Lifeguard Luke Shepardson, who made national news following his win at the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surf contest earlier this year, will be coming to the mainland to accept a prestigious award in the South Bay and a day later talk about the major feat in San Clemente.
Shepardson, a Honolulu lifeguard who was on duty when he won the big wave contest, will first stop in Redondo Beach to accept the “Meritorious Act Award” at the United States Lifesaving Association’s board of directors meeting on April 27.
Then, the now-famous lifeguard will travel down to San Clemente on April 28 for a “role model” event with the San Clemente Lifeguard and Junior Guard Foundation to talk about his time as a lifesaver and big-wave surfer, with a showing of the film “Big Wave Guardians” following his discussion.
The 2023 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surf contest held at O’ahu’s Waimea Bay on Jan. 22 brought out the world’s best surfers to compete at the event that had not been held since 2016, when two-time world champion John John Florence won the contest. The big-wave event only happens when waves are upward 20 feet.
Shepardson was an unexpected winner against the world’s top big-wave surfers and it was a storybook ending for the on-duty lifeguard, who won while on his lunch break and got back to work after accepting his award. Shepardson is the first Hawaiian lifeguard to win “the Eddie.”
The United States Lifesaving Association’s award recognizes Shepardson’s accomplishments because he is the “embodiment of a modern day waterperson and public safety professional,” said Peter Davis, president of the USLA, a nonprofit association of beach lifeguards and open water rescuers.
“Luke has brought attention to the lifeguarding profession and his accomplishments have highlighted the value of open water lifeguards to public safety around the world,” said Jay Butki, recently retired Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard…
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