‘Eddie would go!’

RICK FIGNETTI

The surf scene is still rolling big-time in Hawaii, where the waves

get huge when the storm surf comes in.

The 20th-annual “Quicksilver/Eddie Aikau Big Wave Classic” could

be going off this week -- on stand by -- as the surf’s supposed to be

picking up, pretty sizable. They hold the “Eddie” when the waves

reach 20-foot plus, with ridable shape at Waimea Bay. Contest

director George Downing will make the decision, as the waiting period

started Dec. 3 and continues until Feb. 28. The bay can hold up to

40-foot surf before it starts to get closed out.

The contest was named after the legendary Hawaiian, Eddie Aikau,

who rode the big ones there. He was a lifeguard at the bay, and was a

well-respected all-around water man, too.

Back in 1978, Eddie and crew were on a reenactment trip of the

Polynesian’s canoeing from Hawaii to Tahiti. The seas were rough with

giant swells, and the canoe capsized in the middle of the Molokai

Channel, one of the roughest in the world. Eddie grabbed his

surfboard and set out to get help for his friends, paddling for one

of the islands in the distance, in the stormed-out seas, but was

never to be seen again.

So, with it’s huge -- even scary -- surf, the saying is, “Eddie

would go!”

Past winners include six-time world champ Kelly Slater, showing

his versatility, winning in big surf, too. Eddie’s younger brother,

Clyde, has won, as well as the contest director’s son, Keone

Downing.Other big wave standouts include Noah Johnson from the Big

Island, and Australian Ross Clarke.

Those are some of the men who ride mountains.

The format is, 24 invitees surf two rounds at Waimea Bay, where

some of the largest waves in the world are at. The one with the best

four wave totals , will be the winner. So, we’ll keep you posted on

that 30-foot swell that’s supposed to hit this week, and if the

“Eddie’s” on, or not.

The women ran their event, the “Billabong Pro,” in some epic 6- to

10-foot surf, a few days ago, over at Maui. Taking the win, and

$10,000, was 21-year-old Australian ripper Chelsea Georgeson.

Georgeson pulled an almost perfect score at the end of the final -- a

9.75 to win it. She defeated fellow Aussie Samantha Cornish, who was

tearing it up, too. Equal thirds were Australia’s Trudy Todd, South

African Heather Clark. Some equal fifths were Hawaiian Rochelle

Ballard, and former world champ Australian Layne Beachley. Final

championship tour standings were Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich ; the

women’s world champ; second was Rochelle Ballard third was Chelsea

Georgeson; and fourth was six-time world champ Layne Beachley, ending

her dominating

streak of six titles, to end the 2004 season.

At the “Rip Curl Pipeline Master’s” at the ever-legendary Banzai

Pipeline, they held the trials, and winning was local standout Mickey

Bruneau. Brazil’s Bruno Santos was second. First and second get

wild cards into the main event. Third was Brian Pacheco. North

Shore local Shane Dorian was fourth.

The main event was started earlier in the week. Can the three-time

world champ, “A.I.” -- Andy Irons -- win two in a row? He won last

year at Pipe. Parko and the boys all like those big barrels, too,

breaking over the shallow reef.

Can’t say it enough, Huntington Beach’s Timmy Reyes has qualified

for the World Championship Tour next season, the really big show!

Nice.

Have you got all your Christmas shopping done yet? A new surfboard

rates top on the list, or a warm wetsuit ‘cause it’s been freezin’

out there lately, with that 55-degree water. Where’s my booties?

How about a city pass to the beach parking lots? That’s a good

one, or a stocking full of surf wax. See ya.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 11 years and has been the

KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 18 years, doing morning surf

reports. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.