Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau

ASP Specialty Event
Waimea Bay Oahu, Hawaii
1 December 2008 - 28 February 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc  | Swell updates  |  Surforecasts

Quiksilver In Memory Of Eddie Aikau Holding Period Opens Sunday  | version francais ci-dessous
Opening Ceremony: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 3 p.m., Waimea Bay

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 November, 2008 : - - Huntington Beach, California - The holding period for The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, officially begins this Sunday, November 30, 2008. The official opening ceremony will be held the following Thursday, December 4, at 3:00 p.m. at Waimea Bay. This year's invited surfers, along with the Aikau Family and special guests, will be on hand to celebrate the 24th anniversary of this unique big-wave riding event.
 
Originally slated to open on December 1, the official start to the holding period was moved forward one day as a precautionary measure as reports of an extra-large swell forecast to hit the North Shore this weekend filtered in. While present expectations are for a sub-Eddie swell in the range of 15-18 feet Hawaiian scale, at the very least it will provide a valuable warm-up opportunity for big-wave riders invited to this prestigious event.
 
The current long-range weather models for the first week of December indicate above average wave heights in store for the North Shore of Oahu – at least into the extra-large category (minimum 12 feet Hawaiian scale). The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau is typically held in “giant” wave episodes of 20-feet-plus Hawaiian scale, with wave faces exceeding 40-feet.
 
Quiksilver team-rider and 2008 Invitee Mark Healey will be hosting weekly swell updates from the Bay every Monday.  Viewers can tune-in at Quiksilver.com/eddie. These video clips along with other videos from The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau are available for syndication through Splashcast; videos can be embedded to blogs, social networking sites and more.

Scheduled to take place at the hallowed grounds of Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, between November 30, 2008, and February 28, 2009, the event, otherwise known as "The Eddie", requires one day with a minimum of 20-foot surf (Hawaiian scale) in order to run. It is the world's most prestigious big-wave surfing event and is the only big-wave surf contest sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.
 
Held in honour of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers 28 of the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the world as polled by a comprehensive panel consisting of influential watermen, members of the surf industry, and internationally recognized surfing Associations.
 
The first memorial event for Aikau was held in 1984 at Sunset Beach, two miles north of Waimea Bay. It was won by local standout Denton Miyamura. Following the inaugural event, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau moved to Waimea Bay, where it has remained ever since. 2008 marks the event's 24th anniversary; in only seven of those years have the waves been big enough and the conditions right to hold the contest.
 
In the realm of big-wave riding, the name Eddie Aikau commands as much respect as Waimea Bay itself. Aikau was the North Shore of Oahu's first lifeguard, watching over the Bay when he wasn't charging the biggest waves of the winter. Tragically, he lost his life in 1978, at the age of 33, during a re-creation of the Polynesian voyage between Hawaii and Tahiti. In huge seas, the voyaging canoe Hokule'a was capsized. Eddie paddled off in an attempt to reach help for his fellow crewmen. He was never seen again but his spirit and legacy live on.
 
The complete list of Invitees and Alternates for this year's event are below and available online at Quiksilver.com/eddie - the website also includes photos and video from previous year's events, Invitee profiles and swell updates. Visitors can sign up to receive text updates for the "Official Contest Call" and watch online when the Bay calls the day.

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Invitees
Andy Irons
Brian Keaulana
Brock Little
Bruce Irons
Carlos Burle
Clyde Aikau
Darryl Virostko
Greg Long
Ian Walsh
Jamie O’Brien
Jamie Sterling
Kelly Slater
Keone Downing
Makua Rothman
Mark Healey
Michael Ho
Noah Johnson
Peter Mel
Ross Clarke-Jones
Rusty Keaulana
Shane Dorian
Sunny Garcia
Tom Carroll
Titus Kinimaka
Takayuki Wakita (JPN)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Ramon Navarro (CHL) 
Ibon Amatriain (SPN).

Alternates
Kala Alexander (Aikau Pick)
Garrett McNamara
Darrick Doerner
Reef McIntosh
Tony Ray
Anthony Tashnick
Paul Patterson
Nathan Fletcher
Kalani Chapman
Dave Wassel
Taylor Knox
Evan Slater
Pancho Sullivan
Derek Ho
Danny Fuller
Chava Greenlee
Keoni Watson
Manoa Drollet
Myles Padaca
Tony Moniz
Ross Williams
Ken “Skin Dog” Collins
Koby Abberton
Laurie Towner.

Honorary
Mark Foo
Todd Chesser
Tiger Espere
Jay Moriarty
Peter Davi

Version Francais

Le 1er décembre 2008 débutera officiellement la période d’attente du « Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau », unique compétition de grosses vagues sanctionnée par l’Association des Surfeurs Professionnels (ASP). Ce rendez-vous devenu mythique se tiendra, comme le veut la tradition, dans la baie de Waimea, située au nord de l’île d’Oahu à Hawaii.  

Fondée en 1984 à Sunset Beach en l’honneur du légendaire waterman Hawaiien Eddie Aikau disparu en mer, l’épreuve qui s’est toujours déroulée à Waimea depuis, n’a connu que 7 éditions en 24 années d’existence. Et pour cause ! L’épreuve communément appelée « l’Eddie », ne peut se dérouler que si les vagues mesurent au minimum 20 pieds à l’échelle hawaiienne soit 40 pieds de face (12 mètres !).  

Dans l’univers du surf de grosses vagues, le nom Eddie Aikau suscite autant de respect que la Baie de Waimea elle-même. Aikau fut le premier lifeguard du North Shore d’Oahu, chargé de surveiller la baie, quand il n’était pas dans l’eau à chevaucher les plus grosses vagues hivernales. En 1978, il perdit tragiquement la vie à l’occasion de la commémoration du voyage Polynésien entre Tahiti et Hawaii. Dans une mer formée, sa pirogue Hokule’a fut engloutie et Eddie tenta de ramer pour se faire secourir par l’un de ses équipiers. On ne le revit jamais mais son esprit et son héritage lui ont survécu.  

Pour honorer sa mémoire et succéder au dernier vainqueur en date, l’hawaiien Bruce Irons, sacré en 2004, 28 surfeurs parmi les meilleurs big-wave riders de la planète se tiennent prêts à disputer le « Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau », du 1er décembre 2008 au 28 février 2009.  

Toutes les informations, images, vidéos sont sur www.quiksilver.com/eddie

Les visiteurs peuvent s’inscrire pour être informés des « calls » officiels de la compétition et regarder en direct l’épreuve, le jour que la baie aura choisi. Une série limitée de produits « Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau » est également disponible sur le site www.quiksilver.com/eddie et dans les points de vente Quiksilver (ci-après). 

Lieu : Baie de Waimea, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Cérémonie d’ouverture : Jeudi 4 décembre 2008 à 15h

Période d’attente : 1er décembre 2008 au 28 février 2009
La compétition peut se dérouler sur une seule journée à condition que les vagues mesurent au moins 20 pieds (40 pieds de face)

Les Big-Wave Riders : 28 des meilleurs surfeurs de grosses vagues du monde dont Bruce Irons (Hawaii), tenant du titre, Kelly Slater 9 fois champion du monde (USA) et Clyde Aikau, frère cadet d’Eddie et ancien vainqueur de la compétition.

Dotation : 55 000 US$ pour le vainqueur.

Anciens vainqueurs:i 1984 (à Sunset Beach): Denton Miyamura (Hawaii)
                                   1986: Clyde Aikau (Hawaii)
                                   1990: Keone Downing (Hawaii)
                                   1999: Noah Johnson (Hawaii)
                                   2001: Ross Clarke-Jones (Australie)
                                   2002: Kelly Slater (Floride, USA)
                                   2004: Bruce Irons (Hawaii)

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Big Wave in Memory of Eddie Aikau gets ready
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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

Eddie Aikau swell updates

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