Quiksilver, Inc.

261px
Type	Public (NYSE: ZQK)
Founded	Australia (1969)
Headquarters	Huntington Beach, California, United States
Key people	Robert B. McKnight, CEO & Chairman of the Board
Products	Apparel, sporting goods
Revenue	US$2.362 billion (2006)
Net income	US$107.12 million (2006)
Employees	7,875
Website	http://www.quiksilver.com

Quiksilver, Inc. (NYSE: ZQK), is an American company based in Huntington Beach, California, one of the world's largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment. Its logo, designed by the company founder Alan Green and John Law in Torquay, Victoria, Australia in 1969^[1], inspired by Hokusai's woodcut The Great Wave off Kanagawa^[2] consists of a large wave with a mountain on a red background.

The company also produces a line of apparel for young women, under the brand Roxy. Its logo consists of two copies of the Quiksilver logo, one reflected, forming a heart.

The company's DC and Hawk brands are also synonymous with the heritage and culture of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and its beach- and water-oriented swimwear brands include Raisins, Radio Fiji and Leilani. Quiksilver also carries a line of high-end apparel and accessories under its QuiksilverEdition brand.

In 2005, the company launched The Quiksilver Foundation, a charitable foundation which works to provide environmental, educational, health and youth-related projects to boardriding communities around the world.

The company now offers snow and surf travel packages to exotic locations such as Samoa, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Peru and Costa Rica.

Corporate information[link]

Quiksilver purchased Skis Rossignol for $560 million in 2005, but sold Rossignol on November 12, 2008 for 30 million euros ($37.5 million) in cash and a 10 million euro note ($12.5 million).^[3] It owned golf-equipment maker Cleveland Golf up until October 31, 2007, when it sold the company to a Japanese sporting goods company.^[4] In 2009 Moody's included Quiksilver on its Bottom Rung list of companies most likely to default on its debt.^[5] Quiksilver also owns DC Shoes, a skateboard shoe brand.

Quiksilver today[link]

Quiksilver operates 834^[6] stand-alone stores in major cities across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. There are two types of Quiksilver operated stores which are known as either "Boardriders Club" or "Factory" stores. Their products are also sold in many other outlets across the world such as Zumiez, the Fells Point Surf Company or the Ron Jon Surf Shop. In addition, the company operates a number of separate Roxy and Quiksilver Youth stores.

As of 2008^[update], Quiksilver sponsors around 500 amateur and professional surfers, snowboarders, skiers, and skateboarders. Among them are surfer Kelly Slater, golfer Luke Federico, snowboarder Travis Rice, and skateboarder Tony Hawk. They also have the naming rights to the Quiksilver Pro surfing tournament for men and Roxy Pro Gold Coast tournament for women in Gold Coast, Queensland in Australia, France, and most recently, New York.

Roxy[link]

In 1990, Quiksilver launched its sister brand for young women, Roxy. The brand is aimed at those who enjoy coastal and mountain-based sports and lifestyles. It was differentiated from the main Quiksilver line "for fear it would damage the men's brand", according to Randy Hild, the company's senior vice president of marketing. Roxy was chosen because it sounded like a punk band or club (likely Roxy Music and The Roxy respectively), and is also the name of the daughters of both CEO Bob McKnight and founder Alan Green.^[7][8] About 30% of Quiksilver's sales come from the Roxy line.^[9]

Since inception, Roxy has grown to be the largest action sport fashion apparel company for young women. In addition to apparel, it now also produces accessories, homewares, hard goods (snow and surf), wetsuits, footwear, books, and perfumes. It has sub-brands for its children's ranges, named Roxy Girl and Teenie Wahine.

Quiksilver milestones[link]

2009: Quiksilver announced a financial restructuring plan that includes an agreement with Rhone Group, an international private equity firm, for a 5-year senior secured term loan of approximately $150 million and new $200 million Line of Credit in the Americas from Bank of America and GE Capital.^[10]

2008: Kelly Slater wins the inaugural contest of the 2008 Men's ASP World Championship Tour, the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast of Australia, furthering his record with 35 ASP World Tour Victories. Slater wins his ninth world title in Mundaka, Spain

2007: Kelly Slater Wins at Trestles, sets new World Record with 34 ASP World Tour Victories - Quiksilver's Dane Reynolds landed the most coveted surf magazine photo of the year for an image captured during the filming of Young Guns 3 in Bali. - Travis Rice wins the Snowboard US Open. - Quiksilver Inc. announces launch of Women’s line for fall 2008 - Julian Wilson scores best performance by a male at the 2007 surfer poll awards.

2006: Quiksilver released the 320-page, full color book The Mountain & the Wave, The Quiksilver Story. - Dane's movie "First Chapter" won for Best Male Performance in a Video and, most importantly, Video of the Year at the Surfer Poll Awards. Kelly also took out yet another first in the Reader Poll. - Quiksilver announces opening of new Mountain Center in Park City, Utah. 2005: Quiksilver Foundation is established - Danny Way jumped the Great Wall - Kelly Slater wins record breaking 7th World Title

2004: Quiksilver acquires DC Shoe Company - QSE partners with Airstream - “The Quiksilver Crossing” comes to America

2003: Quiksilver continues involvement with environment, education, and science with projects “Quikscience Challenge” and “Adopt-A-Village” - Roxy teams up with MTV to launch Surf Girls TV show - Q.S. Entertainment teams up with Fox TV to launch 54321 TV Show - Quiksilver announces joint venture for retail expansion into Mainland China with partners Glorious Sun

2002: Quiksilver Inc. and Quiksilver Asia Pacific merge to form global operating entity - Quiksilver designs revolutionary new wetsuit. “The Cell” is for all degrees of surfing. Revolutionary design, increased flexibility, lighter in weight, total freedom!" according to Quiksilver.

2001: Kelly Slater goes back on tour, un-retires

2000: Quiksilver, Inc. established the Quiksilver trademarks world wide with the acquisition of all of the shares in Quiksilver International - QS forms alliance with Tony Hawk to create signature apparel line, “Hawk” is launched - First Roxy store opens. first Roxy surf camp established

1999: The “Quiksilver Crossing” is launched. The greatest surf adventure ever with a strong environment focus - Josh Ashworth redefines golfwear at Quiksilver with “Fidra” - Quiksilver Inc. moves to Huntington Beach

1998: Kelly Slater wins his sixth ASP world title and Quiksilver goes one, two, three in the world with Kelly, Mick Cambell, and Danny Wills - Quiksilver Inc. lists on the New York stock exchange. Bell rings for ZQK - Kelly Slater retires

1997: Quiksilver.com - Kelly Slater highest money earner in ASP history 1996 - Quiksilver acquires Mervin Manufacturing, Inc. a manufacturer and wholesaler of snowboards and snowboard bindings, thus the brands Lib Technologies, Gnu Snowboards, and Bent Metal.

1996: Quiksilver creates “Winter Sports Division”.

1995: Quiksilver sets the ultimate in standard in professional surfing events by staging the inaugural “Quiksilver Pro” at G-Land Indonesia

1994: Lisa Anderson signs with Roxy and becomes women’s ASP world champion - Roxy introduces first girls boardshort

1993: Roxy launches “Double Heart” logo - Quiksilver acquires “Raisins” swimwear

1991: QS “Boys” begins. “Silver Edition” division begins with “QUE” - Quiksilver Inc. acquires Quiksilver Europe, moves towards creating one global company

1990: Kelly Slater signs with Quiksilver - World champion halfpipe snowboarder Shaun Palmer signs with Quiksilver - Quiksilver introduces “Roxy” brand to surf market

1989: 20 year anniversary of Quiksilver brand

1988: Quiksilver and Tom Carroll create surfing history when the twice world champion signs an exclusive contract for $1 million, the most lucrative deal in the sport

1987: Jack Johnson signs with Quiksilver

1986: Quiksilver Inc. in the United States goes public

1984: 1st “Quiksilver in memory of Eddie Aikau” Big Wave contest held at Sunset Beach, HI, won by Denton Miyamura

1981: Quiksilver commissions Los Angeles designer Ray Smith to update the mountain and wave logo

1980: Quiksilver introduces “Echo Beach” boardshorts featuring radical print design with polka dots harlequins, stars and checks

1978: Quiksilver sponsors its first team riders, Rabbit Bartholomew and Bruce Raymond. Rabbit goes on to win the world title

1976: Jeff Hackman is granted the Quiksilver license. Jeff Hackman and Bob McNight team up to start Quiksilver USA in Newport Beach. Start selling boardshorts out of the back of a green VW bus

1974: U.S. manufacturing (Quiksilver) first exports boardshorts to the Lightning Bolt shop in Hawaii

1970: Quiksilver boardshorts with a swan logo make their first appearance in Australian surf shops. Soon replaced by the first “Mountain and Wave" logo

1969: At the Rip Curl factory in Torquay, Australia, Alan Green starts working on prototypes for a new kind of board short, using aspects of wetsuit technology, such as snaps and Velcro flies

See also[link]

	Los Angeles portal
	Companies portal

• Quiksilver Pro
• Quiksilver Pro France

References[link]

External links[link]

• Quiksilver website

Kelly Slater
Personal information
Born	(1972-02-11) February 11, 1972 (age 40) Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S.
Residence	Florida, California and Hawaii
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg)
Surfing career
Years active	1990–present
Best year	Ranked 1st on the ASP World Tour, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
Career earnings	$3,030,755 (as of 2011)[1]
Sponsors	Quiksilver wetsuits
Major achievements	11 time ASP World Champion Victories: 55 World championship tour (WCT) surfing wins: 48
Surfing specifications
Stance	Regular (natural) foot (left foot forward)
Shaper(s)	Al Merrick
Quiver	5'6", 5'8", 5'10", 6'1", 6'3" and 6'6" boards when on the road
Favorite waves	Kirra and Pipe
Favorite maneuvers	Airs and barrels
Website	kellyslater.com

Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972, Cocoa Beach, FL, USA) is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest (at age 20) and the oldest (at age 39) to win the title. Upon winning his 5th world title in 1997, Slater passed Australian surfing legend Mark Richards to become the most successful champion in the history of the sport. In 2007 he also became the all-time leader in career event wins by winning the Boost Mobile Pro event at Lower Trestles near San Clemente, California. The previous record was held by Slater's childhood hero, 3-time world champion Tom Curren.^[2]

In addition to the ASP tour, Slater has also competed in the X-Games (in 2003 and 2004). After earlier being awarded the title prematurely as a result of a miscalculation by the ASP, on November 6, 2011 Slater officially won his eleventh ASP world title at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, by winning his 4th round heat. In May 2005, in the final heat of the Billabong Tahiti Pro contest at Teahupo'o, Slater became the first surfer ever to be awarded two perfect scores for a total 20 out of 20 points under the ASP two-wave scoring system. (The corresponding honor under the previous three-wave system belongs to fellow American Shane Beschen who achieved the feat in 1996.) Since 1990, Slater has been sponsored primarily by surfwear industry giant Quiksilver.^[3] He exclusively rides Channel Islands surfboards equipped with his own signature series of FCS fins.

Biography[link]

Early life and family[link]

Kelly Slater with fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Christiaan Bailey

Slater was born on February 11, 1972 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, where he continues to reside. He has a teenage daughter named Taylor. He is of Irish and Syrian ancestry. He has an older brother, Sean, and a younger brother, Stephen.

In his spare time Slater enjoys playing the guitar,composing sonnets and spending quality time with longtime girlfriend, Kalani Miller who often travels and supports him on the ASP World Tour. His favorite surf spots are Sandspit in California, Pipeline in Hawaii, Kirra in Australia, Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, Minis in Ireland, Taghazout in Morocco, Soup Bowls in Barbados, Sebastian Inlet near his home in Florida and Bilgola beach in the northern beaches of Sydney, Australia. his three favourite surfing buddys from Bilgola are Ian morrison, James Burfitt and Jose Viera.^[4] He is also an avid golfer, with a +2 handicap. Slater is interested in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Some of his surfing inspirations are Tom Curren, Tom Carroll, Mark Occhilupo, Martin Potter, Andy Irons, Shane Dorian, Drew Phelps, Ken Wells, Hunter Collins, and Andrew Bloom.^[5]

Other projects[link]

Slater played the recurring character Jimmy Slade on several episodes of the popular TV show Baywatch in the early 1990s .^[6] He appeared in an episode of the reality show The Girls Next Door, and has also starred in many surf films throughout his career.

In the late '90s Slater, along with friends and fellow pro surfers Rob Machado and Peter King, formed a band called The Surfers. The trio released an album in 1998 titled Songs From the Pipe, a reference to the famous surf spot Pipeline on Oahu, Hawaii. Aside from his Love of surfing, Kelly also toured Australia with his band, performing in venues such as the Opera House, and parliament house. He was also given an honourary membership to the Rickson Cricket Club in northwest Sydney.

Slater performed a song with Ben Harper during Harper's concert in Santa Barbara. on August 1, 2006. He also performed "Rockin' in The Free World" with grunge band Pearl Jam on the July 7, 2006 in San Diego. In 1999, he appeared alongside Garbage singer Shirley Manson in the promotional video for the band's single "You Look So Fine". He played a man washed up on a seashore, then rescued by Manson.

A video game named Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, by Treyarch and published by Activision, was released in 2002. Slater also appeared as a playable character in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 prior to this, complete with a surfboard.

In 2003 Slater released his autobiography, Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey. In 2008 he released a second book with Phil Jarratt, entitled Kelly Slater: For the Love.

Slater is passionate about preserving oceans globally and protecting temperate reefs in California through his relationship with Reef Check.

On May 8, 2010 the United States House of Representatives honored Slater in H. Res. 792 for his "outstanding and unprecedented achievements in the world of surfing and for being an ambassador of the sport and excellent role model."^[7] This resolution, sponsored by Florida representative Bill Posey and sponsored by 10 representatives, passed without objection by a voice vote.^[8]

Slater is also on the Board of Advisors (the Ocean Advocacy Advisory Board) of ocean conservation organization Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.^[9]

Stats[link]

Slater surfing in the Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles

Slater at Trestles, San Clemente State Beach, California

• WCT victories: 49
• World titles: 11

On 9/15/07, Kelly Slater passed Tom Curren's long standing WCT tour victory record of 33 with his win at the Boost Mobile Pro at Lowers Trestles.

2012 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: Currently 8th
Points: 13,700

Event results in 2012^[10]
Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 5th
Rip Curl Pro presented by Ford Ranger, Bells Beach, (Victoria, Australia): 2nd
Billabong Rio Pro, Brazil: INJ

2011 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 2011 Champion
Points: 68,100

Event results in 2011^[11]
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach, (Victoria, Australia): 5th
Billabong Rio Pro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): 1st
Nike Pro US Open (Huntington Beach, California, USA): 1st
Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 1st
Quiksilver Pro New York (Long Beach, New York, USA): 2nd
Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Orange County, California, USA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th
Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 2nd
Rip Curl Search (Ocean Beach, San Francisco, USA): 5th
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

2010 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 2010 Champion
Points: 69000

Event results in 2010^[12]
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 9th
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 2nd
Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 17th
Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 3rd
Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
Rip Curl Pro Portugal (Peniche, Portugal): 1st
Rip Curl Pro Search 2010 (Middles Beach, Isabela, Puerto Rico): 1st
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 3rd

2009 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 6th.
Points: 6136

Event results in 2009^[13]
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 17th
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 17th
Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): 1st
Billabong Pro (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 9th
Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 3rd
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 5th
Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 3rd
Rip Curl Search (Peniche, Portugal): 17th
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 2nd

2008 Stats and results[link]

World ranking: 2008 Champion
Points: 8832

Event results
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast (Snapper Rocks, Australia): 1st
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach (Australia): 1st
Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Teahupoo, Tahiti): 17th
Globe Pro, Fiji (Tavarua, Fiji): 1st
Billabong Pro, J-Bay (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa): 1st
Rip Curl Search (Bali, Indonesia): 17th
Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA): 1st
Quiksilver Pro France (Hossegor, France): 2nd
Billabong Pro, Mundaka (Mundaka, Spain): 9th
Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil): DNS
Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): 1st

History of wins[link]

2011

• Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
• Nike US Open (Huntington Beach, CA)
• Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
• Hurley Pro Trestles (California, USA)

2010

• Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)
• Hurley Pro (Lower Trestles, California, USA)
• Rip Curl Pro (Peniche, Portugal)
• Rip Curl Search (Middles, Isabela, Puerto Rico)

2009

• Hang Loose Pro (Santa Catarina, Brasil)

2008

• Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
• Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)
• Glove Pro Fiji (Cloudbreak, Restaurants – Tavarua, Fiji)
• Billabong Pro J-Bay (Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa)
• Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)
• Billabong Pipeline Masters (Pipeline, North Shore Oahu, Hawaii)

2007

• Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)

2006

• Quiksilver Pro (Gold Coast, Australia)
• Rip Curl Pro (Bells Beach, Australia)

2005

• Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
• The Globe WCT (Fiji)
• Billabong Pro (South Africa)
• Boost Mobile Pro (Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California)

2004

• Snickers Australian Open (QS)
• Energy Australia Open (QS)

2003

• Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
• Billabong Pro (South Africa)
• Billabong Pro (Mundaka, Spain)
• Nova Schin Festival (Brazil)

2002

• The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (Specialty-Hawaii)

2000

• Gotcha Tahiti Pro presented by Globe (Tahiti)

1999

• Mountain Dew Pipe Masters (Hawaii)

1997

• Coke Surf Classic (Australia)
• Billabong Pro (Australia)
• Tokushima Pro (Japan)
• Marui Pro (Japan)
• Kaiser Summer Surf WCT (Brazil)
• Grand Slam (Specialty-Australia)
• Typhoon Lagoon Surf Challenge (Specialty-USA)

1996

• Coke Surf Classic (Australia)
• Rip Curl Pro Saint Leu (Reunion Island)
• CSI pres. Billabong Pro (South Africa)
• U.S. Open (California)
• Rip Curl Pro Hossegor (France)
• Quiksilver Surfmasters (France)
• Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
• Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)
• Da Hui Backdoor Shootout (Specialty-Hawaii)

1995

• Quiksilver Pro (Indonesia)
• Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
• Triple Crown of Surfing (Specialty-Hawaii)

1994

• Rip Curl Pro (Australia)
• Gotcha Lacanau Pro (France)
• Chiemsee Pipe Masters (Hawaii)
• The Bud Surf Tour (WQS-USA)
• The Bud Surf Tour (WQS-USA)
• Sud Ouest Trophee (Specialty-France)

1993

• Marui Pro (Japan)

1992

• Rip Curl Pro Landes (France)
• Marui Pipe Masters (Hawaii)

1990

• Body Glove Surfbout Trestles (California)

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

"Ultimate Wave Tahiti" (2010)
"Bustin Down the Door" (2008)
"One Track Mind" (2008)
"Kelly Slater Letting Go" (2008)
"Waveriders" 2008)
"Surf's Up" (2007)
"Down the Barrel" (2007)
"Surfers – The Movie" (1990)
"Bra Boys" (2007)
"The Ocean" (2008)
"One Night at McCool's" (2001)
"Letting Go" (2006)
"Young Guns 1, 2 & 3" (2004–2008)
"Campaign 2" (2005)
"Doped Youth" 'Groovy Avalon' (2004)
"Kelly Slater in Black and White" (1991)
"Endless Summer II" (1994)
"Wave Warriors 3"
"A Fly in the Champagne" (2009) (featuring Kelly Slater and Andy Irons)
"Cloud 9" (2009)
"Riding Giants" (2004)
"Step into Liquid" (2003)
"Thicker than Water" (2000)
"Fighting Fear" (2011)
"September Sessions" (2002)
"Kelly Slater In Kolor" (1997) <br

Cameo appearance[link]

"Surf's Up" (2007)

Television[link]

Baywatch, 10 episodes

The Girls Next Door, "Surf's Up" 1 episode

Bibliography[link]

• Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey (2003) ISBN 0-06-009629-2
• Kelly Slater: For the Love (2008) ISBN 0-8118-6222-4

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kelly Slater

• Kelly Slater the Official Website
• Kelly Slater Photo Gallery at Outside Online
• Kelly Slater at the Internet Movie Database
• Kelly Slater Pictures & Wallpapers^{[dead link]}
• Kelly Slater Interview
• Interview with Kelly Slater and Eddie Vedder Regarding Surfing and Their Friendship
• Kelly Slater In SPIN's November Issue
• Kelly Slater Shares His Memories of Rival Andy Irons at The Inertia
• Kelly Slater isn't new world champ yet; ASP says it made an error

Eddie Aikau
File:Eddie Aikau.jpg
Personal information
Born	(1946-05-05)May 5, 1946 Kahului, Hawaii, U.S.
Died	March 17, 1978(1978-03-17) (aged 31)
Residence	Kahului, Hawaii
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	178 lb (81 kg)
Surfing career
Years active	1959-1978
Sponsors	Polynesian Voyaging Society
Surfing specifications
Stance	Regular (natural) foot
Favorite waves	Waiamea Bay (North Shore, Oahu), Sunset Beach (North Shore, Oahu), Pipline (North Shore, Oahu)

Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau (Kahului, Hawaii, May 4, 1946–March 17, 1978) was a well-known Hawaiian lifeguard and surfer. The words Makua Hanai in Eddie Aikau's full name means feeding parent,^[1] an adoptive, nurturing, fostering parent,^[2][3] in the Hawaiian language. As the first lifeguard at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu, he saved many lives and became famous for surfing the big Hawaiian surf, winning several awards including the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship.

Life[link]

Memorial Plate on Hokule'a

Born in Kahului, Maui, Aikau was the third child of Solomon and Henrietta Aikau. Aikau first learned how to surf at Kahului Harbor on its shorebreak. He moved to Oʻahu with his family in 1959, and at the age of 16 left school and started working at the Dole pineapple cannery; The paycheck allowed Aikau to buy his first surfboard. In 1968, he became the first lifeguard hired by the City & County of Honolulu to work on the North Shore. The City & County of Honolulu gave Aikau the task of covering all of the beaches between Sunset and Haleiwa. Not one life was lost while he served as lifeguard of Waimea Bay, as he braved waves that often reached 30 feet (9.1 m) high or more.^[4] In 1971, Aikau was named Lifeguard of the Year.^[5]

Lost at sea[link]

In 1978, the Polynesian Voyaging Society was seeking volunteers for a 30 day, 2,500-mile (4,000 km) journey to follow the ancient route of the Polynesian migration between the Hawaiian and Tahitian island chains. At 31 years of age, Aikau joined the voyage as a crew member. The Hokule'a left the Hawaiian islands on March 16, 1978. The double-hulled voyaging canoe developed a leak in one of the hulls and later capsized about twelve miles (19 km) south of the island of Molokai. In an attempt to get help, Aikau paddled toward Lanai on his surfboard.^[6] Although the rest of the crew was later rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cape Corwin, Aikau was never seen again. He removed his lifejacket since it was hindering his paddling of the surfboard. The ensuing search for Aikau was the largest air-sea search in Hawaii history.^[7]

Memorial surfing invitational[link]

Surfers participating in the Eddie

In Aikau's honor, the surfwear company Quiksilver sponsors the “The Eddie”^[8]—the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau at Waimea Bay. The idea of the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational was created by Bruce Raymond and Bob McKnight.

Since its inception (the first Eddie was held at Sunset Beach in 1985;^[9] in 1987 Eddie Aikau's younger brother Clyde Aikau won the first Eddie after it moved to Waimea Bay^[9][10]), the tournament has only been held eight times, due to a precondition that open-ocean swells reach a minimum of 20 feet (this translates to a wave face height of over 30 feet).^[11] The most recent tournament was in December 2009, when waves in the bay reached 30 to 50 feet (15 m) high.^[12][13] The contest only invites 28 big-wave riders to participate in two rounds of competition. The event does not allow the use of jet skis to tow surfers into the waves.

Popular culture[link]

In the 1970s, bumper stickers and T-shirts with the phrase "Eddie Would Go" spread around the Hawaiian Islands and to the rest of the world. According to maritime historian Mac Simpson, "Aikau was a legend on the North Shore, pulling people out of waves that no one else would dare to. That's where the saying came from -- Eddie would go, when no else would or could. Only Eddie dared."^[7] The phrase originated during the first Eddie contest. The waves were huge and the conditions were extremely dangerous. While the contest organizers were discussing whether to put it on, Mark Foo looked at the conditions and said "Eddie would go." The phrase stuck and the Eddie went.^[2]

Another variation of the aforementioned popular phrase is "Eddie wouldn't tow." This phrase is in reference to the method of big wave surfing in which one surfer must accelerate another surfer (the former on a jet ski, the latter towed on a surfboard) to the speed of a large, fast wave. It is also partially in response to the controversy over the "unnaturalness" of tow-in surfing; many surfers feel that being towed in to a wave, as opposed to paddling, is against the spirit of the sport.^[14]

Other variations of the phrase include "Eddie would throw" (in support of the University of Hawaii's passing attack by Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang under head coach June Jones), "Eddie wouldn't crow" (in opposition to boastful and egotistical surfers), and "Eddie would hoe" (in support of Native Hawaiian agricultural outreach programs). Another variation used recently during the 2008 election campaign for Honolulu rail transit was the slogan, "Eddie would ride."

See also[link]

• Duke Kahanamoku

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Goes, Sergio. Eddie Would Go: The Story of Eddie Aikau, Hawaiian Hero [Film]

External links[link]

• Eddie Aikau Foundation
• Charleyproject: Eddie Aikau
• Globalsurfing: Eddie Surfing Wallpapers
• Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Invitational 2007
• Quiksilver Eddie Aikau 2010/2011
• Quiksilver Eddie Aikau 2011/2012
• Surfline: Eddie Aikau