A Jan Juc surfer has finished second in the world’s most prestigious big-wave surfing contest.
Ross Clarke-Jones surfed waves up to 20m high in the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Memorial at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, today.
Young Hawaiian star John John Florence won the event, only held when surf on Oahu’s north shore reaches gigantic proportions. Australian Jaimie Mitchell was third and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, of the US, finished fourth.
Clarke-Jones scored 278 out of a possible 400 after riding four waves, one of which ended in a wipe-out.
The surf was so big he was one of 25 competitors in the 28-man invitational event to wear a buoyancy vest.
“It was actually nice to have it, to have the option, because if I don’t wear it, then I’m going to get hammered.
“I chose to wear it and I didn’t need it till the last wave. It was the last wave and I thought I’ll pull it anyway because I got pounded and it just came out like a breeze.
“It’s an incredible piece of equipment.”
Clarke-Jones became and remains the only Hawaiian to win the contest after claiming the title in 2000/2001.
Torquay-based Quiksilver sponsors the event in honour of Hawaiian big-wave legend and lifeguard Eddie Aikau, who disappeared in 1978 while paddling to seek help for crewmates on a capsized canoe offshore.
