Three-month holding period for Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau ends

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, fueled by Monster Energy, officially draws to a close on 28 February, 2011. The event was poised to run on January 20 this year as thousands of spectators joined competitors at Waimea’s hallowed shoreline, but inconsistent 20-foot surf resulted in a ‘No Go’.

That call drew overwhelming support of the event’s uncompromising standards. ‘The Eddie’ was last held in December of 2009. Since its inception in the winter of 1984/85, it has only been held eight times. We look forward to the official opening ceremony of the 27th annual Eddie on December 1, 2011.

“It has been said many times that it is the year’s we don’t go that make The Eddie so special, and this past winter season proved that,” said George Downing, Contest Director. “When you are standing on the beach at Waimea the atmosphere is electrifying with all who have gathered to see the Bay at its best. The overwhelming support of our call to wait showed how special Eddie’s name and legacy is to people, no matter how much we would all love to see the event go.

“On behalf of the Aikau family, and Quiksilver, I would like to extend a sincere mahalo to the invitees who traveled so far in the hopes that the event would run; to the supporters who joined us at the beach; and to the City & County of Honolulu who worked with us to take safety and preparation to an unprecedented level. The integrity of this event remains intact and is something we can all be very proud of.”

Lastest update January 21, 2011: NO GO FOR QUIKSILVER IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU

Crowd na Kamehameha Highway Foto: Cestari

George Downing, Contest Director of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy, has called a “NO GO” for competition at Waimea Bay today, based upon the inconsistency of the swell. While there were definitely 20- to 25-foot waves sporadically throughout the morning, the consistency of those large waves was deemed to be insufficient to run the two rounds of competition. The event still has until February 28 to run.

“What we see in conditions like this is just one or two true ‘Eddie’ size waves in the period of a heat,” said Downing. “With seven surfers in the water per heat, that is not the kind of playing field we need for quality, fair competition.

“It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement when those huge waves come through, and after all of the efforts of the crew and the spectators to get ready for this day. But what keeps this event the greatest big wave event in the world is never relaxing those standards. Eddie never did.

“We will continue to wait. The holding period runs through February 28 and we know that there is definite potential in the coming weeks for more extra large surf to arise. If that day comes, we will be ready to go again.

The 15,000-strong crowd that had gathered under moonlight since the very early hours of the morning understood the call and settled in for the day, regardless. With the world’s best big wave riders making the most of the opportunity to put some time in at Waimea, they will be treated to spectacular rides throughout the day, without question.

2002 Eddie winner and 10X world champion Kelly Slater was in firm agreement with the decision: “It’s a good call.” said Slater. “There are big waves out there, but there’s not that many of them. It’s not what we need.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the world’s longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational and is the only one sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.

Lastest update January 20, 2011: Swell incoming, 6:30am HST call

Organizers of the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy, spent the day setting the stage for the world’s most prestigious big wave event at Waimea Bay on Oahu’s North Shore. While the verdict is still out on whether the contest will be a ‘go’ tomorrow, organizers are giving it a 50/50 chance as we approach midnight Hawaii time.

Waves have continued to steadily increase throughout the afternoon at Waimea and a small army of workers will press on through the night to the sounds of loud, rumbling surf.

The digital age science of surf forecasting has played its part and now it comes down to the age-old waiting game of seeing what daybreak reveals.

“Every swell has a story,” said Contest Director George Downing. “No matter what tomorrow brings, a big day at Waimea is always a special day and there will be no shortage of stories by the time the sun sets. Of course, we hope as much as anyone that the event will be a ‘go’, but ultimately we don’t make the call, the Bay does.”

The official call will be broadcast live tomorrow morning, starting at 6:30am, on www.quiksilver.com/eddie, and in Hawaii on cable channels 11 and 15, and Oceanic Time Warner digital cable channels 250 and 1250.

Aloha

January 17, 2011: Big Waves Expected to Peak on Thursday. Watch and Wait

Waimea Bay — An extra large swell is forecast to batter Oahu’s North Shore this week, but uncertainty still surrounds the actual height of the waves that will materialize and whether this latest episode will give the green light to The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy.

Mark Healey on Sunday during the 15-18 ft west swell © Quiksilver / Bielman

There is no question that the north Pacific system generating the anticipated swell has the potential to deliver waves of “Eddie” size, but it now comes down to the directional focus of the swell. Organizers of the event will continuously monitor developments of this swell that is expected to peak on Oahu’s North Shore on Thursday, January 20.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a one-day big wave invitational staged at Waimea Bay with a minimum wave height requirement of 20 feet. It was last held on December 8, 2009, in 20- to 25-foot surf and was won by California’s Greg Long. The event is held in memory of one of the greatest Hawaiian watermen of all time, Eddie Aikau, who was a pioneer big wave rider and highly respected lifeguard at Waimea Bay. In its 26 year history, the event has only been held a total of eight times.

“The system generating the surf is definitely gigantic and certainly as strong as predicted, covering roughly 18,000 square miles of the north Pacific,” explains George Downing, Contest Director of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau. “But up to now, the strongest winds generating the open ocean swells have not been aimed at Hawaii. This can change as the system passes the dateline, so we will have to be patient.”

A further 24 hours of watch-and-wait will provide a better indication of the true potential of the swell and what it will produce for Waimea Bay. There are still three full days of developments yet to unfold and ultimately “The Bay calls the day”.

The National Weather Service expects that beyond this week the favorable jet stream flow will continue to lend itself to more extra-large to giant surf through the end of the month/into early February. The holding period for the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau runs up to and including February 28.

The most recent storm activity in the Pacific produced quality surf of up to 18 feet along Oahu’s North Shore yesterday, allowing many of the Invitees and Alternates to “The Eddie” to test their equipment and ready themselves for what lies ahead.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the world’s longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational and is the only one sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.

What began as a local tribute to one of Hawaii’s favorite surfing sons in 1984, soon took on a life all its own and the story is the reason why this event continues to grow. Eddie Aikau has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man. Waimea Bay was the canvas upon which his story is told each year, in his memory. For over 25 years, it is a story that has traversed the globe to touch hearts, minds and imaginations: a life lived with passion, dedicated with meaning, and exited from heroically.

Just 31 years of age when he lost his life in an attempt to save others, Aikau has physically been gone longer – 33 years – than he was here. But far from being forgotten, his life, the waves he rode, and the lives he saved on his ancestral grounds at Waimea Bay have become a part of history, passed on from person to person around the world like a wave seeking shore.

The Eddie has run just eight times in 25 years. You don’t want to miss it when the Bay calls the momentous day. Go to Quiksilver.com/Eddie for swell updates, happenings from the North Shore, and to sign up for text alerts to make sure you’re the first to know when the Bay calls the day!