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Posted on Tuesday January 18th 2011 at 1:08 p.m.
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Waimea Bay, Oahu, HAWAII, January 17, 2011 --- An extra large swell is forecast to batter Oahu's North Shore this week, but uncertainty still surrounds the actual height of the waves that will materialize and whether this latest episode will give the green light to The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy.
There is no question that the north Pacific system generating the anticipated swell has the potential to deliver waves of "Eddie" size, but it now comes down to the directional focus of the swell. Organizers of the event will continuously monitor developments of this swell that is expected to peak on Oahu's North Shore on Thursday, January 20.
Yesterday's 15-18 foot surf at Waimea was from such a westerly direction that "Eddie" Invitee Mark Healey opted for the left-hander on the opposite side of the Bay - a largely unridden realm. Photo: Bielman.
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a one-day big wave invitational staged at Waimea Bay with a minimum wave height requirement of 20 feet. It was last held on December 8, 2009, in 20- to 25-foot surf and was won by California's Greg Long. The event is held in memory of one of the greatest Hawaiian watermen of all time, Eddie Aikau, who was a pioneer big wave rider and highly respected lifeguard at Waimea Bay. In its 26 year history, the event has only been held a total of eight times.
"The system generating the surf is definitely gigantic and certainly as strong as predicted, covering roughly 18,000 square miles of the north Pacific,"
explains George Downing, Contest Director of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau. "But up to now, the strongest winds generating the open ocean swells have not been aimed at Hawaii. This can change as the system passes the dateline, so we will have to be patient."
A further 24 hours of watch-and-wait will provide a better indication of the true potential of the swell and what it will produce for Waimea Bay. There are still three full days of developments yet to unfold and ultimately "The Bay calls the day".
The National Weather Service expects that beyond this week the favorable jet stream flow will continue to lend itself to more extra-large to giant surf through the end of the month/into early February. The holding period for the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau runs up to and including February 28.
The most recent storm activity in the Pacific produced quality surf of up to 18 feet along Oahu's North Shore yesterday, allowing many of the Invitees and Alternates to "The Eddie" to test their equipment and ready themselves for what lies ahead.
Updated information can be found at www.Quiksilver.com/Eddie.
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the world's longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational and is the only one sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.