‘The Eddie’ big-wave surf contest called off due to poor conditions

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational has been called off for Wednesday due to poor wind conditions at Waimea Bay, organizers said.

While a massive winter swell is projected to roll in overnight, Clyde Aikau announced Tuesday that the competition would not be held as hoped. “Due to the wind conditions that are going to be prevalent in the early morning and due to the size of the swell in the early morning, we are going to cancel the Eddie for Wednesday,” Aikau said.

This announcement comes just a day after talks of the legendary surf competition being held, which caused excitement and frenzy across the surfing world.

The National Weather Service is still forecasting wave faces of 50 feet from Tuesday night through Thursday.

However, for the contest to go on, the winds also have to cooperate — and right now meteorologists say they are questionable as onshore north-veering-northeast winds prevail with a front moving down the island chain.

The window for waves began Dec. 14 and runs through March 23.

While the competition for Wednesday has been called off for now, Aikau said organizers are hopeful a bigger swell forecasted for Jan. 22 will hold more favorable conditions.

This will be the 34th year for the contest, but it has only run nine times because the conditions have to be right. Waves need to be at least 20 feet for the Eddie to be called on.

The contest was last held in 2016.

Clyde Aikau is carrying on his brother’s legacy by organizing the world’s premier big-wave surf contest on the North Shore. Forty surfers were invited this year, including five women. The list includes 2016 winner John John Florence, 2002 winner Kelly Slater, four-time Peahi champ Billy Kemper, and father-and-son duo Mason and Michael Ho.

This story will be updated.

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