*An earlier version of this story referenced Kelly’s Instagram comment being made in morning. However, this has been amended to the correct time of that afternoon. Tracks apologies for this oversight.
There’s been relentless swell hitting Hawaii but The Eddie still refuses to go. Meanwhile, in Maui the best big wave surfers in the world have been pushing the levels of performance to unprecedented new heights at Jaws. So have Quiksilver dropped the ball?
Tracks asked Quiksilver’s Global Events Director and former professional surfer, Troy Brooks, why the event wasn’t called on yesterday despite the XXL swell.
“We watched this swell for weeks, right up until Monday when we had to make a call to go green. It was very close but all the models predicted the swell peaking overnight and the consistency to hold the Eddie wasn’t going be there in the morning”
According to Brooks between 8:30 – 10:30am the swell was below 20 foot plus, and subsequently below the criteria in order for the Eddie to get the green light.
“The Eddie is different to every other event in the world. Your rides in the first heat are judged against the rides in the last heat. Therefore the first three heats would have been run in sub standard waves, meaning an unfair result.”
Kelly Slater’s admitted on Instagram post yesterday afternoon that the swell caught everyone out.
“Well that was fun… Sitting here watching closeout sets roll thru after getting sent to the beach trying to paddle out. First time I’ve had a walk of shame at Waimea. I think everyone thought the swell was gonna arrive late but it ended up being easily big enough for The Eddie today. Probably too big on a few sets, actually. Hope everyone stays safe at Peahi and outer reefs. Lotta energy out there.”
The Eddie Aikau Invitational is without question the most prestigious big wave event on the calendar. With an exclusive invitee list of just 28 surfers who are nominated by their peers, it’s a contest that singles you out as one of the most respected big wave surfers in the world.
The call for yesterday’s swell was so close that Quiksilver had booked and paid for flights and accommodation for all their camp on the North Shore.
According to Brooks yesterday’s swell was very similar to the one that hit the Bay a little over a week ago and simultaneously created history for many big wave surfers at Jaws. Haleiwa’s Aaron Gold rode what has been called one of the biggest ever paddle in waves. Some labelled that swell a missed opportunity as footage emerged of Kelly and John John riding giants at the Bay well into the afternoon.
Some commentators have floated a conspiracy theory that Quiksilver is avoiding running the Eddie, suggesting the event is more valuable to the brand’s stock if it remains a fickle fantasy always just out of reach.
“I think they [Quiksilver] get a lot of traction … there’s a lot of legs with not running it [the Eddie] for eight years,” said Scott Bass co-host of Surf Splendor Podcast. “Each and every year they have the opening ceremony, which is a really sweet thing and really honours the Aikau family, it honours the big wave community, it’s quite spiritual and everyone gets together and goes, ‘This is really special.’”
“In some ways I think the ceremony is almost enough. You could almost say. ‘We’re not going to run the event anymore but we’re just going to have the ceremony because it turns into a big Hawaiian style family gathering where everybody from all of the islands come together and they all pay homage to the Aikau and the Eddie.”
Surf Splendor host, David Lee Scales, doesn’t believe the event’s significance should be taken for granted despite all the media attention Jaws has received this winter.
“There’s nothing more important than the Eddie. The Eddie is what steals the hype from everything else and whenever the Eddie does run there will always be Pe’ahi breaking at that same time too. Those things go off at the same time so that’s not a fair excuse.”
The fact that Quiksilver have been quiet while swells have been detonating on Maui certainly raises eyebrows, however Brooks is adamant the Eddie is still on track to run.
“Quiksilver wants the Eddie to run more than anyone but we do need a fair event. Another storm is forming for next week, though a long way out, fingers crossed.”
When asked whether the idea of moving the event to Jaws would ever be considered Brooks was quick to dismiss such designs. “Eddie Aikau was the resident lifeguard at Waimea Bay, the heritage and prestige lays there.”
