Eddie Aikau: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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While Waimea Bay is mostly known as one of the world’s most historically significant big wave surf spots – ushering in the modern era of heavy water wave-riding,

Surfing News / SURFER / February 21

Here’s What Waimea Bay Looked Like 100 Years Ago

Waimea Bay is sacred ground in big wave surfing. It is the site of the world’s most prestigious surf contest, the annual Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, although the event has only run 11 times since its inception in 1985 on account of the requisite 40-foot-plus waves during the event window.

Surfing News / SURFER / January 31

The “Biggest Swell in Years” Just Hit Nazaré (Video)

It’s been a somewhat quiet season, thus far, in the Atlantic big wave surfing sector. Elsewhere in the Pacific, there's been less crickets – capping off

Surfing News / SURFER / January 22

"Behind The Eddie" (And A Heavy Waimea Wipeout) With Tyler Larronde

The 2025 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational has come and gone, but some competitors are still licking their wounds. One such athlete, Tyler Larronde, was

Surfing News / SURFER / January 11

Outrigger Canoe Surfers Score Rare Offshore Oil Rig (Video)

At the tail end of 2024, just before Christmas, a large and memorable swell popped up in the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaii, The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

Surfing News / SURFER / January 2

Big-Wave Surfers Go On a 5-Day Jaws Bender (Gallery)

On December 22, 2024, while the surf world’s collective eye was fixed on Waimea Bay during the 2024 Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational, lensman Fred Pompermayer was in the channel at Jaws, documenting a select few hellmen as they tackled what some are calling the heaviest Pe'ahi paddle waves in history.

Surfing News / SURFER / January 2

Who Had More Fun Surfing In 2024 Than Mason Ho?

An all-time swell bender in Indonesia. Glorified shorebreak on Scottish rocks. Wave pool sessions in Japan, California and Texas. A spectacular Waimea showing at the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.

Surfing News / SURFER / January 2

Watch: Biggest Day in Maverick’s History?

As 2024 came to a close, a series of massive swells percolated in the Pacific, shepherding gigantic surf to both Hawaii and California. The Eddie Aikau

Surfing News / SURFER / December 27

“60 Foot” Waves Blast California Coast, Wreak Havoc (Video)

For those who spent the holiday season away from the Californian and Hawaiian coasts, perhaps in a wintery refuge devoid of internet access to the earth's

Surfing News / SURFER / December 26

Ancient Human Remains Uncovered by Big Surf on Maui (Video)

While strolling on a beach in Maui over the weekend before Christmas, admiring the massive waves that were pounding the coast – the same ones that were fueling the iconic Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational over on Oahu – a pair of siblings stumbled upon a sacred remnant of Hawaiian tradition.

Surfing News / SURFER / December 25

Laura Enever Suffers “Serious Fin Chop” in Waimea Wipeout (Video)

The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, commonly referred to as the most prestigious surfing contest in the world, went down on Sunday, December 22nd at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, with waves hitting the requisite 40 feet (and then some) for just the 11th time in history.

Surfing News / SURFER / December 24

Gallery: A Pumping Day at the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

After a seven-year hiatus of Eddie contests from 2009-2016, it feels like we've been spoiled/privileged with two historic and pumping contests at Waimea Bay in 2023 and 2024.

Surfing News / WorldSurfLeague.com / December 22

Watch: Nathan Florence's bomb in his first-ever Eddie Aikau Invitational heat

Surfing News / SURFER / December 6

Take a Deep Dive Into Waimea Bay Lore with "Stories From The Eddie" (Video)

Waimea Bay, the hallowed home of big-wave surfing. With the waiting period for The Eddie Aikau Invitational kicking off on December 14, Rip Curl is releasing this new series, called “Stories From The Eddie.” “This first episode asks surfers like Mason Ho, Mark Healey, Landon McNamara and Emily Erickson what the event means to them,” says Rip Curl.

Surfing News / SURFER / October 3

2024/25 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Invitees Announced

“I can’t even begin to tell you how honored and how much of a dream come true this is!” Torrey Meister wrote online after learning he was one of 35 men

Surfing News / SURFER / June 4

Rip Curl to Sponsor The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

The Eddie has a new sponsor. After 30 years of backing the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, Quiksilver stopped sponsoring the event in 2017. The event has been backed by various brands and companies since then, but it has not received major support from an endemic surf company since the Mountain and the Wave.

Surfing News / SURFER / May 6

2023 Biggest Paddle Winners: Laura Enever and Reinaldo "Chacha" Ibarra Paddle Into First

You never know when the biggest wave you have ever encountered will loom up before you and test your resolve. This happened to Australia’s Laura Enever in January of 2023 on an outer reef along Oahu’s North Shore on the same day the Eddie Aikau contest was running at Waimea Bay.

Surfing News / SURFER / April 8, 2024

Laura Enever Surfed the Biggest Wave Ever Paddled by a Woman. Now What?

All eyes were on Waimea Bay. It was January 22nd, 2023, and the world’s most prestigious surf contest – the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational – was called on for the first time in seven years, and waves 40-foot and above were unloading on the North Shore of Oahu.

Surfing News / SURFER / February 21, 2024

Thriller at Killers: Big Wave Surfers Ride 30-Foot Waves in Specialty Mexico Contest

Big wave surf contests are somewhat of a rare phenomenon. Why? Because contest organizers are working with mother nature, and it takes a lot for everything – the swell, the wind, etc.

Surfing News / SURFER / February 20, 2024

Video: Surfing Sketchy 25-Foot Waimea Bay, Warmup Session for The Eddie

The Eddie did not go. Eyeing a potential swell for Friday, February 16th, contest organizers of the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay put the event on yellow alert.

Surfing News / SURFER / February 18, 2024

The Day the Eddie Didn’t Go: Surfing Gigantic Waimea Bay (Video)

Last week, the surf world was giddy with anxious anticipation. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational was tentatively called on for Friday, February 17th as a large swell made its way towards Hawaii.

Surfing News / SURFER / February 17, 2024

Watch: Catching up with 2023 'Eddie' Winner Luke Shepardson

Over the last couple of days, a huge swell pounded Oahu's North Shore, giving surfers hope that the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational would go. But alas, the waves were too windy, too messy, and just not right. Still, a handful of surfers paddled out at Waimea Bay and last year's Eddie winner Luke Shepardson was one of them.

Surfing News / SURFER / February 14, 2024

Big Swell, Clean Conditions Put Todos Santos Big Wave Contest On Yellow Alert

Last week all the hype was about the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational running at Waimea Bay. But local winds shredded that opportunity and now all eyes

Surfing News / SURFER / February 12, 2024

Video: Queen of Pipeline Surfs Insane Wave, Gets Rescued by Eddie Aikau Event Winner

Following her performance at the 2022 Billabong Pro Pipeline, which she won as a wildcard, Moana Jones Wong was widely and deservedly dubbed, the Queen of Pipeline.