The 33rd Annual Eddie Big Wave Invitational is back.
The Eddie Aikau Foundation announced that the iconic big wave surfing event will return to Waimea Bay to celebrate the legacy of North Shore's first lifeguard.
The contest is held in memory of the late Eddie Aikau, a surfer and waterman who was lost at sea during Hokulea's voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1978.
Last year, Quiksilver pulled out as the main sponsor after three decades, and the contest was dropped. But Eddie's family were able to rebuild the event in time for the 2018/2019 winter.
The Eddie, formerly known as In Memory of Eddie Aikau, will feature 28 surfers and alternates and won't be sponsored by any surf company.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Kamehameha Schools, Waimea Valley, DTL, Salt + Air Studios, L&L Hawaiian and Duke's Waikiki will be supporting this year's edition.
The opening ceremony of The Eddie will take place at Waimea Bay on November 29, on the North Shore of Oahu.
The bay will call the day whenever waves reach 20 feet at Waimea Bay, from December 1, 2018, to February 28, 2019.
The Eddie was last run in 2016 in historical conditions. In the past 31 years, it was only held nine times.
2018/2019 Eddie Big Wave Invitational | Invitees
Grant Baker
Lucas Chianca
Ross Clarke-Jones
Danilo Couto
Shane Dorian
Nathan Fletcher
John John Florence
Nathan Florence
Sunny Garcia
Aaron Gold
Mark Healey
Mason Ho
Bruce Irons
Billy Kemper
Keala Kennelly
Zeke Lau
Kai Lenny
Greg Long
Keali'i Mamala
Garrett McNamara
Jamie Mitchell
Jamie O'Brien
Joel Parkinson
Makuakai Rothman
Koa Rothman
Kelly Slater
Takayuki Wakita
Ian Walsh
Dave Wassel
2018/2019 Eddie Big Wave Invitational | Alternates
Kyle Shipman
Michael Ho
Landon McNamara
Luke Shepardson
Ramon Navarro
Reef McIntosh
Kohl Christensen
Chris Owens
Tyler Laron
Ben Wilkinson
Kala Alexander
Rodrigo Koxa
Tom Carroll
Paige Alms / Keala Kennelly
Mark Matthews
Jamie Sterling
Shawn Dollar
Carlos Burle
Gabriel Villaran
Kahea Hart
Damien Hobgood
Kalani Chapman
Ryan Hipwood
Danny Fuller
Nic Lamb
Anthony Tashnick
Rusty Long
Derek Dunfee
Jeremy Flores
Noah Johnson
Peter Mel
Andrew Cotton
Duane DeSoto
Kainoa McGee
Ikaika Kalama
Tyler Fox
Brad Gerlach
Vincent Lartizen
Mike Parsons
Axi Muniain
Benjamin Sanchis
Damien Warr
Sebastian Steudtner
Eric Akiskalian
Dan Corbett
Francisco Porcella
Antonio Silva
Gautier Garanx
Antonio Balau
Mick Corbett
Jarryd Foster
Lance Hoʻokano
Rusty Keaulana
Hugo Vau
Pedro Scooby
Yuri Soledade
Trevor Sven Carlson