Quiksilver Eddie Aikau is likely to GO on 7, 8, or 9 Dec

Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau
Fueled by Monster

  ASP Specialty Event
  Waimea Bay Oahu, Hawaii
  1 December 2009 - 28 February 2010

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

OFFICIAL UPDATE FROM THE QUIKSILVER IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 December, 2009 : - - Waimea Bay, Hawaii - **WARNING: The National Weather Service is issuing high surf warnings to local residents. In the interest of public safety, the Civil Defense may close roads and beach accesses along the North Shore of Oahu from Sunday night.

The safest place to be is away from coastal areas.
Avoid traffic and hazards by watching the event live when it goes at quiksilver.com/eddie.

Invitees & alternates are enjoying a solid 18- to 20-foot warmup swell at Waimea Bay this-morning; a hair undersize for the event to run.

All eyes are on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - all three days are forecast to exceed the event's required minimum threshold of 20 feet. Updates will be issued as we approach those days.

The National Weather Service reports that swell will build early Monday and continue into Tuesday and Wednesday with open ocean swell heights exceeding 22 feet. This will translate to wave heights of 30 feet or higher at North Shore surf spots.

High surf in combination with high tides will produce dangerous battering waves that will pound the coastline, cause high run-up, and jeopardize beachfront properties.

Resources to stay up to date:
www.quiksilver.com/eddie
NOAA Oahu Surf Forecast
National Weather Service report phone line: (808) 973-4383 - detailed warnings and descriptions.

Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau: Ceremony Points to Event   |   francais ci-dessous

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 December, 2009 : - - Waimea Bay, Hawaii - In statements fitting of the 25th anniversary of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, fueled by Monster Energy, Contest Director George Downing and Aikau's brother Clyde stunned the gathered audience today when they announced that the event would run within the week. All forecasts point towards one of the largest swells to hit Hawaii in decades. The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is an ASP specialty sanctioned event.

"Seven, eight or nine," said Downing to an initially bewildered crowd. "It's gonna happen one of those days." Downing was referring to Monday, December 7, or Tuesday the 8th or Wednesday the 9th.

Today's ceremony was an overwhelming tribute, complete with the original Hokule'a voyaging canoe in Waimea Bay in the midst of a 15- to 18-foot swell. The Hokule'a is a symbol of great Hawaiian pride; a traditional double-hulled vessel that represents the original Polynesian voyage to the Hawaiian islands. It is also the same boat from which Aikau paddled for assistance in 1978, never to be seen again. Hokule'a had capsized in heavy seas in the Moloka'i Channel, injuring crew, en-route to Tahiti.

Clyde Aikau, winner of the 1987 Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, today led the paddle-out of this year's official Invitees and Alternates. Instead of gracing the lineup as they usually do, they circled the Hokule'a and paid respects to Aikau, joined by some of Eddie's original crewmates on the vessel he loved so dearly.

"Hokule'a and Eddie were all about perpetuating the Hawaiian spirit," said Kahu Billy Mitchell. "The Hokule'a keeps our culture alive, and Eddie reminds us how."

Clyde is ready to ride on what he expects to be the swell of a lifetime: "Knowing that it's probably gonna go, 90%, Monday or Tuesday, everybody's real jacked, including yours truly. I really think it's going to be a big one, probably the biggest waves ever for the event. I've surfed all the big waves that have come through here - '74, '69, and this one on Monday or Tuesday should be even bigger than that. If you're not 101% gas for the day, let somebody else surf."

Hawaii's Mark Healey spoke for a psyched up younger crew of Invitees who are amping to surf The Bay. For many it will be their first time. The last time the event ran was in December 2004.

"I've been surfing the Bay big since I was 17," said Healey, "Right now, my group of friends who ride big waves that are in this event, they're really good at forecasting, guys like Greg long have never been wrong and don't usually go out on a limb on things, but he's like 'it's on I'm coming over.' It's an emotional rollercoaster. I see the big storm on the charts on the internet."

Surfers ended the day by collecting their silver memorial Big Wave board trophies and were gifted with custom one-of-a-kind 25th Anniversary Eddie Aikau Diamond Dobby Deluxe™  competitor boardshorts.  Sign up for mobile text alerts to know which day The Eddie will go at quiksilver.com/Eddie.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, fueled by Monster Energy, will take place on one day when waves exceed the 20-foot minimum threshold and Invitees contend for the $98K prize purse and Monster Drop award.

Monster Energy will be presenting the Monster Drop Specialty Award for the surfer who makes the most critical drop and rides out of it during the event. The judges will determine the winner the day of the competition and will present the chosen surfer with a unique Monster Drop Specialty Award Trophy.

Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, fueled by Monster Energy, gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe. It 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.

The universal appeal and strength of "The Eddie" is a testament to the human spirit it honors and that we all seek to connect with: a life lived with passion, dedicated with meaning, and exited from heroically. Just 31 when he lost his life in an attempt to save others, Aikau has physically been gone now for as long as he was here. But far from being forgotten, his life story is now woven into the fabric of Hawaii.
 
The Eddie has only run seven times in the past 24 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!

INVITEES     
Andy Irons, Hawaii
Brian Keaulana, Hawaii
Brock Little, Hawaii
Bruce Irons, Hawaii
Carlos Burle, Brazil
Clyde Aikau, Hawaii
Darryl Virostko, California
Greg Long, California
Jamie O’Brien, Hawaii
Jamie Sterling, Hawaii
Kelly Slater, Florida
Keone Downing, Hawaii
Makuakai Rothman, Hawaii
Mark Healey, Hawaii
Michael Ho, Hawaii
Noah Johnson, Hawaii
Peter Mel, California
Reef McIntosh, Hawaii
Ross Clarke-Jones, Australia
Rusty Keaulana, Hawaii
Shane Dorian, Hawaii
Sunny Garcia, Hawaii
Titus Kinimaka, Hawaii
Tom Carroll, Australia
Grant “Twiggy” Baker, South Africa    
Ibon Amatriain, Euskadi  
Ramon Navarro, Chile
Takayuki Wakita, Japan    
     
ALTERNATES
Kala Alexander, Hawaii Aikau Family Pick
Pancho Sullivan, Hawaii
Garrett McNamara, Hawaii
Kohl Christensen, Hawaii
Dave Wassel, Hawaii
Keoni Watson, Hawaii
Nathan Fletcher, Hawaii
Ian Walsh, Hawaii
Danny Fuller, Hawaii
Kalani Chapman, Hawaii
Taylor Knox, California
Chava Greenlee, Hawaii
Jamie Mitchell, Australia
Myles Padaca, Hawaii
Tony Moniz, Hawaii
Darrick Doerner, Hawaii
Ken ‘Skin Dog’ Collins, California
Ross Williams, Hawaii
Derek Ho, Hawaii
Paul Paterson, Australia
Anthony Tashnick, California
Koby Abberton, Australia
Laurent Pujol, France
Laurie Towner, Australia

HONORARY INVITEES   
Mark Foo, Hawaii
Todd Chesser, Hawaii
Tiger Espere, Hawaii
Jay Moriarity, California
Peter Davi, California
Lester Falatea, Tahiti 

www.monsterenergy.com
www.quiksilver.com/eddie

francais

Compétition de surf de grosses vagues - Cérémonie d'ouverture

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 December, 2009 : - - Waimea Bay, Hawaii - - Le directeur de compétition, George Downling et Clyde Aikau, frère du légendaire waterman hawaïen disparu en mer, Eddie Aikau, ont célébré jeudi 3 décembre, la 25ème cérémonie d’ouverture du Quiksilver Eddie Aikau à Waimea Bay, Hawaï. Il s’agit de la compétition de surf de grosses vagues la plus ancienne et prestigieuse au monde.

Cette année, le who’s who du surf est réuni à Hawaii pour une édition annoncée comme légendaire en raison du swell monstrueux attendu sur Waimea. Stars du Tour Pro, spécialistes de big-wave riding et figures de légende sont au rendez-vous : Kelly Slater, les frères Andy et Bruce Irons ou encore Darryl Virotsko, Ross Clarke-Jones, Sunny Garcia, Tom Carroll, Michael Ho…

Comme le veut la tradition, tous les concurrents ont embarqué à bord des canoës à Waimea Bay pour la cérémonie du mélange des eaux. Clyde Aikau a mené le convoi jusqu’au line up. Tous se sont rassemblés en arc de cercle, ont jeté les fleurs dans l’eau et ont témoigné de leur profond respect pour le surfeur de grosses vagues disparu, Eddie Aikau. 

Les conditions de houle attendues la semaine prochaine sont exceptionnelles. Le Quiksilver Eddie Aikau, événement ASP, devrait être lancé lundi 7 ou mardi 8 décembre. Tous les surfeurs sont impatients de se mettre à l’eau pour affronter une vague qui devrait être la plus grosse jamais surfée sur ce spot.

La compétition se déroulera sur une journée. Pour qu’elle soit lançée, les vagues doivent atteindre, au minimum, 12 mètres. En 24 ans d’existence, la compétition Eddie Aikau n’en est qu’à sa septième édition. Une 8ème ligne devrait s’ajouter cette année au palmarès de cette compétition.

Monster Energy récompensera du Monster Drop Specialty Award le surfeur qui aura réalisé le drop le plus spectaculaire, et qui sera parvenu à en sortir. Les juges désigneront le vainqueur le jour de la compétition et lui remettront un trophée unique baptisé Monster Drop Specialty Award.

Organisé en l’honneur d’Eddie Aikau, le Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau rassemble les surfeurs les plus doués et les plus courageux de la planète. 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Big Wave in Memory of Eddie open to voting
# 2 : 25th anniversary Quiksilver Eddie Aikau names invitees
# 3 : Big waves forecast: Will the Eddie Aikau go next week
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.quiksilver.com
www.quiksilver.com/bigwave

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