Quiksilver, Inc., one of the world's leading outdoor sports lifestyle companies, designs, produces and distributes branded apparel, footwear and accessories. To learn more about the Foundation and its work, see About Quiksilver The Aikau Family created the Eddie Aikau Foundation to share Eddie's life, contributions, and accomplishments through education, advocacy and the advancement of Hawaiian culture for all future generations. As a surfer he rode the biggest waves as a life guard, he saved hundreds of lives from the North Shore's treacherous waters and as a proud Hawaiian, he sacrificed his life to save his fellow sailors aboard the voyaging canoe Hokulea. More about the 2016-2017 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational can be found on Įddie Aikau was a humble man who was larger than life. A significant number of the world's greatest big-wave surfers will gather to show their respect for one of their heroes, Eddie Aikau. The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational opening ceremony will commence at Waimea Bay, 3pm on December 1st, 2016. Alternate invitations will be offered in the order set out below: The alternate invitation list is used to replace injured or unavailable surfers from the invitation list. The invitation list this year is as follows: (listed first name alphabetical order) In that spirit, with women's surfing reaching new heights, the Aikaus are excited to announce their decision to include a woman athlete on this year's alternative list - the first in the history of The Eddie. The Aikau Family's strong commitment to keep Eddie's legacy, aloha spirit, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian traditions alive is at the heart of the surf contest named in his honor and the work of the Eddie Aikau Foundation. "The League regards it as a privilege to support and participate in the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational event and we look forward to the upcoming winter season."Įddie Aikau surviving brothers and sister, Solomon, Clyde and Myra, expressed their relief that the Aikau Family, with the cooperation of Quiksilver, the World Surf League, and the City and County of Honolulu, were able to overcome the logistical and other obstacles that stood in the way of the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational being held this year in a manner that would maintain the integrity and Hawaiian spirit of the competition. "The WSL has tremendous respect for the legacy of Eddie Aikau and the prestige of this special event in his honor," Paul Speaker, WSL CEO said. We have every confidence that WSL's greater involvement in the event this year will only improve The Eddie's reputation as one of the world's premier surfing contests." Agnes added "Consistent with Quiksilver and the Aikau family's wishes, we are pleased to confirm that the same stringent condition requirements we instituted when we inaugurated The Eddie 31 years ago will continue this year. We are very grateful for the efforts and support of the Aikau family and the World Surf League under the leadership of Paul Speaker who have all worked very hard with our team over the past few weeks to come up with a solution," said Pierre Agnes, Quiksilver's CEO. "We are proud to see the tradition of The Eddie continue without interruption-a testament to our respect for Eddie Aikau, the Aikau family, the Hawaiian people, and the community at large. The event is famous for its traditional opening ceremony, live broadcast and incredible atmosphere. As a WSL specialty-sanctioned big-wave event, The Eddie has drawn a prestigious cross-section of the world's finest watermen, including competitors from the elite WSL Championship Tour (CT). Opting only to run when conditions reach the 20-foot-plus range (Hawaiian scale-40-50 ft faces), The Eddie has only run nine times in its history. With the support of the World Surf League (WSL), which will produce the event and manage the broadcast and media, the event will proceed.īeginning in 1985, the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational has been an invite-only big-wave event that takes place at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, where the late Eddie Aikau served as the North Shore's first lifeguard. Quiksilver and the Aikau family have worked constructively together for the past several weeks in an effort to avoid interrupting the 31-year track record of the event being held. NORTH SHORE, Hawaii (Monday, November 28, 2016) - Quiksilver and the Aikau family have amicably resolved their differences, ensuring that the 2016-2017 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational occurs starting on December 1, 2016.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |