulted in a healthy — if not epic — boost for businesses from Sunset Beach to Hale'iwa.

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Californian Long wins 'Eddie'

When it comes to winning big-wave surfing contests, Greg Long is no longer a long shot. A victory in the world's most revered big-wave contest proved it yesterday. Long capped a near-perfect day with a perfect ride that led him to victory in the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surfing contest.

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Pipeline Masters on today; wave-face heights 10-18 feet

The opening day of the Billabong Pipeline Masters is on today at the Banzai Pipeline off Ehukai Beach.

Wave-face heights are in the 10- to 18-foot range.

Surfers expected to compete today include Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Sunny Garcia, Shane Dorian, Jamie O'Brien and Dusty Payne.

The Pipeline Masters is the final event of both the 2009 ASP World Tour and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Both titles will be decided at the Pipeline Masters.

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Eddie Aikau big-wave contest on alert

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surfing contest is on alert for a possible day of competition tomorrow or Tuesday at Waimea Bay. Wave-face heights are projected to be in the 40- to 50-foot range, which would meet the requirement to run the prestigious contest.

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25-foot waves hit North Shore

EHUKAI BEACH — As the big surf crested, curled, rolled and roared at Pipeline yesterday, one intrepid surfer raced across the face of a foaming wave, realized things were definitely not going as planned, kicked his board away and dived out of sight as the next wave in the set crashed down on him like a landslide, like an avalanche, like a cattle stampede.

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Pipeline Pro hoping to run today with 18-foot surf expected

The North Shore surfing scene was relatively quiet throughout the month of January, so several events are hoping for a rise in February.

Among the contests that could run this month:

• The HIC Pipeline Pro Trials men's surfing contest is expected to run at the Banzai Pipeline today, organizers announced late yesterday.

• The Turbo Pipeline Pro bodyboarding contest has a holding period of Feb. 16 to 27 at the Banzai Pipeline.

• The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and the Bank of Hawaii North Shore Tow-In Championship are still awaiting for a giant swell to hit O'ahu.

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Slammin'!

The biggest swell to hit the North Shore so far this season dazzled spectators and gave surfers a warm-up yesterday for what they hope will be more surf to come.

Honolulu lifeguards said waves hit about 30-foot face heights at Waimea Bay in the morning and 23-foot heights at Sunset Beach.

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Photo by Dennis Oda

Big waves rolling in for Oahu's already busy North Shore

From his lifeguard tower at Waimea Bay, Kerry Atwood looked out over an ocean that was as calm as a bathtub this week but will begin pounding the North Shore as early as this afternoon with the first big waves of the winter — drawing even more crowds to an area that has stayed busy despite a sluggish economy.

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