Many claim that it’s up to Waimea Bay, and whether or not the ancient ahupua‘a will bring the waters, waves and weather necessary to uphold or exceed the conditions from the previous contests. Event directors, surfers and organizers know that even though they may make the final call, it’s not the people who dictate if the contest will take place. “The Bay will call the day” is the phrase coined to the decision-making process of whether or not The Eddie will run. This means that over the past 30 years, the contest has only been called to run a total of eight times. Over the past 30 years, there have been a total of eight champions that have claimed the prestigious title. This includes waves that meet a 20-foot minimum height (40-foot faces). Known as the most important and respected big wave event in the world, The Eddie is only called on in the most pristine and worthy of conditions.
The 2015-16 season marks the 31th anniversary of The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau. It is through this legendary presence that The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau event was established. The man is remembered as different things to many different people – big wave surfer, brother, son, lifeguard, voyager, hero, Hawaiian. But it wasn’t until after his passing that Eddie Aikau became the international icon of righteousness, compassion and commitment that he stands as today. Eddie and his brother Clyde were the first official lifeguards on the North Shore, notorious for never losing a life on their watch at The Bay. At that time, Eddie was considered a representation of surfing for the Hawaiian athletes, and a figure for bravery in the waters of Waimea. Hawaii, and more namely the local surfing community, was suddenly hit with the loss of a legend. That was the last time anyone ever saw the Hawaiian. He paddled toward the island of Lanai on a surfboard, away from the floating people and debris, in a valiant effort to save his fellow crewmembers. Eddie, being a strong waterman and hero by nature, made a decision to seek help. Crewmembers floated for hours in the open sea, not knowing when – or if – they would be found. It was an exciting bon voyage event that celebrated the culture and tradition of the Hawaiian people.īefore even leaving the warm waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, the voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of its hulls and later capsized twelve miles south of the island of Molokai. It was a stormy day, but nonetheless hundreds of friends, family and community members gathered to see the ship off. On March 16, the double-hulled Hōkūle‘a set sail with Eddie and a team of navigators on board. As quoted in Sam George’s documentary, Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau, “A Hawaiian’s place was in the surf.” Surfing was one of the last traditional arts that the Hawaiian people practiced, and when Eddie surfed, it was a revival for his people.Įddie was lost at sea in 1978, during an act of heroism on Hōkūle‘a’s voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti.
It was about the line that was drawn from his ancestral roots to the peace and pride that was found on a wave. Surfing was about a connection to the ocean. When it came to surfing, for Eddie Aikau it wasn’t about the competition.
0 kommentar(er)
