Eddie Aikau
Edward Ryon Makuahanai Aikau, the lifeguard and surfer, who was famously lost at sea in 1978.

Rumor: Quiksilver to pull out of The Eddie?

Is the newly solvent clothing giant on the verge of pulling out of the famous big-wave event?

Do you remember the rumor, just two months ago, that Red Bull was flying back and forth to Oahu to court the famous Aikau family? That it was pushing to win the broadcast rights for the event from the WSL?

Red Bull didn’t want naming rights, necessarily, although cans of the company’s popular stimulant soda would, naturally, be suddenly apparent in broadcasts, but wanted to turn The Eddie into “a proper show.” Like this year’s Cape Fear event. 

Of course, if Red Bull, who famously fell out with the WSL over co-sponsorship rights, had got their way, it was likely it’d become a non-WSL event. Which meant, no John John, no Kelly etc.

As to that rumour, it appears that after meeting the Aikau family Red Bull decided to quit chasing the broadcast rights.

Now, the coconut wireless is “humming” according to a very good source with the rumor that  Quiksilver could not reach an agreement with the Aikau family to hold the annual namesake event. A big merchandise deadline was supposedly missed (t-shirt production from China) as well as subsequent extensions.

Has Quiksilver, perhaps wisely, decided that the chances of The Eddie ever being as good as 2016 are so slim any subsequent money poured into it would be wasted?

Would you, if gifted the keys to the clothing giant that was once famously six hundred million dollars in debt, continue to run with The Eddie?

Or would you pour the surplus money into your number one team rider Matt Banting?

2016 Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational Highlights From Waimea Bay, Hawaii

 

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Probably True
Probably True
9 years ago

Every year the same rumour.
And who would know what surfers Quick sponsor without Google?

blumpkin mung
blumpkin mung
9 years ago

when Quik first started making those faux jap rubber suits with the silver and copper innards they were the hottest thing around. Circa 2001 maybe

Brutus
Brutus
9 years ago

Quikhigh???

J H
J H
9 years ago

The next Eddie will be great…maybe not 2016 great but it will still be great in its own way so any assumptions to the contrary are foolish.

stewie
stewie
9 years ago

can quik blow it any harder

Jocks
Jocks
9 years ago

Red Bull turning The Eddie into a proper show through the mandatory use of stimulants

I’d watch that

longtom
longtom
9 years ago

they really should have spent the money trying to make an androgynous clone/combination of Slater and Steph.

Trogan Fan
Trogan Fan
9 years ago
Reply to  longtom

you telling me steph’s not androgynous?

?uzzled
?uzzled
9 years ago
Reply to  Trogan Fan

Steph is sexy in that no makeup type of way.

J H
J H
9 years ago
Reply to  ?uzzled

As much as I try to see her as sexy…just ain’t happening.

Tom
Tom
9 years ago

Pete Mel is on team Quik pay him more money for sure!!

Dogsnuts
Dogsnuts
9 years ago

Haha old mate Matt Bintang what a rubbish company, chanced one of their wetsuits this Victorian winter, no shit it lasted 10 surfs and was in tatters.

Jocks
Jocks
9 years ago
Reply to  Dogsnuts

My Billabong steamer lasted 1 surf. Back to North Korean Rip Curl

J H
J H
9 years ago
Reply to  Jocks

When in doubt…go with a suit that’s made by people whose lived depend on it being good quality.

Neal Kearney
Neal Kearney
9 years ago
Reply to  Dogsnuts

Yeah Baby Bunting is a piss weak flag waver. lol Santa Cruz gets pretty cold too. I’ve found the best suits are O’Neill and RIp Curl. They all have shit shelf life, but show me current gen rubber that works and lasts and I’m sold.


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