Waimea Bay, Oahu, HAWAII --- An extra large swell is forecast to batter Oahu's North Shore this week, but uncertainty still surrounds the actual height of the waves that will materialize and whether this latest episode will give the green light to the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy. There is no question that the north Pacific system generating the anticipated swell has the potential to deliver waves of "Eddie" size, but it now comes down to the directional focus of the swell. Organizers of the event will continuously monitor developments of this swell that is expected to peak on Oahu's North Shore on Thursday, January 20.

The system generating the surf is definitely gigantic and certainly as strong as predicted, covering roughly 18,000 square miles of the north Pacific," explains George Downing, Contest Director of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau. "But up to now, the strongest winds generating the open ocean swells have not been aimed at Hawaii. This can change as the system passes the dateline, so we will have to be patient."

A further 24 hours of watch-and-wait will provide a better indication of the true potential of the swell and what it will produce for Waimea Bay. There are still three full days of developments yet to unfold and ultimately "The Bay calls the day".

The National Weather Service expects that beyond this week the favorable jet stream flow will continue to lend itself to more extra-large to giant surf through the end of the month/into early February. The holding period for the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau runs up to and including February 28.

The most recent storm activity in the Pacific produced quality surf of up to 18 feet along Oahu's North Shore yesterday, allowing many of the Invitees and Alternates to "The Eddie" to test their equipment and ready themselves for what lies ahead.
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....love watching this contest, no bs, just plain paddle over the ledge on ya 10'r and hang on lol...hope the swell swings in for it.
http://theeddie.quiksilver.com/

Yeah this contest is right up there.. being a surfer the feeling you get dropping down the face of a bomb is awsome.
The feeling these guys get must be freakin unreal!

I didnr get called up this year

Dunno bout you, but no way in the world would ya get me out there.

16-23' foot today and it still wasn't good enough to hold the contest, was glassy too just inconsistent, still be pretty lucky to get two Eddies in a row i suppose.... last year was good one to watch.

I was just talking to a mate who's son paddled out there today,they called it 20 at first and later called it 15 foot.

Now this guy can surf,he said the paddle out was easier than you think,but he sat out the back for two hours watching monsters roll in.

He grabbed a small one 12 foot and made his way in a very happy 17 year old

yea mac, good on the young bloke, it looked pretty crowded out there yesterday too,