30th Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau invitees announced
This winter, big wave riding celebrates a special milestone with the 30th annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Quiksilver is pleased to announce the list of official 2014/15 Invitees and Alternates on this very special occasion.
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a one-day big wave riding event that only takes place if and when waves meet a 20-foot minimum height, during the holding period of December 1 through February 28, each Hawaiian winter. The official Opening Ceremony with the Aikau Family will be held on Thursday, December 4th, 3pm, at Waimea Bay.
“The Eddie” is the original big wave riding event and stands as the measure for every big wave event that exists in the world today. It has become an iconic event through its honor, integrity and rarity.
The event honors Hawaiian hero Eddie Aikau, whose legacy is the respect he held for the ocean; his concern for the safety of all who entered it on his watch; and the way with which he rode Waimea Bay on its most giant and memorable days.
Adherence to strict wave height standards has ensured the integrity of the event; it is only held on days when waves meet or exceed the Hawaiian 20-foot minimum (wave face heights of approximately 40 feet). This was the threshold at which Eddie enjoyed to ride the Bay. It has been said that what makes The Eddie special is the times it doesn't run, because that is precisely its guarantee of integrity and quality days of giant surf.
The competition has only been held a total of 8 times: it's inaugural year at Sunset Beach, and then seven more times at its permanent home of Waimea Bay. The Eddie was last held on December 9, 2009, won by California's Greg Long.*
Regardless of whether "The Bay Calls The Day" and the event runs, the annual Opening Ceremony is considered the annual celebration of Aikau's legacy as well as that of the sport of big wave riding, and is attended by the who's who of the surfing world. We hope you can join this year's Invitees, Alternates, and the Quiksilver & Aikau families.
LIVE BROADCAST ON www.quiksilver.com/eddie
2014/2015 Invitees are:
AARON GOLD
BRUCE IRONS
CLYDE AIKAU
DAVE WASSEL
GARRETT MCNAMARA
GRANT BAKER
GREG LONG
IAN WALSH
JAMIE MITCHELL
JAMIE O'BRIEN
JAMIE STERLING
JOHN JOHN FLORENCE
KALA ALEXANDER
KELLY SLATER
KOHL CHRISTENSEN
MAKUA ROTHMAN
MARK HEALEY
NATHAN FLETCHER
NOAH JOHNSON
PETER MEL
REEF MCINTOSH
RAMON NAVARRO
SHANE DORIAN
SUNNY GARCIA
ROSS CLARKE-JONES
TAKAYUKI WAKITA
TOM CARROLL
JEREMY FLORES
*Event past winners:
1985/1986 : Denton Miyamura (Haw)
1986/1987 : Clyde Aikau (Haw)
1989/1990 : Keone Downing (Haw)
1998/1999 : Noah Johnson (Haw)
2000/2001 : Ross Clarke-Jones (Aus)
2004/2005 : Bruce Irons (Haw)
2001/2002 : Kelly Slater (USA)
2009/2010 : Greg Long (USA)
Comments
Is that JJF's first invite?
Nah, he's been invited the last two years.
but never actually surfed the comp yeah?
How many hawaiians in this comp Eddie Roth ?
I can't actually ever recall Fast Eddie being notable for his surfing. He certainly holds some sway though.
Flores again?
Good to see j mitchells earned himself a spot on the list .
Alternates: Mason Ho, Koa Rothman, Kalani Chapman, Danilo Couto, Billy Kemper, Anthony Tashnick, Carlos Burle, Albee Layer, Ross Williams, Ben Wilkinson, Danny Fuller, Kealii Mamala, Michael Ho, Kai Lenny, Shawn Dollar, Gabriel Villaran, Evan Valiere, Kahea Hart, Keoni Watson, Derek Dunfee, Koby Abberton, Mark Mathews, Alex Gray, Laurie Towner
Honorary: Donnie Solomon, Andy Irons, Mark Foo, Marvin Foster, Ronnie Burns, Ricky Grigg. Jay Moriarity, Lester Falatea, Mel Kinney, Peter Davi, Sion Milosky, Tiger Espere
Be careful not to read last yrs lists like i just did
Thought Mark Mathews holds more cred than john Flores, bit surprising
John flores ? Timmy corrall ?
Does anyone know if kong ever surfed in the event?
Dunno if he surfed in it but was definetely an invite for a few years. Check photos here from 1988 ceremony:
https://joli.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Gary-Kong-Elkerton/G0000S.h0FDRsK8c/I0000yB40bIfgeRo/C0000OU920IX_1U4
Thanks, stu....
Who is the guy with the red Rawson Brutus do you know ?
Good question. Don't recognise that fella.
I think the guy's name is Mick Bourne.
Mick Bourne.... haha
In Hawaii........ hahahaha
Surfing big waves......... BAHAHahahahahahahahaha.
Bahahaahahahahaaahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahaahahaah...
No. Really... Stop it.
Marty Hoffman...In actually competed against him in France in 1980.....really cool guy....and part of the famous Hoffman family......
Man, the way Tom Curren was surfing at Jbay, I reckon he'd go ok if invited
Look at the front fin placement on Buzzys board.......long way forward ?
EDIT: maybe not Lairds much the same distance.
Jeremy Flores over Laurie Towner, Michael Ho, Mark Mathews??? Wtf.
How?
Short article on Jeremy from his first call up:
https://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpolitik/2011/10/27/jeremy-flores-keeps-company-eddie-aikau
Who else on the list are Quick sponsored these days? Healy & McIntosh?
Mark Healey left Quiksilver late 2013.
QUIK... (sand)
Udo gerry lopez shaped boards have always had the fins a fair long way up . Its not that unusual . Nowadays you will see fins on guns placed between 15-18 inches up im pretty sure thats standard
.
Kelly ordered an 8'6 with a bat tail for last years comp. RCJ amazing. Hey Caml you get some swell lately!!!??
M free yes i been surfing plenty waves . Lefts . Did u take the pic of kelly ?
Yep I got out of the water and took it. Always a good time to have a break as he gets his fair share haha. Bumped into him on mainland Monday night was pretty sore. He is just like a kid who can't help himself tried to take push it too far on the inside.
It looks like its pumping in SA today and tomorrow (though windy).
btw, thats one of the best surf comp posters i've seen.
Agreed Ant. Would make a good t-shirt too (which I suppose is one of their goals anyway!).
Mick your pic of kelly is on every surf site there is ? Even the king K injured himself trying to film & surf at the same time . God help the rest of us then .
Camel, funny back story Kelly only got two waves Monday hurting himself on the last. I think apart from Steve Jones no one got any shots. I think that's why Taylor Steele ripped my photo from Swellnets fb feed and posted it as his.. Tracks then picked up the photo and sent it into cyber space and got picked up everywhere. Somehow Surfer Magazine with a much higher level of integrity found my instagram feed and published it in full. I couldn't care less but pissed that someone like Taylor Steele legend cinematographer would rip of essentially SN photo. (I didn't give it to anyone else). Coincidently Taylor uses Swellnet forecasts, and instead of going to skeleton Bay SN sent Taylor and Mick to East Africa for Micks movie last year. I'm not a photog and only take photos between sessions or before I go out but I'm sure pissed at Taylor Steele.
Sorry to change thread topic too. In the tradition of letting your actions do the talking I reckon Paul Morgan for the Eddie.
Taylor Steele ,Mate you cant do that !
Thanks Udo,but I'm picking he won't respond anyway.
Mick F interesting story thanks for enlightening us about that . & yeah morgo could give some of the eddie invites a run .
Scuse my ignorance but which pic are we talking about Mick?
This one.. https://instagram.com/p/u6yZxuQwlD
Cheers Craig.
Taylor Steele, you dirty dog. You of all people should know better.
Taylor has removed the pic from his instagram page.
His surname suits him .
Saw that too Udo, but Tracks is still crediting it to him.
StabMag also still crediting the pic to Taylor Steele.