Rip Curl New Sponsor For The Eddie
Rip Curl today announced sponsorship for the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. Since 2016, the contest has been without a major partner, the Aikau family being unable to agree to terms with longtime sponsor Quiksilver.
Initially, the contest was the idea of Quiksilver's Bruce Raymond with the first instalment run at Sunset Beach and won by Denton Miyamura. In 1986, the contest moved to Waimea Bay and was won by Eddie's younger brother Clyde. It's been run just eight more times since then - the most recent event held in January 2023, where it was won by North Shore lifeguard Luke Shepardson.
Shepardson had been scheduled to work the lifeguard tower at Waimea the day of the Eddie and took breaks during his shift to go surf his heats.
From 2021 till 2023, Rip Curl sponsored the WSL Finals Day. It's unknown how many years Rip Curl have confirmed support of the Eddie.
"Established in memory of the late Aikau, a Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard, first run in 1984, the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational requires a full day of consistent 25-foot surf to be called on. Because of its commitment to running in only the heaviest Hawaiian conditions, the event has only been run ten times in 40 years. The unique format features an exclusive invite list of 40 surfers who are decided upon by the Aikau family at the start of every winter season in Hawaii. There are an additional 23 alternate surfers also invited."
"A lifelong advocate for Hawaii’s culture and people, on March 16,1978, Aikau set out on the Hōkūle‘a, a 60ft traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe, with a crew of fellow Hawaiian sailors. The vessel set sail from Oahu on a 30-day, 2,500-mile voyage that was intended to travel to Tahiti and illustrate how Polynesians were able to traverse the wide, expansive openness of the Pacific Ocean.
"As the Hōkūle‘a passed by the island of Molokaʻi, one of the hulls began to leak and the boat capsized. Aikau famously set off on his surfboard to paddle for help. The crew was eventually rescued, but tragically, Aikau was never seen again. Among his exploits in the surf, it’s this selflessness and dedication to his crew Hawaiian members that has helped foster the Aikau legend."
To read the presser click here.
Comments
Great news.
Best contest ever I reckon, especially the last one.
Can't understand why it struggled to get a major sponsor. If I was a marketing manager, this would be the first on my list to sponsor.
The back story, the history, the man it honours, the Bay maxing, the surfers who get the invite.
It's epic.
“ the contest has been without a major partner, the Aikau family being unable to agree to terms”
The reason it struggled to get a major sponsor.
I imagine commercial requirements and Aikau family requirements don’t quite match as a partnership.
I'm surprised Bonsoy didn't step up.
Lucky I wasn't sipping my coffee
Haha! Bonsoy..
It’s weird how past winners aren’t automatically invitees for whenever it runs.
Greg Long for an example.
For him to be an Alternate and Nic Von Rupp and Flick Palmateer as invitee’s stinks imo.
Does Greg Long have Instagram?
Aye
https://www.instagram.com/gerglong/
Hmmm. There's actually a few alternates that I'm surprised are alternates...
as long as the is a genuinely concerted effort to round up eric haas..
Wow, did not see this coming...
Almost random....
What about Baileys ladders an aussie icon maybe they should step up........perfect trophy for this event .
And stepladder sets all day long.
Maybe the Aikaus never rung them
Bailey could have at least extended them an offer
haha
Settle down Andrew- one step at a time.
Ha! Peaking too early you reckon Zen? i saw the red line on the "DO NOT STEP ABOVE THIS RUNG" and stepped right over it
Sorry to feel the need to point this out, but the first line of 2nd paragraph need some editing....
Cheers.
Gabriel Medina would go. He should be given & accept an invite.
I've never seen Medina on a wave over 8-10ft and that was only at Chopes. Probably why he doesn't get an invite?? I dont know his big wave credentials (and i suspect you need them to get invited) but i'm sure he would go given the chance although i think being a great competition surfer and being a great big wave surfer are 2 different things
would help if your local reef can handle the bigger swell size and your exposed to big waves, seasonally.
the local lifeguard won the last eddie...... so was eddie.
Wouldnt be a great career move for most wsl surfers......'honey,.... i'm goin in this cool surf comp, ....to win, um, it may not pay the bills, be off the tour... chasin big swells around the world, hiring jetski's, camera crew, etc
oh, and, I, could near drown... or break something ....s'pose,,, i could ice bath in that big eski.
goodonya ripccurl btw...
I read the kanga book and there's a part where he said he took off on the biggest wave he'd ever seen there and nearly died. Is there any footage of that?
Have to be one of the Smirnoff comps. Think 1974 was the big one, and from memory his wipeout was a big freefall from takeoff, similar to Flea Virostko.
Not sure about it being online. Was in Nat Young's History of Australian Surfing though.
Feet First.. White board Red L Bolt ...saw Boulders the size of Trucks getting Moved around on the Bottom...something like that .....?
Hopefully it still stays a bit chaotic
Ramon Navarro doesn't even get an alternate but Flick gets an in ?
Interesting ....