Invitees Announced for 2026/27 Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational
The prestigious invitee list for the 2026/27 Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational (fondly known as “The Eddie”) has been announced, featuring 32 of the world’s leading big wave surfers and 25 alternates.
2026/27 INVITEES (alphabetical order)
2026/27 ALTERNATES (replacement order)
Men
Women
Also announced is the appointment of Keone Downing (1990 Event Champion) as Contest Director for the 2026/27 event, along with the date of the traditional Opening Ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
The Eddie will “GO” on a single day if and when waves reach giant status. The event has a three-month window within which to run, from December 6, 2026, to March 4, 2027, and in its 41-year history, the event has been held just 11 times.
“With El Niño continuing to intensify as we head towards winter, this season definitely holds a lot of promise,” said Downing.
“I’m deeply grateful and humbled to be entrusted with this responsibility. It is a privilege to honour Eddie Aikau’s legacy.
“When my father (George Downing), together with Eddie’s father “Pops” Aikau, and Eddie Rothman first conceptualized this event at Waimea Bay, they knew that this was something special. My father always reminded us that ‘the Bay calls the day’, and those lasting words will continue to guide the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational as we pay respect to Eddie and the power of Waimea Bay and carry this tradition forward.”
The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational is an annual winter event that was created specifically to honour Aikau at Waimea Bay, on the famed North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. It is an event steeped in Hawaiian culture and fitting of one of Hawaii’s best-known heroes.
“Rip Curl is honoured to partner with this iconic event for a third year, and we couldn’t be more excited by the calibre of invitees,” said Ashley Reade, Rip Curl CEO. “Supporting events with a rich history and cultural significance is core to Rip Curl’s DNA, and few events embody those values more powerfully than The Eddie.”
Eddie Aikau was a consummate Hawaiian waterman who travelled the world as a competitive surfer, sharing his deep respect for his culture, his family, and his fellow man, wherever he went.
He was the North Shore’s first official lifeguard and was famously stationed at Waimea Bay – the most venerated big wave venue in the world, where he is credited with saving more than 500 lives.
Aikau was sadly lost at sea during the 1978 voyage of Hokule‘a, when the double-hull voyaging canoe capsized in huge seas and stormy conditions en-route from Hawaii to Tahiti. Aikau paddled away from Hokule‘a on his surfboard to seek help for his crewmates and was never seen again. He was 31 years old.
More can be learned about Eddie Aikau at eddieaikaufoundation.org. The Eddie Aikau Foundation was created to share about Eddie’s life, contributions and accomplishments while promoting education and advancement of Hawaiian Culture. There is good to be done.
The artwork for the 2026 poster has been created by renowned artist and designer David Carson. The poster depicts both Eddie and his late brother Clyde surfing Waimea Bay underneath a classic North Shore sunset.
Keep up to date will all event updates and related content via @theeddieaikau and @ripcurl Instagram channels. Shop the ‘Eddie Would Go’ collection, featuring 2026 Rip Curl Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational event merchandise here.
FAST FACTS ABOUT THE EDDIE:
Year Founded: 1985. 2026/27 will be the 42nd Annual.
Required Conditions: The event will run if and when Waimea Bay wave face heights reach 40-feet and conditions are of high quality for one full day of competition. This wave height requirement is unique in the world of big wave riding and was set as the benchmark for days that “Eddie Would Go”.
Past Champions:
1985 - Denton Miyamura (Hawaii) *held at Sunset Beach
1986 - Clyde Aikau (Hawaii) *first year event held at Waimea Bay
1990 - Keone Downing (Hawaii)
1999 - Noah Johnson (Hawaii)
2001 - Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia)
2002 - Kelly Slater (USA)
2004 - Bruce Irons (Hawaii)
2009 - Greg Long (USA)
2016 - John John Florence (Hawaii)
2023 - Luke Shepardson (Hawaii)
2024 - Landon McNamara (Hawaii)
