Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is a “Go” – Invitees and opening ceremony announced

Quiksilver, the Aikau family, and The World Surf League work together to prevent interruption to the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational and announce invitees and opening ceremony date

North Shore, Hawaii (Monday, November 29, 2016) – Quiksilver and the Aikau family have amicably resolved their differences, ensuring that the 2016-2017 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational occurs starting on December 1, 2016.

Quiksilver and the Aikau family have worked constructively together for the past several weeks in an effort to avoid interrupting the 31-year track record of the event being held. With the support of The World Surf League (WSL), which will produce the event and manage the broadcast and media, the event will proceed.

Beginning in 1985, the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational has been an invite-only big-wave event that takes place at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, where the late Eddie Aikau served as the North Shore’s first lifeguard. Opting only to run when conditions reach the 20-foot-plus range (Hawaiian scale—40-50 ft faces), The Eddie has only run nine times in its history. As a WSL specialty-sanctioned big-wave event, The Eddie has drawn a prestigious cross-section of the world’s finest watermen, including competitors from the elite WSL Championship Tour (CT). The event is famous for its traditional opening ceremony, live broadcast and incredible atmosphere.

“We are proud to see the tradition of The Eddie continue without interruption—a testament to our respect for Eddie Aikau, the Aikau family, the Hawaiian people, and the community at large. We are very grateful for the efforts and support of the Aikau family and the World Surf League under the leadership of Paul Speaker who have all worked very hard with our team over the past few weeks to come up with a solution”, said Pierre Agnes, Quiksilver’s CEO. Agnes added “Consistent with Quiksilver and the Aikau family’s wishes, we are pleased to confirm that the same stringent condition requirements we instituted when we inaugurated The Eddie 31 years ago will continue this year. We have every confidence that WSL’s greater involvement in the event this year will only improve The Eddie’s reputation as one of the world’s premier surfing contests.”

“The WSL has tremendous respect for the legacy of Eddie Aikau and the prestige of this special event in his honor,” Paul Speaker, WSL CEO said. “The League regards it as a privilege to support and participate in the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational event and we look forward to the upcoming winter season.”

Eddie Aikau surviving brothers and sister, Solomon, Clyde and Myra, expressed their relief at the Aikau Family, with the cooperation of Quiksilver, the World Surf League, and the City and County of Honolulu, were able to overcome the logistical and other obstacles that stood in the way of the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational being held this year in a manner that would maintain the integrity and Hawaiian spirit of the competition.

The Aikau Family’s strong commitment to keep Eddie’s legacy, aloha spirit, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian traditions alive is at the heart of the surf contest named in his honor and the work of the Eddie Aikau Foundation. In that spirit, with women’s surfing reaching new heights, the Aikaus are excited to announce their decision to include a woman athlete on this year’s alternative list – the first in the history of The Eddie.
 

The invitation list this year is as follows: (listed first name alphabetical order)

Aaron Gold
Bruce Irons
Billy Kemper
Dave Wassel
Ezekiel Lau
Garrett McNamara
Grant Baker
Greg Long
Ian Walsh
Jamie Mitchell
Jamie O’Brien
Jeremy Flores
John John Florence
Kala Alexander
Kelly Slater
Koa Rothman
Kohl Christensen
Landon McNamara
Makua Rothman
Mark Healey
Mason Ho
Michael Ho
Reef McIntosh
Ross Clarke-Jones
Shane Dorian
Sunny Garcia
Takayuki Wakita
Tom Carroll
 

The alternate invitation list is used to replace injured or unavailable surfers from the invitation list. Alternate invitations will be offered in the order set out below:

Luke Shepherd
Kai Lenny
Nathan Fletcher
Noah Johnson
Nathan Florence
Ramon Navarro
Keali Mamala
Predro Calado
Jamie Sterling
Nic Lamb
Keala Kenelly
Danilo Couto
Mark Matthews
Kalani Chapman
Ben Wilkinson
Gabriel Villaran
Damien Hobgood
Kahea Hart
Ryan Hipwood
Carlos Burle
Kyle Shipman
Danny Fuller
Anthony Tashnick
Rusty Long
 

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)
2015/2016 : John John Florence
 

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational opening ceremony will commence at Waimea Bay, 3pm on December 1st, 2016. A significant number of the world’s greatest big-wave surfers will gather to show there respect for one of their heroes, Eddie Aikau.

More about the 2016-2017 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational can be found on quiksilver.com
 

About Eddie Aikau

Eddie Aikau was a humble man who was larger than life. As a surfer he rode the biggest waves; as a life guard, he saved hundreds of lives from the North Shore’s treacherous waters; and as a proud Hawaiian, he sacrificed his life to save his fellow sailors aboard the voyaging canoe Hokulea. The Aikau Family created the Eddie Aikau Foundation to share Eddie’s life, contributions, and accomplishments through education, advocacy and the advancement of Hawaiian culture for all future generations. To learn more about the Foundation and its work, see www.eddieaikaufoundation.org