The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay | Watch Live on Jan-22, 2023 @ 8AM HST

World's most iconic big-wave event returns to Waimea Bay.
WHAT ARE WE WATCHING?
The word “unique” is thrown around a lot. In this case, it fits. There is nothing like the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, inside surfing or out. The event has been placed on a three-month hold every Hawaiian winter for the past 34 years, and run only nine times — only when Waimea Bay offers itself up at 20 feet or bigger for a full day of surfing.

It is run in the memory of Eddie: fantastic surfer, Hawaiian all the way through, the first lifeguard in North Shore history, who vanished in an impossibly heroic rescue effort off the capsized double hull canoe Hokule’a in March 1978. Surfers attend the event by invitation from the Aikau family, and there’s no greater honor in surfing.

This year, a total of 40 surfers have been so honored. (See our list below.)

The event format is simple: Two rounds of eight-person heats are held, so everyone gets to surf twice. Each surfer’s top four rides count toward a total score. Those top four rides can come from one or both heats, so a wobbly first heat isn’t the end of the world.


But it wouldn’t be anyway. Just paddling out for one of these heats is prized by every surfer who’s ever taken part.

There’s been nine winners of the Eddie so far. Nobody has ever won it twice.

Former winners:
Denton Miyamura (1987), Clyde Aikau (1986), Keone Downing (1990), Noah Johnson (1999), Ross Clarke-Jones (2001), Kelly Slater (2002), Bruce Irons (2004), Greg Long (2009), John Florence (2016)

Heat Draw:
HEAT 1
Andrea Moller
Aaron Gold
Greg Long
John John Florence
Koa Rothman
Mark Healey
Nathan Fletcher
Shane Dorian

HEAT 2
Emily Erickson
Billy Kemper
Ian Walsh
Josh Moniz
Kohl Christensen
Makuakai Rothman
Nathan Florence
Ross Clarke-Jones

HEAT 3
Justine Dupont
Keala Kennely
Eli Olson
Jake Maki
Kai Lenny
Landon McNamara
Nic Von Rupp
Taio Shipman

HEAT 4
Makani Adric
Ezekiel Lau
Jamie O’Brien
Keali’i Mamala
Lucas Chianca
Mason Ho
Peter Mel
Tikanui Smith

HEAT 5
Paige Alms
Grant Twiggy Baker
Jamie Mitchell
Kelly Slater
Luke Shepardson
Michael Ho
Ramon Navarro
Tyler Larronde


Watch: 20ft+ Red Bull Recap: The Almost Eddie Swell. Three massive days in the Pacific.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10-k1MN9YrI

Special thanks to our Surfline Premium members and supporting broadcast sponsors:
@futuresfins
@billabong
@Konabrewingco Hawaii
• The Twin Fin Waikiki Hotel
@patagonia Surf
@RoarkRevival + Roark Women

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