SURF SPOT
Holding period begins for Eddie Aikau meet
Advertiser Staff
The Eddie watch is officially on.
The holding period for the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational starts today and runs through the end of February.
The contest can run only on a day when waves reach traditional heights of at least 20 feet at Waimea Bay. Because of its high standard, the event has been completed just seven times since it was created in 1984.
Kaua'i's Bruce Irons won the event last year, scoring a perfect 100 in one of his heats.
Only 24 big-wave surfers are invited each year to compete in the contest.
This year's list:
Clyde Aikau (Hawai'i), Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia), Shane Dorian (Hawai'i), Keone Downing (Hawai'i), Sunny Garcia (Hawai'i), Mark Healey (Hawai'i), Michael Ho (Hawai'i), Andy Irons (Hawai'i), Bruce Irons (Hawai'i), Noah Johnson (Hawai'i), Brian Keaulana (Hawai'i), Rusty Keaulana (Hawai'i), Titus Kinimaka (Hawai'i), Brock Little (Hawai'i), Peter Mel (California), Jamie O'Brien (Hawai'i), Myles Padaca (Hawai'i), Paul Paterson (Australia), Tony Ray (Australia), Makua Rothman (Hawai'i), Kelly Slater (Florida), Jamie Sterling (Hawai'i), Pancho Sullivan (Hawai'i), Darryl "Flea" Virostko (California).
KAI MANA WINNERS
The inaugural Free Surf Magazine Kai Mana Awards banquet was held Sunday at Waimea Valley Audubon Center to honor Hawai'i's top surfers.
Fred Patacchia Jr. of O'ahu's North Shore and Punahou eighth-grader Carissa Moore each won two awards.
Patacchia was named Top Male surfer and Breakthrough Pro Male. Moore was named Top Female surfer and Breakthrough Amateur Female.
The list of winners:
Top Male—Fred Patacchia Jr. Top Female—Carissa Moore. Lifetime Achievement—Michael Ho. Ocean Safety—Brian Keaulana. Gladiator—Kala Alexander. Ambassador of Aloha—Jason Shibata. Top Bodyboarder—Jeff Hubbard. Top Longboarder—Bonga Perkins. Paddle-in Charger—Jamie Sterling. Tow-in Team—Shane Dorian and Ian Walsh. Breakthrough Pro Male—Fred Patacchia Jr. Breakthrough Pro Female—Melanie Bartels. Breakthrough Amateur Male—Clay Marzo. Breakthrough Amateur Female—Carissa Moore.
