Photo: Matt Catalano

Quicksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Opening Ceremony

On Thursday, December 3, some of the world’s most talented and renowned surfers gathered at Waimea Bay to take part in the prominent and annual opening ceremony for the 31st Annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.

As bumper to bumper traffic crowded the street outside of Waimea Beach Park, the invitees congregated together, standing in front of their towering big wave surfboards, as Hawaiian Kahu Billy Mitchell provided the first blessing and spoke of Eddie’s instinctively protective nature and how each surfer should watch out for one another at all times.

After the ceremonial blessing, the group paddled out into the Bay and formed a floating circle. In the middle sat Clyde Aikau, who further spoke to the group of pros and legends of his brother and the importance of safety and family.

The 31st annual celebration was of special importance to Clyde himself, because the 66-year old announced it would be the last time he would lead the paddle out.

With the commemoration over, all eyes are now on the swell charts in hopes that the El Nino winter will make the Eddie go.

Clyde Aikau Photo: Matt Catalano
Clyde Aikau Photo: Matt Catalano

The 2015/2016 Invitees

(listed by first name alphabetical order)

Aaron Gold

Albee Layer

Bruce Irons

Clyde Aikau

Dave Wassel

Garrett McNamara

Grant Baker

Greg Long

Ian Walsh

Jamie Mitchell

Jamie O’Brien Jeremy Flores

John John Florence

Kala Alexander

Kelly Slater

Kohl Christensen

Makua Rothman

Mark Healey

Nathan Fletcher

Noah Johnson

Peter Mel

Ramon Navarro

Reef McIntosh

Ross Clarke-Jones

Shane Dorian

Sunny Garcia

Takayuki Wakita

Tom Carroll

Official Alternates

(in seeding order)

Mason Ho (Aikau Pick)

Danilo Couto

Mark Matthews

Koa Rothman

Ben Wilkinson

Jamie Sterling

Billy Kemper

Shawn Dollar

Carlos Burle

Kealii Mamala

Gabriel Villaran

Michael Ho

Kai Lenny

Kahea Hart

Nathan Florence

Damien Hobgood

Kalani Chapman

Ryan Hipwood

Danny Fuller
Nic Lamb

Anthony Tashnick

Rusty Long

Derek Dunfee

Brock Little

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