When we started Vaer, we set out to build watches that could handle the real world—not just with impressive hypothetical specs and features, but with real, functional durability for people who live and work in the elements every day. Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to see our watches worn by many incredible individuals who embody that mindset. Few, however, have made a bigger impression on us than Luke Shephardson.

Luke cemented his name in surf history in 2023 when he won The Eddie Aikau Invitational, the most prestigious big-wave contest in the world. Named after legendary Hawaiian waterman Eddie Aikau, the event is only called when conditions meet a certain threshold—wave heights reaching 40 feet or more. To even be invited is an honor. To win it is the achievement of a lifetime. Yet what made Luke’s victory so remarkable was the fact that he did it while on duty as a North Shore Lifeguard—stepping off the podium and going right back to work.

In early 2024, we had the opportunity to connect with Luke as part of our ongoing partnership with Hawaii’s North Shore Lifeguards. As part of that effort, we got him one of our D4 Solar Dive watches. Since then, it’s barely left his wrist. When The Eddie returned in 2025, delivering yet another historic day of massive surf at Waimea Bay, Luke wore his watch throughout the entire contest.

When the opportunity came to officially welcome Luke as Vaer’s first brand ambassador, we didn’t take it lightly. It’s an honor—not just because of what he’s done, but because of who he is. Humble, hardworking, and committed to something bigger than himself. It meant a lot to us that he chose to wear a Vaer watch every single day for nearly a year (without any type of sponsorship or payment) and we’ve finally decided to formalize the relationship in order to promote his story to a wider audience and help support his work as a world-class waterman and first responder.