Eddie Aikau is the man behind the Quicksilver Big Wave Invitational. But his story started many years before the contest was started. Eddie was born in May 1946. He was known as a fearless surfer who usually took the biggest set waves that rolled through on any given swell. He was also the first lifeguard for Waimea Bay. While being a lifeguard on the North Shore of Oahu, Eddie saved countless lives. In 1977 Eddie Aikau won the Duke Kahanamoku Invitation Surfing Championship.
At age 16 Eddie Aikau dropped out of school and started working at the Dole Pineapple Cannery. In 1968 he was given the task of lifeguarding the whole North Shore...by himself. He often battled waves of over 20 foot to perform dangerous rescues. When 1971 rolled around Eddie Aikau was awarded the title of “Lifeguard of the Year.” Eddie later signed up for a journey to follow the Polynesian migration between Hawaii and Tahiti. There boat later capsized Being the fearless man Eddie was, he started paddling towards Lanai to get help. He was never seen again. The search for Eddie Aikau became the largest Air-Sea search in Hawaii's history.
The contest was started by Quicksilver in honor and remembrance of Eddie Aikau. Every year 24 surfers are selected to compete in the competition. However, since the contest was first started, it has only been runed 7 times. The reason for this because the waves must be over 20 feet tall to run the contest. Later bumper stickers and t-shirts were made with the saying “Eddie would Go” in remembrance of how Eddie would always charge the big waves.