Cover photo: Ramon at Waimea by Scott Soens

The traditional Eddie Aikau Memorial Big Wave Tournament will not take place this year, the organization announced via an Instagram story.

“Eddie will not be attending this 2021-2022. Thank you for your support and stay in touch for the next one,” they wrote.

Initially, the event was not going to be organised this season, but a group was formed to take charge of it. After the Aikau family and Quiksilver separated a few years ago, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the event.

In its 37-year history, the tournament that expects conditions to be “like Eddie would go” has taken place eight times, with the 9th edition being the first that did not wait for swell and was won by Denton Miyamura.

John John Florence was the last Eddie champion, on February 25, 2016.

Eddie Aikau was a Hawaiian lifeguard who lost his life trying to save the crew of the Hokulea, a vessel that was intended to imitate ancient Polynesian voyages, traveling from Hawaii to Tahiti.