Neither the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Oahu's Waimea Bay nor the inaugural Red Bull Jaws Paddle at Peahi will take place Sunday or Monday, despite an arriving large swell, organizers of the big-wave surfing contests said Friday.
"What we see is an inconsistent 20-foot swell with peak energy during Sunday night, and dropping after that," Eddie director George Downing said in a release. "We do not foresee the eight daylight hours of consistent 20- to 25-foot deep water swell (wave face heights of approximately 40 feet) that is the minimum requirement for this event to run."
The Eddie, considered by many to be the world's premier big-wave contest, started in 1984, but has had the required conditions just seven times. California's Greg Long won the last time it was held, in 2009.
This year's holding period runs through Feb. 28, and the 28-man field includes Ian Walsh of Haiku.
Walsh helped organize the Red Bull event, which has a field of 21 and a holding period that runs through March 15.
"We have been monitoring this developing swell very closely but the real issue is the timing," said Mike Parsons, director of the Peahi contest. "There will be some very large waves late Sunday/early Monday, but we do not have 90 percent confidence that either day will offer up the required seven hours of optimal 30-50 foot wave face heights that we are looking for to make this a great event.
"The winter is just getting started and by all accounts, it looks like January is going to be a great month for waves."
If conditions are right for competition on the same day at Peahi and Waimea Bay, Walsh has said the Eddie will take precedence.
