This event sponsored by the Quiksilver Division happens once a year at the Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. It just held when the waves are up to 20 feet. The last Big Waves Invitational happened in December 2006, and the next is supposed to happen in December of this year. This event, as the proper name says, is in memory of Eddie Aikau, a famous big rider surfer and the first Waimea’s waterman, who passed away in 1978 when he was trying to get some help for the crew of the Hokulea, a rejoinder of the ancient Polynesians boats, which shipwrecked during a commemorative expedition between Hawaii and Tahiti. The expedition which started at the Magic Island Port was organized in order to valorize the Hawaiian culture and tradition that had been restrained by the settlers. Eddie was just 32 years old when he died. People say that he went search help by rowing on his board, disappeared at the horizon and was never seen again. His last words were: “Don’t worry, I can do it, I will reach the coast.” Soon later the life-guard vest he was wearing was seen floating on the water. The last day the crew was rescued by the American navy. They just found Eddie’s board floating near the coast.
As we can see in this video I found on the Internet, the event is opened by a Hawaiian ceremony and the surfers invited, like Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Taj Burrow, etc., go to the sea an scream his name several times. After that, they form a circle and deposit flowers in the sea. It’s a very beautiful ceremony. Here there is an interesting site that gives some more information about Eddie’s story.
In this video we can see Kelly Slater, the best surfer currently who was world champion eight times. Here is a site which shows some photos of him. The site is a little bit outdated, since Kelly is still presented as the “7 times world champion”. And here below there is a video of him surfing during the last Big Waves Invitational, which he won.
Another famous surfer that appears on the first video is Shane Dorian, one of my idols. He is not as famous as Kelly Slater or Mick Fanning, of course, but he is so courageous and even insane sometimes, and that is why I admire him. I discovered him in a video which my friend lent me, called “The BluePrint”. It is a very short video about his life and his story. I hope to become as expert as him one day.
Hello
Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!
G’night