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The first of two major swells hit
the Hawaiian islands today, bringing massive waves with faces up to 35 feet
high and prompting the National Weather Service to issue a "high-surf
warning" for the beaches on the north and west shores. This first swell is
expected to last into Friday with a second swell arriving shortly
behind it on Monday.
Nearly a month has passed of the three-month holding period for the
Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau and the oceans are
finally stirring. It has been a slow season thus far with no swells even
nearing the necessary 20+ foot Hawaiian scale wave height minimum
(translating to 30-40 foot faces) for the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
to be held. The two swells on the horizon are the first major swells of the
winter.
"We've been watching this swell for a while and it did not appear that it
would be big enough in the morning, which is necessary in order to run the
full contest in one day," says George Downing, Contest Director for the
Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau. "The forecast was
accurate, as were the wind predictions. Winds today are very strong out of
the NNE - real 'victory-at-sea' conditions."
"What we're looking at now is the swell that should start to arrive around
the first of January, for January 2nd. It's too early to make an accurate
call, but it is shaping up."
Once the "call" is made, the 24 invitees will have 24 hours to arrive at
Waimea Bay to start the first round of surfing. The invitee list includes
many of the world's best big-wave riders, including eight-time world
champion and 2002 event champion Kelly Slater, 2000 event champion Ross
Clarke-Jones and 2004 event champion Bruce Irons as well as northern
California charger Peter Mel, up-and-comer Mark Healey, and Clyde Aikau,
younger brother to Eddie Aikau and event champion in 1986.
"We have been keeping a close eye on the forecasts from up here in Santa
Cruz and it looks like winter is finally starting for the islands. After not
getting a good swell last year, I am really hoping that the conditions line
up so we can have a contest this year. It is such an honor to surf in the
Quiksilver Big Wave," says Peter Mel of Santa Cruz, California. "This past
month I was able to wash the dust off on a couple of bombs here at
Maverick's and I am feeling confident and ready
to surf. We'll just have to keep watching until the call is made."
In the event's 22-year history, the contest has only been held seven times.
George Downing along with other contest officials, athletes and fans will be
closely monitoring oceanic reports to get a take on just how big the coming
swells will be and if it will be a year that Eddie goes.
Check www.quiksilver.com/bigwave for
updates.
About the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau The
Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational In Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers 24 of the
most accomplished paddle-in big wave riders from around the world. The
Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational takes place each winter at the hallowed
ground of Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, on a single day
when open-ocean swells measure a minimum of 20 feet - translating to wave
face heights of more than 30 feet.
Unlike most of today's big-wave events, The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
In Memory of Eddie Aikau remains true to big-wave riding's roots and does
not allow the use of Personal Water Craft (jet-ski) to tow riders into
waves. Competitors must paddle (as opposed to tow in) themselves into
heaving mountains of water, up to six-stories high, under their own arm
power, then successfully make the drop and ride out the thundering waves.
Twenty-four surfers will each compete in two rounds during the one day of
competition. Depending upon the conditions, competitors will be allowed to
ride three or four waves per heat in each round. Their four best scoring
waves at the end of two rounds will make up their total.
