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A select crew of big wave surfers from around the world were booking tickets to Hawaii and waxing up their guns earlier this week. With a ferocious winter storm and swell on its way to the North Shore, event organisers were satisfied with the forecast and called the Eddie “on” for Wednesday (Thursday, Australian time). A giant NW swell was predicted to hit Waimea Bay on Wednesday morning, bringing 25-foot plus XL waves; with size expected to build throughout the day.
However, due to an updated forecast with unfavourable winds, the Eddie didn’t go ! There is chatter of a promising swell on the 22nd of Jan for the contest to be possibly run. In the meantime it’s been put on hold.
The event, it should be remembered, is held in tribute to Eddie Aikau, a revered big-wave surfer and much-loved North Shore figure who also saved lives and inspired others as a Waimea Bay lifeguard.
Regarded as one of surfing’s most prestigious events, the Eddie has not been contested in over six years due to a lack of appropriate swell conditions. Hawaii’s modern chosen one, John John Florence, won his first Eddie when it last ran on a momentous day in 2016. That comp was regarded by many as the greatest big-wave event of all time, meaning Wednesday’s scheduled contest will have big shoes to fill.
The broadcast for the event will be made available to the public via the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational website. A reminder not to get your hopes up or schedule a sickie in just yet, as event officials can call it off on the day if they’re not satisfied with the size.
Check the stacked list below and consider who might nudge out event favourite John John and etch themselves into surfing’s history books.
2022-2023 INVITEES
Aaron Gold
Andrea Moller
Billy Kemper
Eli Olson
Emily Erickson
Ezekiel Lau
Grant Baker
Greg Long
Ian Walsh
Jake Maki
Jamie O’Brien
Jamie Mitchell
John John Florence
Josh Moniz
Justine Dupont
Kai Lenny
Keala Kennelly
Keali’i Mamala
Kelly Slater
Koa Rothman
Kohl Christensen
Landon McNamara
Lucas Chianca
Luke Shepardson
Makani Adric
Makuakai Rothman
Mark Healey
Mason Ho
Michael Ho
Nathan Florence
Nathan Fletcher
Nic von Rupp
Paige Alms
Peter Mel
Ramon Navarro
Ross Clarke-Jones
Shane Dorian
Taio Shipman
Tikanui Smith
Tyler Larronde
In the meantime watch the previous champ’s recent session out at solid Waimea. Impressive.
