Eddie Invites & Olympic Surf Fight: Big Waves, Bigger Battles
Big news from Waimea Bay to the Olympic boardroom this week – two seismic shifts rocking the surf community. First, the iconic Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational dropped its invite list for the 2025-2026 season, signaling potential history in the making. As reported by The Inertia, 32 surfers and 28 alternates are on standby for this legendary event, which requires 20-foot Hawaiian waves to run. If it hits the water this December-March window, it would mark the first time ever the Eddie has run three years straight – especially poignant after losing beloved lifeguard and event steward Clyde Aikau earlier this year.
Just as the ocean's giants prepare to charge, a land battle is brewing behind the scenes. Surf heavyweights Ian Cairns, Shaun Tomson, and Peter Townend have launched "Stop the Skijack," a grassroots coalition fighting to keep Olympic surfing under surf community control. As detailed by The Inertia, they're pushing back against the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Federation's deep-pocketed bid to take charge of Team USA after USA Surfing lost Olympic certification in 2021. With surf legends ISA President Fernando Aguerre and WSL CEO Ryan Crosby backing the cause, this David-vs-Goliath battle could determine surfing's Olympic future.
For surfers and photographers, both stories highlight what makes our community unique – the raw power of ocean competition and the fierce passion for protecting our sport's soul. Whether you're lining up lenses at Waimea or signing the petition, these are waves worth watching.