Photos of 2015 Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau

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Greg Long disappeared when Waimea crashed behind him and threw up a huge wall of white water. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Cleanup set. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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John John Florence looks out at his first Eddie. Photo: WSL/Heff

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The Eddie tower.

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John John Florence prevails.

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White water rushed up onto the sand as rogue waves crashed on the shore break. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Greg Long readies for his Round 1 heat. Photo: WSL/Heff

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All eyes on Clyde Aikau as he ponders whether or not to run the nine Eddie.

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Early bird gets the good spot on the beach. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Clyde Aikau and the Aikau family make the call to go.

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Standing room only.

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Nathan Fletcher's view from above.

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Twiggy Photo: WSL/Keoki

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John John Florence, all smiles after claiming the legendary event down the beach from his house. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Grant Baker, the 2013/2014 Big Wave Tour champ, looking right at home at Waimea in Round 2. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Ian Walsh makes it look easy at Waimea Bay. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Takayuki Wakita takes a heavy wipeout at Waimea Bay. Photo: WSL/Heff

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South African Grant Baker took some heavy waves on the head -- but made some impressive drops, too. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Former Eddie event winner Bruce Irons finds the face of perfection. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Two of the North Shore's young surf stars at the Eddie, showing the aloha spirit of the legendary event. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Slater, finding a barrel that he caught for Brock Little, a Hawaiian surf legend and close friend who passed away the week prior. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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With his brother, Makuakai, and Kala Alexander colliding behind him, Rothman made it out of a massive Waimea wave.

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Waimea doled our some heavy punishment for Mason Ho on this one. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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The 11-time World Champ said that his goal for the day had been to get a barrel for his close friend Brock Little, who passed away last week.

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John John Florence won the first Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau he ever competed in. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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John John Florence and Mason Ho both made this wave...believe it or not. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Locals John John Florence and Mason Ho share a wave in Round 2. Florence went on to claim victory is his first time surfing in the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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At Waimea Bay you win some, you lose some. This time around, the Bay scored one on Mason Ho.

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Nathan Fletcher during Round 1 of the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.

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Water patrol picks up John John Florence and Danilo Couto after a huge cleanup set. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Shane Dorian and Jamie Mitchell happily exhausted after their heat. Photo: WSL/Heff

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The one that got away.

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Shane Dorian and Jamie O'Brien drop into one of the bigger waves of the day. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Jamie O'Brien and Shane Dorian share one of the bigger waves of the day. Despite the fact that JOB was on the inside, Dorian received a higher score for surfing a more critical section of the wave. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Nathan Fletcher finds a bomb during Round 1. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Mason Ho was the last man standing on this wave during Round 1 of the Eddie. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Koa Rothman dodges the lip in Round 1 as best he can on his backside. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Koa Rothman entered the event as an alternate and competed alongside brother Makuakai in Round 1, Heat 4. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Mason Ho air drops into a giant wave at Waimea Bay. Photo: WSL/Heff

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2014/2015 Big Wave World Champ, Makuakai Rothman, makes a run at Waimea Bay. Hailing from Oahu the Hawaiian holds the event in high regard. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Makuakai Rothman finds a beast at Waimea Bay. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Mason Ho. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Waimea was switched on for the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, which ran Feb. 25 for the first time since 2009. Photo: Keoki

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This clean-up set was just one among many on one of the biggest days ever seen at the Bay.Photo: Keoki

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"Big" Ben Wilkinson was an alternate for the Eddie. When Noah Johnson withdrew after Round 1, the Aussie stepped up to the plate. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Jamie O'Brien does his best to hang out, but gets bucked off his board at the bottom. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Hawaiian charger Aaron Gold, who has made a splash this winter with a string of impressive performances, was among the invitees at the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau. Photo: Keoki

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Jamie O'Brien dropped in on one of the largest waves of the day, but couldn't hang on at the bottom. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Would you rather be Grant Baker or Grant Baker's board in this moment? Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Grant Baker prepares for impact. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Relinquishing control to Mother Nature is something with which big-wave surfers are familiar. Grant Baker makes a valiant effort to make a controlled landing. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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When Grant Baker hit the channel after this fall, believe it or not, he was smiling. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Former Big Wave World Champion Grant Baker suffered one of the heaviest wipeouts of the day. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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A huge crowd arrived on the beach early in anticipation of the call. Some fans even camped on the beach the night before. Photo: WSL/Heff

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Kelly Slater makes a major drop at the Eddie -- but not everyone was so lucky. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Kelly Slater on a heavy set wave during Round 1 of the Eddie. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Big-wave heavyweight Shane Dorian had a hectic Round 1 heat at the Eddie, but managed to find one of the biggest waves of the day when he went back out for more.

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Hawaiian icon Sunny Garcia heads back up the beach after completing his first heat at the Eddie. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Ross Clarke-Jones finds the edge over Jamie Mitchell during Round 1. Photo: WSL/Keoki

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Kohl Christensen taking one for the goofies. Photo: WSL/Keoki