THE QUIKSILVER BIG WAVE INVITATIONAL IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU TO CLOSE HOLDING PERIOD

29 February, 2008 : - - Waimea Bay, Oahu - The 23rd annual Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau officially drew to a close, February 29, 2008, which was the final day of the period. The holding period began December 1, 2007. Otherwise known as "The Eddie", this event requires a minimum of 20-foot surf (based on Hawaiian scale measurement, translating to 30-40 foot face waves) and is a one-day-only event. It has been held a total of seven times since its inception in the winter of 1984/85 at Sunset Beach. The Hawaiian winter of 2007/08 officially goes down as the worst winter for waves on record, based upon the 40-year swell log that *NOAA'S National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) in Honolulu has kept since 1968. Compared with an average year, this past winter had roughly double the number of small wave days (swell heights of less than seven feet), and approximately half the number of large to giant days (8-18+ feet). During this year's 91-day holding period for the Eddie, 72 percent of days of swell fell in the 12-foot or less category. Conversely, only one day of swell registered on NOAA's log as being large enough to run the event: Sunday, January 13. But that episode coincided with adverse winds and an inconsistent, broad range of wave heights, therefore no competition.

Comments courtesy of Quiksilver.