Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational; Triple Crown Of Surfing

Both of these programs feature big wave competition surfing off Hawaii's Oahu coastline. In the first title, writer/director/cinematographer Jack McCoy introduces the 1986 Eddie Aikau Big Wave International, named in honor of Eddie Aikau, a local legend who was lost at sea while trying to rescue a boat in distress in 1978. Held at Waimea Bay, in the wake of a storm that battered houses along the North Shore, and produced 20-30 foot swells, the video mixes interviews with surfing footage of the 30 contestants. Unfortunately, the filming is not that good--or at least not close enough to the action. Triple Crown of Surfing brings the surfing much closer to the viewer's eye, as contestants from all over the world go for the World Cup at Waimea Bay, the Billabong Pro prize at Sunset Beach, and the Pipeline Masters award through the daunting Banzai Pipeline. Here writer/director Jim Hayes captures the exciting journey of surfers skimming along as a 30-foot wave forms a roll around them. Unfortunately, the program is interrupted every 10 minutes for a commercial from Corona Extra--making this one of the worst offenders in the advertising-overkill-on-video arena. Libraries without similar titles might be interested in these tapes, but they are not necessary purchases. (Available from most distributors.)