Waimea Bay, Thursday, December 4 at 3 p.m.

The Opening Ceremony for the 30th annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau will take place on Thursday, December 4. Image: ASP / Kelly Cestari

HONOLULU/Hawaii (December 2, 2014) – The Opening Ceremony for the 30th annual Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau will be held this week at Waimea Bay on Thursday, December 4, at 3 p.m. and will include the event’s official Invitees and Alternates, as well as members of the Aikau family. The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau was last held on December 9, 2009, and was won by California’s Greg Long.

Long-range surf forecasts are currently eyeing the development of a potential “Eddie”-sized swell that could also arrive around December 9. The event has only been held a total of 8 times.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a one-day big wave riding event that only takes place if and when waves meet a 20-foot minimum height, during the holding period of December 1 through February 28, each Hawaiian winter.

Please visit www.quiksilver.com/eddie to view this year’s list of Invitees, video, and updates.

“The Eddie” is the original big wave surfing event and has become an icon of surfing through its honor, integrity and rarity.   The event honors Hawaiian hero Eddie Aikau, whose legacy is the respect he held for the ocean; his concern for the safety of all who entered it on his watch; and the way with which he rode Waimea Bay on its most giant and memorable days.

When the event runs, it will be broadcast live on www.quiksilver.com/eddie and www.aspworldtour.com.

Past winners: 1985/1986 : Denton Miyamura (HAW)

1986/1987 : Clyde Aikau (HAW)

1998/1999 : Noah Johnson (HAW)

1989/1990 : Keone Downing (HAW)

2000/2001 : Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)

2001/2002 : Kelly Slater (USA)

2004/2005 : Bruce Irons (HAW)

2009/2010 : Greg Long (USA)

About Eddie Aikau: Just 31 years of age when he was lost at sea during an ill-fated voyage of Hawaii’s Hokule’a double-hull sailing canoe in 1978, Aikau was a young man at the height of a career equally dedicated to big-wave riding and lifeguarding at historic Waimea Bay. He was filled with a pure passion to ride giant surf, take care of his fellow man, and uphold his Hawaiian culture and family values.

About Quiksilver: Quiksilver, Inc., one of the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle companies, designs, produces and distributes branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The company’s apparel and footwear brands, inspired by a passion for outdoor action sports, represent a casual lifestyle for young-minded people who connect with its boardriding culture and heritage. The company’s Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC brands have authentic roots and heritage in surf, snow and skate. The company’s products are sold in more than 90 countries in a wide range of distribution, including surf shops, skate shops, snow shops, its proprietary Boardriders Club shops and other company-owned retail stores, other specialty stores, select department stores and through various e-commerce channels. Quiksilver’s corporate headquarters are in Huntington Beach, California.