Photo: Sarah Towner
Michael Ho, Andy Irons and Peter Mel at the 2009
Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.

Quiksilver.com/Eddie launched today with the announcement of the 28 coveted Invitees and 24 Alternates to The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, fueled by Monster Energy. The event will be held on one day, between December 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011, when waves exceed the 20-foot minimum threshold and Invitees contend for the $98,000 prize purse. The traditional opening ceremony will take place at 2:30pm, December 2nd, 2010, at Waimea Bay.

Monster Energy will be presenting the Monster Drop Award for the surfer who makes the most critical drop and rides out of it during the event. The judges will determine the winner the day of the competition and will present the chosen surfer with a unique Monster Drop Specialty Award.

Photo: Sarah Towner
Bruce Irons at the 2009 Quiksilver in Memory of
Eddie Aikau.

Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe. The Eddie is a surfer's ultimate challenge, employing unassisted manpower to physically paddle into and ride giant waves.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the world's longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational and is the only one sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.
What began as a local tribute to one of Hawaii's favorite surfing sons in 1984, soon took on a life all its own and the story is the reason why this event continues to grow. Eddie Aikau has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man. Waimea Bay was the canvas upon which his story is told each year, in his memory. For over 25 years, it is a story that has traversed the globe to touch hearts, minds and imaginations: a life lived with passion, dedicated with meaning, and exited from heroically.

Photo: Sarah Towner
Large crowds swarmed Waimea Bay at the 2009
Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.
Just 31 years of age when he lost his life in an attempt to save others, Aikau has physically been gone longer - 33 years - than he was here. But far from being forgotten, his life, the waves he rode, and the lives he saved on his ancestral grounds at Waimea Bay have become a part of history, passed on from person to person around the world like a wave seeking shore.

The Eddie has run just eight times in 25 years. You don't want to miss it when the Bay calls the momentous day. Go to Quiksilver.com/Eddie for swell updates, happenings from the North Shore, and to sign up for text alerts to make sure you're the first to know when the Bay calls the day!

Invitees
Clyde Aikau HAW

Kala Alexander HAW

Tom Carroll AUS

Kohl Christensen HAW

Ross Clarke-Jones AUS

Shane Dorian HAW

Keone Downing HAW

Sunny Garcia HAW

Mark Healey HAW

Michael Ho HAW

Bruce Irons HAW

Noah Johnson HAW

Rusty Keaulana HAW

Brock Little HAW

Greg Long USA

Reef McIntosh HAW

Garrett McNamara HAW

Peter Mel USA

Ramon Navarro CHL

Jamie O'Brien HAW

Makuakai Rothman HAW

Kelly Slater USA

Jamie Sterling HAW

Dave Wassell HAW

Grant Baker ZAF

Chris Bertish EU

Carlos Burle BRA

Takayuki Wakita JPN

Alternates
Kahea Hart HAW (Aikau Pick)

Ross Williams HAW

Nathan Fletcher USA

Mark Mathews AUS

Sion Miloski HAW

Kalani Chapman HAW

Keoni Watson HAW

Anthony Tashnick USA

Ian Walsh HAW

Koby Abberton AUS

Danny Fuller HAW

Kealii Mamala HAW

Ken Collins USA

Myles Padaca HAW

Laurie Towner AUS

Jamie Mitchell AUS

Paul Patterson AUS

Andrew Marr HAW

Rusty Long USA

Tony Ray AUS

Derek Ho HAW

Taylor Knox USA

Tau Hannemann HAW

Manoa Drollet TAH

Honorary Invitees

Donny Solomon HAW

Jay Moriarity USA

Lester Falatea HAW

Mark Foo HAW

Peter Davi USA

Tiger Espere HAW

Todd Chesser HAW

Andy Irons HAW

Photo: ASP / Kirstin
Despite being out of the water for the last six
months, Parko won the Reef Hawaiian Pro.Australia's Joel Parkinson made a brilliant return to the pro surfing stage after six months on the sidelines with injury, winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro today to take the lead in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series. Parkinson, 29, is the two-time defending champion of this Hawaiian series that is the final stage of the ASP World Tour. It was an emotional day for the Australian who has experienced the highs and lows of life en-route to today's win: the birth of his son last month, the death of close friend Andy Irons two weeks ago, and debilitating injury that forced him off tour.

This week Parkinson has been in devastating form, posting the only perfect 10 of the event and the highest heat total of the competition in his opening round. His form has been on-point and on-rail for the duration and easily deserving of the $20,000 winner's purse.

"It has been a pretty up and down year emotionally," said Parkinson. "I cut my foot and I was out of action for six months, I didn't surf for three months and I didn't compete for six months. Then I had a baby son so we had some joy, and then Andy (Irons) passed. It's been one of those years with one good thing then one bad thing. The year is almost over, we'll get through it and I'm trying to make amends with all good things that can happen from here to December.
Photo: ASP / Kirstin
To the victor go the spoils. Parko happily accepts
his trophy.
"Riding a wave is always one of those things that, no matter what happens in or around your life, you can still ride a wave and forget everything.

"Considering that the last few years I didn't make a final here, to actually get a win and go to Sunset, which is one of my strengths and Pipe, where I've done well, it's definitely a good start to the Triple Crown."

Runner-up in the final was Joel Centeio (Hawaii, $10,000), the defending champion coming into the event. Third was Julian Wilson; and fourth was Heath Joske. The highest placed Brazilian surfer was Alejo Muniz (=13th); the top US surfer was Huntington Beach's Brett Simpson (=13th); and the top European was Maxime Huscenot (=25th).

Photo: ASP / Cestari
Julian Wilson was in fine form throughout the
contest and finished 3rd.
For Wilson and Joske, this was their first 6-star Prime rated final and the pair are now in the running for the JN Automotive Rookie of the Vans Triple Crown award - for the top newcomer to the series.

The 30-minute final was a relatively wave-starved affair with a total of only 11 waves ridden. Conditions over the past week of competition have ranged from double-overhead to head-high today.

The final of the Reef Clash of the Legends also ran today and was won by Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, a six-time Vans Triple Crown champion in his own right. Runner-up was Mark Occhilupo, Tom Curren was third and Tom Carroll was fourth.

"It was inconsistent and I knew I got lucky because I got three set waves and those guys didn't get any," said Garcia, of his 30-minute final. "After I got the first one I figured I didn't have anything to lose and I paddled them deep.

Photo: ASP / Cestari
Hawaiian Dusty Payne, mid-rail gouge.
"I thought it was going to be a mellow thing, and that first heat woke me up to the fact that those guys were hungry and they still want to win so it was anything goes. But it was an honor to surf against those guys."

The Reef Hawaiian Pro is the first stop of the 28th annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. The show now moves seven miles north to Sunset Beach for the men's and women's O'Neill World Cup of Surfing. After that, the third and final stop of the series is the Billabong Pipe Masters & the Vans women's Duel for the Jewel, where the men's and women's Vans Triple Crown champions will be crowned.

Reef Hawaiian Pro Final
1ST - Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.00; $20,000

2ND - Joel Centeio (HAW) 7.04; $10,000

3RD - Julian Wilson (AUS) 6.86; $5,100

4TH - Heath Joske (AUS) 3.14, $4,900

Reef Clash of the Legends Final:
1ST - Sunny Garcia (HAW) 40.05

2ND - Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 36.46

3RD - Tom Curren (USA) 35.49

4TH - Tom Carroll (AUS) 28.11

Photo: Girl Talk
The cover of Girl Talk's new CD, All Day.Gregg Gillis is better known by his alias, Girl Talk. Yesterday the cut-up king released his latest CD, entitled All Day, for free. If you know Girl Talk, you already know. But if you don't, I'd highly suggest copping his new album. You can expect to hear new and old songs of various genres mashed up to perfection. Who else do you know that would mix Foxy Brown's "Hot Spot" lyrics with Peter Gabriel's classic "In Your Eyes" beat? And that's just track number 3 ("That's Right") on All Day.

Bottom line: You'll probably end up listening to the new Girl Talk CD all day. Download it HERE.

Photo: Vans
The Vans Offthewall.tv homepage.Vans today announces Offthewall.tv, an innovative digital online video network chronicling the many aspects of Vans brand of youth culture through exclusive original content consisting of both stand-alone features and serial programming. Mirroring a traditional television network but operating exclusively online, Offthewall.tv will include original content developed weekly as well as video from Vans vast archives in a platform that is easy to navigate, is searchable, easily shared and available worldwide. The heart of Offthewall.tv is an intuitive, proprietary player accessing hundreds of videos that allows viewers to subscribe for notification of new episodes of their favorite series, to search for videos by categories and search terms, share via Facebook and Twitter or embed links their own sites plus even edit certain videos to their own liking via a Mashable player. iPad compatibility will be available in coming weeks.

Offthewall.tv launches with four new series with more to come in the near future including:

Collaboratory A documentary style series focusing on the individuals and brands that collaborate with Vans designers for special projects. The series kicks off with the story behind iconic American outdoor brand Filson and continues with current Vans Girls partner Erin Magee and her streetwear label, MadeMe. Adventures with Chris The poet laureate gonzo journalist of skate, Chris Nieratko spends time with the Vans skate team and other skate luminaries to give us a peek at their not so normal lives. Time and Space Series that documents the time that it takes an artist to put together an exhibition and the space in which they do it. Series launches with Brooklyn-based artist Dennis McNett. Yo Gabba Gabba! Offthewall.tv launches with an exclusive series of five original shorts developed by the creators of Yo Gabba Gabba! drawing inspiration from the worlds of action sports and music as each Gabba Land character introduces their own recently released Vans shoe.

Coming Soon:

Get Down with Grosso Jeff Grosso shares wisdom that can only come with more than 20 years of ups and downs as a professional skateboarder.

In addition to the weekly series, board sports fans can turn to Offthewall.tv for skate, surf, snow, BMX, wakeboarding and motocross programs featuring action from Vans athletes as well as shows highlighting the best of top contests including the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the Vans Downtown Showdown and the Pro-tec Pool Party.

"Technology has now arrived at a place where we can create a platform that allows us to share all the rich stories that come with being at the epicenter of youth culture for the past 40-plus years," says Vans Vice President of Marketing Doug Palladini. "Offthewall.tv aggregates all the rich video content that we have produced and continue to create and places it squarely in the hands of viewers allowing them to watch what they want, when they want."

www.Offthewall.tv is at available at your fingertips now.