As we prepare for the most prestigious big-wave event in the world there is no time like the present to familiarise yourself with the judging criteria. Unlike most events were surfers move through early rounds and progress into the quarters, semis and final The Eddie has no elimination rounds. Every heat is essentially a final.
The 28 surfers in the draw will get two rounds to lock in four of their best rides. Each round comprises of a seven-man heat. Rides will be judged on a scale of one to 100. At the end of those two rounds a surfers top four waves from the day will be tallied up for an overall total. The surfer with the highest score from the day will be crowned champion of The Bay.
Unlike traditional CT events there is no interference in The Eddie. Some of the most iconic images from the Aikau event over the years have been the best big-wave surfers drop down 30-foot faces side by side. So what are the judges looking for? Judges will take into consideration the following: whose section was the biggest, whose drop was the most critical, and whose ride was best based on size of the wave, risk and control.
The event has only run eight times in its 30-year history and as reigning big-wave world champion Makua Rothman has said, “It’s everything everybody has ever shot for as a big wave surfer.” After a bumper El Niño season that has already seen the level of high performance big-wave surfing go to new heights at Jaws and Mavericks one can only hope that The Bay delivers tomorrow.
Read: How Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke Jones are readying themselves for The Eddie here.
The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau Heat Draw:
Round 1/Heat 1
Shane Dorian (HAW)
Kohl Christensen (HAW)
Greg Long (USA)
Ramon Navarro (CHL)
Sunny Garcia (HAW)
Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Round 1/Heat 2
Kelly Slater (USA)
David Wassell (HAW)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Reef McIntosh (HAW)
Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
Aaron Gold (HAW)
Tom Carroll (AUS)
Round 1/Heat 3
John John Florence (HAW)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Clyde Aikau (HAW)
Nathan Fletcher (USA)
Noah Johnson (HAW)
Peter Mel (USA)
Takayuki Wakita (JPN)
Round 1/Heat 4
Bruce Irons (HAW)
Makua Rothman (HAW)
Ian Walsh (HAW)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Kala Alexander (HAW)
Garrett McNamara (HAW)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Round 2/Heat 1
Shane Dorian (HAW)
Kohl Christensen (HAW)
Greg Long (USA)
Reef McIntosh (HAW)
Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
Aaron Gold (HAW)
Tom Carroll (AUS)
Round 2/Heat 2
Kelly Slater (USA)
David Wassell (HAW)
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Ramon Navarro (CHL)
Sunny Garcia (HAW)
Ross Clarke-Jones (AUS)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Round 2/Heat 3
John John Florence (HAW)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Clyde Aikau (HAW)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Kala Alexander (HAW)
Garrett McNamara (HAW)
Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Round 2/Heat 4
Bruce Irons (HAW)
Makua Rothman (HAW)
Ian Walsh (HAW)
Nathan Fletcher (USA)
Noah Johnson (HAW)
Peter Mel (USA)
Takayuki Wakita (JPN)
Top five alternates:
Mason Ho
Danilo Couto
Mark Mathews
Koa Rothman
Ben Wilkinson
