Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau
- Written by Jodi Wilmott
North Shore, Oahu, HAWAII - (February 8, 2016) - The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau will GO this Wednesday, February 10, at Waimea Bay. Organizers gave the event the green light early this-morning after consulting the latest round of forecasting models. This will be the 9th "Eddie" in 31 years. The event was last held in December of 2009, and was won by California's Greg Long.
Organizers anticipate a solid day of surf that will meet the event's strict wave face height requirement of 40 feet, with favorable light winds in the morning, turning light trades by afternoon.
"It has taken us six years to pull the trigger, but this is the first swell we have seen that is truly lining up as an Eddie swell," said Event Director Glen Moncata.
Moncata and the organizing team continue to confer with event patriarch George Downing, who has made the call on every event since its inception.
"As George has famously said, 'The Bay Calls the Day' and that will be Wednesday," added Moncata.
There will be various platforms on which to view the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau:
In Hawaii: Live on Oceanic Time Warner Cable channels 250 and 1250HD
On the internet: www.quiksilver.com/eddie and www.worldsurfleague.com
Via App: WSL App
EVENT HEAT DRAW:
Heat 1:
Shane Dorian (HAW)
Kohl Christensen (HAW)
Greg Long (CA)
Ramon Navarro (CHI)
Sunny Garcia (HAW)
Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Heat 2:
Kelly Slater (FL)
David Wassell (HAW)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Reef McIntosh (HAW)
Jamie O'Brien (HAW)
Aaron Gold (HAW)
Tom Carroll (AUS)
Heat 3:
John John Florence (HAW)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Clyde Aikau (HAW)
Nathan Fletcher (CA)
Noah Johnson (HAW)
Peter Mel (CA)
Takayuki Wakita (JPN)
Heat 4:
Bruce Irons (HAW)
Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Ian Walsh (HAW)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Kala Alexander (HAW)
Garrett McNamara (HAW)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
TOP 5 ALTERNATES:
Mason Ho (HAW)
Danilo Couto (BRA)
Mark Mathews (AUS)
Koa Rothman (HAW)
Ben Wilkinson (AUS)
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a World Surf League sanctioned Specialty Event.
About Eddie Aikau:
Just 31 years of age when he was lost at sea during an ill-fated voyage on Hawaii's Hokule'a double-hull sailing canoe in 1978, Aikau was a young man at the height of a career equally dedicated to big-wave riding and lifeguarding at historic Waimea Bay. Filled with a pure passion to ride giant surf, take care of his fellow man, and uphold his Hawaiian culture and family values, Aikau became the benchmark by which all big wave riders are measured.
About Quiksilver:
Quiksilver, Inc., one of the world's leading outdoor sports lifestyle companies, which designs, produces and distributes branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The company's apparel and footwear brands, inspired by a passion for outdoor action sports, represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people who connect with its boardriding culture and heritage. The company's Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC brands have authentic roots and heritage in surf, snow and skate. The company's products are sold in more than 100 countries in a wide range of distribution, including surf shops, skate shops, snow shops, its proprietary Boardriders Club shops and other company-owned retail stores, other specialty stores, select department stores and through various e-commerce channels.
