Organizers of the Eddie Big Wave Invitational in Waimea Bay announced today that surfing’s premier competition has been given the green light on Sunday.

If the competition goes as planned, it will be just the 11th time since the Eddie began in 1984. North Shore town lifeguard Luke Shepardson won the last Eddie on January 22, 2023.

Dubbed the “Super Bowl of surfing,” the Eddie Big Wave Invitational attracts the best professional surfers in the world.

It also attracts thousands of spectators to the Waimea Bay area, bringing traffic to a standstill on the north shore and providing a huge boost to the local economy.

The tournament will only take place when wave heights consistently reach 40 feet or more and other weather conditions are favorable. A high surf advisory is in effect for the north and west coasts of Kauai, Niihau, Oahu, Molokai and the north shore of Maui until 6 p.m. Saturday and is expected to be extended.

“According to the National Weather Service, a series of large waves will move northwest to north-northwest (315-330 degrees) through Hawaiian waters over the weekend and into early next week. “Warning level surf is expected to prevail along north and west facing coasts generally through the weekend.”

The competition is named after legendary Hawaiian waterman and big wave surfer Eddie Aikau, who was the first lifeguard for Waimea Bay and the North Shore and is said to have saved over 500 people throughout his career. Aikau died in 1978 while paddling his surfboard to get help after the Hokulea voyaging canoe capsized; The rest of the crew were later rescued by the Coast Guard.

Here is the list of invitees and alternates for Eddie this season:

Kane

Aaron Gold (Hawaii)

Billy Kemper (Hawaii)

Bruce Irons (Hawaii – 2004 winner)

Chad Keaulana (Hawaii)

Eli Olson (Hawaii)

Ezekiel Lau (Hawaii)

Francisco Porcella (ITALY)

Greg Long (California – WINNER 2009)

Ian Walsh (Hawaii)

Jake Maki (Hawaii)

Jamie Mitchell (Hawaii)

Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii)

John John Florence (Hawaii – WINNER 2016)

Jojo Roper (California)

Kai Lenny (Hawaii)

Kauli Vaast (Tahiti – Olympic champion 2024)

Keali’i Mamala (Hawaii)

Kelly Slater (California – WINNER 2002)

Koa Rothman (Hawaii)

Kohl Christensen (Hawaii)

Landon McNamara (Hawaii)

Lucas Chianca (Brazil)

Luke Shepardson (Hawaii – WINNER 2023)

Makuakai Rothman (Hawaii)

Mark Healey (Hawaii)

Mason Ho (Hawaii)

Matt Bromley (South Africa)

Nathan Florence (Hawaii)

Nic Lamb (California)

Peter Mel (California)

Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia – WINNER 2001)

Russell Bierke (Australia)

Taio Shipman (Hawaii)

Torrey Masters (Hawaii)

Tyler Larronde (Hawaii)

Alternatives

Ha’a Aikau (Hawaii)

Joey Cadiz (Hawaii)

Eala Stewart (Hawaii)

Ben Wilkinson (Australia)

Grant Twiggy Baker (South Africa)

Koa Smith (Hawaii)

Tiger Doerner (Hawaii)

Michael Sanborn (Hawaii)

Ivan Florence (Hawaii)

Mikey O’Shaughnessy (Hawaii)

Kala Grace (Hawaii)

Barron Mamiya (Hawaii)

Tom Robert Lowe (Great Britain)

Alonso Correa (Peru)

Othmane Choufani (Morocco)

Natxo Gonzalez (Spain)

Isamu Sumi (Japan)

Cristian Merello (Chile)

Manny Resano (Nicaragua)

Conor Maguire (Ireland)

Wahine

Annie Starr Reichert (Hawaii)

Bianca Valenti (California)

Emily Erickson (Hawaii)

Felicity Palmateer (Australia)

Justine Dupont (France)

Keala Kennelly (Hawaii)

Laura Enever (Australia)

Makani Adric (Hawaii)

Moana Jones Wong (Hawaii)

Paige Alms (Hawaii)

Alternatives

Izzy Gomez (Hawaii)

Skylar Lickle (Hawaii)

Tiare Lawrence (Hawaii)

Andrea Moller (Hawaii)

Anne Dos Santos (Brazil)