Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau eyes new swell

Opening Ceremony : photo Quiksilver

26th Annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau
Fueled by Monster

ASP Specialty Event
Waimea Bay Oahu, Hawaii
1 December 2010 - 28 February 2011

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc

Contest Organizers Monitor Swell & Weather for Next week

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 January, 2011 : - - The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, presented by Monster Energy, continues to monitor the developing swell for potential of running the event next week. 'We are receiving a ton of phone calls and we are most definitely watching the development of this swell,' said George Downing, Contest Director.

"It is still far too early to make a call at this time, but we will definitely have more substantive evidence to draw upon come Monday."

The system under the microscope is due to unfold over the weekend, lending itself to more accurate analysis come Monday. Based on current information, estimated arrival of the swell to the Hawaiian Islands is around Thursday, January 20. The National Weather Service preliminarily forecasts an "extra large" category swell.

Continued alerts will be issued as more concrete information comes to light.

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!