Kelly Slater’s Perfect 10 at the 2010 Eddie. Photo: Lucia Griggi
In all of surfing, there is one event that stand out among the rest: The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. And in early October, organizers released the names of the invitees to the 2024-2025 event.
The Eddie is only held when the waves are big enough. “The bay calls the day,” as the saying goes, and because of those exacting standards, the event has only run 10 times since 1985, the first year it was held.
Named for the legendary Hawaiian waterman and lifeguard Eddie Aikau, an invite to the Eddie is the peak of a big wave surfer’s competitive career. This year, it’s sponsored by Rip Curl. According to the event’s website, that last time the event ran in 2023, over 2 million people tuned in to watch from 195 countries around the world.
“The legend of Eddie Aikau is an important part of Hawaiian Culture. Eddie Aikau was a championship athlete, a waterman, and a family man who truly cared for others,” organizers wrote. “Eddie was not just the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay; he was the first lifeguard for the entire North Shore, and saved over 500 people throughout his career. Eddie would brave the waves that often reached 30 feet or more, when no one else would go out. It’s important to keep his legacy alive and inspire the next generation to live like Eddie did.”
Among the invitees are a handful of regulars — surfers who have consistently proven themselves worthy of an invite. Joining them are a few new faces, too. The window runs from December 14 to March 13, 2025.
2024-2025 INVITEES
Men:
Aaron Gold (HI)
Billy Kemper (HI)
Bruce Irons (HI – 2004 WINNER)
Chad Keaulana (HI)
Eli Olson (HI)
Ezekiel Lau (HI)
Francisco Porcella (ITALY)
Greg Long (CA – 2009 WINNER)
Ian Walsh (HI)
Jake Maki (HI)
Jamie Mitchell (HI)
Jamie O’Brien (HI)
John John Florence (HI – 2016 WINNER)
Jojo Roper (CA)
Kai Lenny (HI)
Kauli Vaast (TAHITI – 2024 Olympic Gold Medalist)
Keali‘I Mamala (HI)
Kelly Slater (CA – 2002 WINNER)
Koa Rothman (HI)
Kohl Christensen (HI)
Landon McNamara (HI)
Lucas Chianca (BRAZIL)
Luke Shepardson (HI – 2023 WINNER)
Makuakai Rothman (HI)
Mark Healey (HI)
Mason Ho (HI)
Matt Bromley (SOUTH AFRICA)
Nathan Florence (HI)
Nic Lamb (CA)
Peter Mel (CA)
Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS – 2001 WINNER)
Russell Bierke (AUS)
Taio Shipman (HI)
Torrey Meister (HI)
Tyler Larronde (HI)
Alternates:
Ha‘a Aikau (HI)
Joey Cadiz (HI)
Eala Stewart (HI)
Ben Wilkinson (AUS)
Grant Twiggy Baker (SOUTH AFRICA)
Koa Smith (HI)
Tiger Doerner (HI)
Michael Sanborn (HI)
Ivan Florence (HI)
Mikey O’Shaughnessy (HI)
Kala Grace (HI)
Barron Mamiya (HI)
Tom Robert Lowe (UK)
Alonso Correa (PERU)
Othmane Choufani (MOROCCO)
Natxo Gonzalez (SPAIN)
Isamu Sumi (JAPAN)
Cristian Merello (CHILE)
Manny Resano (NICARAGUA)
Conor Maguire (IRELAND)
Women:
Annie Starr Reichert (HI)
Bianca Valenti (CA)
Emily Erickson (HI)
Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
Justine Duponte (FRANCE)
Keala Kennelly (HI)
Laura Enever (AUS)
Makani Adric (HI)
Moana Jones Wong (HI)
Paige Alms (HI)
Alternates:
Izzy Gomez (HI)
Skylar Lickle (HI)
Tiare Lawrence (HI)
Andrea Moller (HI)
Anne Dos Santos (BRAZIL)
