UPDATE: Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is a “No Go” for Wednesday

Image courtesy Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau.

By Maui Now Staff

(Update: 5:05 p.m, 1/20/2014)

Organizers of the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave invitational at Waimea Bay, officially announced this afternoon that the event is a “NO GO” for Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014.

“We have taken all the time we can to assess the developments of the next big swell and it does not look favorable for us,” said event organizer Glen Moncata on the event website. “The size is there, but the quality is not, due to strong, adverse winds. We will continue to wait for the right conditions,” he said.

The holding period for the event runs through Feb. 28, 2014.

(Posted: 1/20/2014)

Organizers of the Quicksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau are monitoring waves at Waimea Bay on Oʻahu today as a huge swell is forecast to arrive on Wednesday, Jan. 22, but say there’s only a 50% chance the competition will run this week.

“The size will definitely be there – approximately 40-foot wave face heights – but strong, adverse winds out of the WSW are a major limiting factor,” said event organizer Glen Moncata in an event press release.

Organizers say a final decision will be made by 5 p.m. today to allow time for international contestants to fly in for the competition.

“Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the size will hold into Thursday when winds are expected to be more favorable, but we will continue to monitor the system’s development throughout today before making the final call this afternoon,” said Moncata.

The one-day big-wave competition is only held if a combination of wave heights measured at 40-feet faces and rideable conditions exist.  Organizers say the event has only been held eight times in the event’s 29-year history.

The last time the Eddie was held was five years ago in 2009,when Greg Long of California took the title.

The holding period for this year’s event runs through Feb. 28, 2014.

The National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory for the north and west facing shores of the Hawaiian Islands through 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to the NWS forecast, surf is expected to be in the 10 to 15 foot range along the north facing shores today through tonight, and in the 8 to 12 foot range along the west facing shores.