"The Bay calls the Day". Eddie is ready. It's on. The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau 2015/2016 is set to run on February 10th.
In the past 31 years, the big wave surfing event held at Waimea Bay got underway eight times. This will be the ninth edition. The last time "The Eddie" was called on was in 2009. Greg Long scored a Perfect 100 and won the competition.
Honor and glory. That's what it is all about. The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau is also a different surf contest. The rules of standard competitive surfing do not apply to "The Eddie."
First of all, remember that there are no elimination rounds. All 28 invitees will be able to surf twice, in two separate seven-man rounds. Each surfer can ride up to four waves in each heat, and there are no interference rules.
Waves are judged on a scale of 1-100. The variables for scoring each ride are control, size and risk. Each surfer will see his top four waves on a global leaderboard. At the end of the day, the big wave rider with the best overall score wins "The Eddie."
Finally, the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau only sees green light if waves hit the 20-foot mark, in the Hawaiian wave scale. Check the heat draw for 2016.