The Rarest Event In Surf Releases Its Lineup

The Eddie Aikau returns to Waimea Bay—or at least the ceremony will.

news // Nov 7, 2019

Words by stab

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Did you forget about the Eddie?

After a two-year hiatus, the Eddie Aikau Foundation picked up Quiksilver’s pieces of the best-big-wave-event-that-hardly-ever-runs and placed them back together. As is tradition, waves must reach meteoric heights for the Eddie to go — we’re talking 20 foot Hawaiian, and that’s monstro.

If you live in Hawaii, are a big wave enthusiast, or a perennial alternate in the event, the Eddie is always on your radar. But, if you were born near the turn of the century, you’re likely more interested in that other big wave event the WSL runs on Maui.

Anyway, it’s 2019 and the 34th annual Eddie Aikua lineup has been released. If the Eddie does go this year (and we certainly hope it does) it will be the 10th time the event has run in its over three decades of existence.

The competition window is from December 1st – February 29th.

And if you have to ask who Eddie Aikau is, in short, he was a Hawaiian lifeguard/waterman/surfer who broke barriers in the realm of big wave surfing at Waimea. He died a hero. The Aikaus say he saved 1,000 people from drowning in his lifetime, the internet says 500… we’ll go safely with somewhere in the middle. When Eddie died, he attempted to swim to shore after a double-hulled canoe sprung a leak to save the lives of those on board. The Coast Guard eventually rescued those in danger and Eddie was never seen again. (Here’s a comical re-enactment)

So, every year other than 2016 and 2017 there’s a big wave invitation held in Eddie’s name.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/lD3ztJRwfv0

The last time the Eddie ran, Sir JJF took the win.

Below are this year’s invitees.

Official Roster

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