Bruce Irons has been waiting three years to defend his Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational title. The 28-year-old Hanalei resident won the competition when it was last held in 2004. Since then, the waves at Waimea Bay, O‘ahu have not met
Bruce Irons has been waiting three years to defend his Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational title. The 28-year-old Hanalei resident won the competition when it was last held in 2004. Since then, the waves at Waimea Bay, O‘ahu have not met the 20-foot minimum to hold the competition.
The official Hawaiian opening ceremony was held late Wednesday night, but waiting period for this year’s competition officially begins today and will hold until Feb. 29.
Held, or more like scheduled to commence, each year in honor of legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational, In Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the world. The one-day event will take place when the surf meets the height minimum.
The prize at stake for the winner of “The Eddie” is $55,000.
This year’s competition has extended from 24 to 28 surfers and will include surfers from Asia, South America, Africa and Europe.
Three surfers invited to compete hail from Kaua‘i: Bruce and Andy Irons and Titus Kinimaka. Other surfers from Hawai‘i are Brian Keaulana, Brock Little, Clyde Aikau, Jamie O’Brien, Jamie Sterling, Keone Downing, Makua Rothman, Mark Healey, Michael Ho, Noah Johnson, Rusty Keaulana, Shane Dorian and Sunny Garcia.
There were also 24 alternates named for the competition. Sixteen of them are from Hawai‘i.
For more information or a full list of the surfers, go to www.quiksilver.com/bigwave.
