The Eddie is on again
After a three year hiatus, in which time the sponsors and organisers squabbled over rights, the Eddie Aikau Invitational is back this season.
The format is largely the same in that the swell has to top the 20ft Hawaiian threshhold, however there are some pronounced changes. For one, longtime sponsor Quiksilver are no longer on the roll. Stepping in are Hawaiian Airlines, Kona Brewing Company, L&L Hawaiian Barbeque, and Turtle Bay Resort.
Also, women are now invited to the contest. Four women are in the draw - Keala Kennelly, Paige Alms, Emi Erickson, and Andrea Moller - plus another five on the alternates list.
The openining ceremony is on December 5th, and the waiting period will run for three months from December 1, 2019, through to February 29, 2020.
Invitees
Aaron Gold, Andrea Moller, Ben Wilkinson, Billy Kemper, Bruce Irons, Danilo Couto, Dave Wassel, Eli Olson, Emi Erickson, Grant Baker, Greg Long, Ian Walsh, Jamie O’Brien, Jamie Mitchell, John John Florence, Kai Lenny, Keala Kennelly, Keali‘i Mamala, Kelly Slater, Koa Rothman, Landon McNamara, Lucas Chianca, Luke Shepardson, Makuakai Rothman, Mark Healey, Mason Ho, Nathan Florence, Nathan Fletcher, Paige Alms, Ross Clarke-Jones, Shane Dorian, Tikanui Smith
Male Alternates
Tyler Larronde, Kyle Shipman, Kohl Christensen, Chris Bertish, Chris Owens, Mike Pietsch, Torrey Meister, Alex Martins, Ryan Seelbach, Matt Bromley, Reef McIntosh, Ezekiel Lau, Jamie Sterling
Female Alternates
Bianca Valenti, Raquel Heckert, Justine Dupont, Silvia Nabuco, Laura Enever
Legends
Derek Ho, Garrett McNamara, Jeff Clark, Mike Ho, Mike Parsons, Peter Mel, Tom Carroll
The contest has only run nine times, and if you want to watch two of the best years, Matt Warshaw has just loaded the 1986 and 1990 contests onto Vimeo. The '86 instalment, hosted by handsome Jack McCoy, features a brutal wipeout by Roger Erickson at 13:05. Erickson's daughter Emi is in this year's draw.
The 1990 contest was won by Keone Downing but is famous for Brock Little's near-make on what was then one of the largest waves attempted - see image above and 5:15 in the video - and also 16:15 for an incredible drop by Richard Schmidt.
Comments
Bring back paddle gloves.
Faced with waves like that, there are situations where you would actually want some!
Terry Richo is trying to do just that. He's got a few pairs for sale in the surf shop downstairs.
Five pictures that stopped me in my tracks:
Brock at the 1990 Eddie
Christian Fletcher's aerial in a pink Lanty wetsuit
Slater's coping slide at Cabo San Lucas
The Laird at Teahupoo
Kieren Perrow under the guillotine first documented session at Shippies
Tikanui Smith over someone like bierke or hippo is a bit shit those boys have payed there dues on the paddle scene.
Agree 100% those guys should at least get alternate status
But instead Ezekial Lau, and Mason Ho ?? Really
Mason Ho at 40 second mark.
Definitely worthy of his place.
Seems like the Hawaiian focus has increased. Not such an international contest anymore.
Kudos to the Hawaiian focus and those (proud Hawaiian enterprises) prepared to put their backing behind such an iconic gathering for the respectful reason it covets. Great to see it back as a local community event that can only bring pride among the people of Hawaii and should do for the wider surfing community also.
Cmon guys, do we have to go through the whole who's who debate on everything when we all know how surfing events are and always have been run.
ps. Mason certainly didn't shirk his responsibilities to the Eddie last time.
Never forget Eddie and his extraordinary life. Educate yourselves if need be as to the man, his family and the culture this all represents.
That's right. Mason holds his own in big surf.
So no longer the Quicksilver, Eddie Aikau
It's the Hawaiian Airlines, Kona Brewing Company, L&L Hawaiian Barbeque, and Turtle Bay Resort, Eddie Aikau.
Wow thats a mouthful.
Or maybe just The Eddie?
Da Eddie.
Kohl C stiff not to get a run.
Can only squeeze in so many I guess
Just watched the 1990 comp on the link above and I have to say, that's some high-quality broadcasting.
Sure, it's a daggy 90's aesthetic with a Wide World of Sport vibe, but somehow they manage to put together a 20 minute edit with enough content to satisfy surfers and enough punchiness to keep the general public engaged.
Tight editing, good water shots, to-the-point questions and even some local history thrown in. It's all there, and all neatly hung on the natural narrative arc of the contest. Wozzle - there's something to be learnt here.
Eddie was a great Hawaiin, read his bio whilst in Hawaii in July. A tragic end to his life whilst voyaging on the traditional canoe Hokule'a. He gave his life doing what came naturally to him, trying to save others. Sounds like they have gone with Hawaiin sponsors over Quiksilver, makes sense as Eddie was at the forefront of promoting indigenous Hawaiin culture.
Great book isn't it toppa .
Hi Lanky Dean yeah it is a great read. He was a seriously courageous man Eddie.
Big boards. Big waves. Real surfing. Very impressive.
With the wossell dropping the ball on the big wave stuff.
The focus is back on the Eddie.
Shouldn't Kelly be in the legends division?