QUIKSILVER IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU INVITEES ANNOUNCED
Who's In and Who's Out at Waimea's Biggest Event of the Year
Yesterday, the longest-running big-wave event on the planet, the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, announced its 2009/2010 invitees and alternates. The contest, which (swell permitting) will run between December 1 and February 28 doles out a hefty $98,000 purse to supplement an already svelte $1,000,000 prize purse for the Van Triple Crown of Surfing.
The event hasn't run since Bruce Irons claimed top honors in 2004/2005, punctuating his victory with a crowd-pleasing claim in the pounding Waimea shorebreak. While this year's list of invites includes many of the usual suspects, a few wildcards have been thrown in the mix to shake things up a bit.
Opening ceremonies will be held at 2pm, December 3rd, 2009, at Waimea Bay. Let the speculation begin.
INVITEES
Andy Irons, Hawaii
Brian Keaulana, Hawaii
Brock Little, Hawaii
Bruce Irons, Hawaii
Carlos Burle, Brazil
Clyde Aikau, Hawaii
Darryl Virostko, California
Greg Long, California
Jamie O'Brien, Hawaii
Jamie Sterling, Hawaii
Kelly Slater, Florida
Keone Downing, Hawaii
Makuakai Rothman, Hawaii
Mark Healey, Hawaii
Michael Ho, Hawaii
Noah Johnson, Hawaii
Peter Mel, California
Reef McIntosh, Hawaii
Ross Clarke-Jones, Australia
Rusty Keaulana, Hawaii
Shane Dorian, Hawaii
Sunny Garcia, Hawaii
Titus Kinimaka, Hawaii
Tom Carroll, Australia
Grant "Twiggy" Baker, South Africa
Ibon Amatriain, Euskadi
Ramon Navarro, Chile
Takayuki Wakita, Japan
ALTERNATES
Kala Alexander, Hawaii - Aikau Family Pick
Pancho Sullivan, Hawaii
Garrett McNamara, Hawaii
Kohl Christensen, Hawaii
Dave Wassel, Hawaii
Keoni Watson, Hawaii
Nathan Fletcher, Hawaii
Ian Walsh, Hawaii
Danny Fuller, Hawaii
Kalani Chapman, Hawaii
Taylor Knox, California
Chava Greenlee, Hawaii
Jamie Mitchell, Australia
Myles Padaca, Hawaii
Tony Moniz, Hawaii
Darrick Doerner, Hawaii
Ken "Skin Dog" Collins, California
Ross Williams, Hawaii
Derek Ho, Hawaii
Paul Paterson, Australia
Anthony Tashnick, California
Koby Abberton, Australia
Laurent Pujol, France
Laurie Towner, Australia
HONORARY INVITEES
Mark Foo, Hawaii
Todd Chesser, Hawaii
Tiger Espere, Hawaii
Jay Moriarty, California
Peter Davi, California
Lester Falatea, Tahiti
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READER COMMENTS
Wed Nov18, 2009, 7:57 PM
kinda funny you have the oldschool guys like tony moniz, derrick doerner, derek ho as alternates, and then have andy irons, both jamies, reef, and a couple other dudes instead. call me crazy but the old guys earned their place. quicksilver is crap.
Wed Nov18, 2009, 9:59 PM
Shaka to all the invitees, alternates and honorary invitees. Pray for fun and safety! Can't wait to see who wins! :)
Thu Nov19, 2009, 12:35 AM
Man, this list is golden. That is the most talent laden group of big wave chargers and ASP talent in memory. I suspect that this will be a massively exciting contest, and I am looking forward to seeing it go down, at least online. Special congrats to the Santa Cruz crew: Darryl, Peter, Kenny, Anthony—and Jay! "GO BIG" and bring the gold home with you! Many thanks to the ASP, Quiksilver, Vans, O'Neill, Billabong, Reef, and RockStar for making this year's Hawaiian events happen in a big way, with big money!!!! I think your commitment to the tour will benefit us all with the chance to see the best surfing on earth.
Thu Nov19, 2009, 11:51 AM
Peter Davi is invited to the "Eddie" as an honorary contestant. Pete is a member of the largest "organized crime" family in California and quite wealthy as all he has done for he last 10 years before he had his heart attack from a huge amount of meth in his system when he went out and tried to surf "Ghost Tree "paddle in style" was, deal meth and when he wasn't spinning, he stayed in bed. I am sorry he passed as he did have a few years of average success on the North Shore when younger, but, come on now!I am supposed to look up to this dope fiend as a hero of some sort? Shit!Back in the early 80's I quit surfing the Santa Cruz area as I had gotten clean and sober and couldn't stand the drug scene there. I could always find waves from Moss Landing to Cambria and usually unihabited. Anyway, I am not going to control myself toward S.C. Deputies when they are yacking about what a miracle Flea was and the drug thing must be getting worse. It is no damn worse than th
Thu Nov19, 2009, 8:53 PM
Whats this 1 european in the mix, total bullshit. Just check out fergalsmith.com to see some crancking Irish action, theres also another few quality Europeans worth checking out. This is what happens when you tell quickie to F off, and stick with your smaller sponsers.
Fri Nov20, 2009, 3:07 AM
Good waves to Peter Mel, your due.
Fri Nov20, 2009, 9:47 AM
hmmm not so sure there was an offer on the table from quik anyway,,, ferg rips for sure, but he hasn't quite done the right of passage needed to get on the eddie JUST yet....