Photo: Bernie Baker
Photo: Bernie Baker
Photo: Bernie Baker
Ku Ikaika Invitee, Keone Downing, Waiting for Next Year. Photo: Bernie Baker
C4 Waterman co-founder and competitor Brian Keaulana (Haw)
2008 contestants
2008 Ku Ikaika Challenge Champion Aaron Napoleon (Haw)
Competitors Liam Wilmott (Haw, green) & Ikaika Kalama (Haw, red)
Quiksilver Waterman Robby Naish (Haw) getting ready
Photos: Sarah Towner for Quiksilver Ku Ikaika
HOLDING PERIOD ENDS BUT NO COMPETITION
Makaha, HI (March 1, 2010) -- A record winter of surf on the North Shore of Oahu failed to deliver to the West Side within the allotted one-and-a-half month holding period, resulting in a "no go" for this year's Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman, at Makaha.
Despite record patience and an extension to the holding period, Mother Nature cast the final dice and came up short. Makaha delivered only eight- to 10-foot of swell today and organizers elected to wait another year.
The Ku Ikaika Challenge is a one-day, big wave standup paddle (SUP) surfing competition that features over 30 of the world's leading SUP riders.
"Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means stand strong, was derived by Makaha's Brian Keaulana, co-founder of C4 Waterman. The phrase is a reference to both the sport of stand up paddle surfing as well as a call to uphold a healthy and positive approach to wave riding.
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MARCH 1 EXTENSION COULD SEE KU IKAIKA "GO"
(Makaha, HI) - February 25, 2010 --- An official one-day extension to include March 1st has been applied to the holding period of the third annual Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman. Competitors are asked to be on standby as organizers follow the developments of this final system that is forecast to deliver waves in the extra-large to giant category for the Hawaiian Islands on Monday - exactly what the event requires to "go".
The decision to extend the official holding period by just one day was made yesterday as the intensity of this latest storm developed. It is highly unusual for extensions to be made, but with what could be the Makaha swell of the winter just hours outside of the original shut-off date of February 28, organizers of the Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge have faith that the call may pay off.
The Ku Ikaika Challenge will offer a total prize purse of $10,000, with $3,000 going to the winner. The main event will consist of 30 invited surfers plus six wildcards. (Listed below.)
"Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means "stand strong", references both the upright nature of the sport of stand up paddle surfing and the call to uphold a healthy and positive approach to wave riding.
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FINAL BATCH OF BIG SWELL HAS KU IKAIKA "ON ALERT"
(Makaha, HI) - February 22, 2010 --- Another round of extra-large winter swell is developing under the watchful eye of organizers of the Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman, and competitors have been put "on alert" for this Thursday, February 25. The Ku Ikaika Challenge is a one-day, big wave stand-up paddle invitational surfing competition, held at Makaha Point on the West Side of Oahu, Hawaii. The event has until Sunday evening, February 28, to run before the 2010 holding period draws to a close.
A succession of major swells are forecast to cross paths with the Hawaiian Islands this week and should be from an ideal direction for Makaha. The first swell, scheduled to peak tomorrow, is expected to deliver wave face heights of around 15-18 feet. Thursday's swell is forecast to notch up even further and is the primary focus of attention for the Ku Ikaika Challenge. A third system, while still somewhat of an unknown quantity, is unfolding for Saturday and will also be closely monitored.
For Quiksilver's own Jamie Mitchell, a few more lay days are exactly what he needs if he is to recover from a perforated eardrum in time to compete. Mitchell was warming up on a mellow day at Makaha two weeks ago when a freak wipeout on a three-foot wave forced him out of the water.
"It was one of the smallest waves I rode that day," said Mitchell. "I just landed weird and kind of slapped the side of my head on the water."
The 2010 list of invitees and wildcards to the Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman, features a mix of legendary and rising SUP experts that includes defending champion Aaron Napoleon, Jamie Mitchell (Australia), Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti), Ibon Amatriain (Euskadi), Robby Naish (Hawaii), and Gerry Lopez (Hawaii).
The Ku Ikaika Challenge will offer a total prize purse of $10,000, with $3,000 going to the winner. The main event will consist of 30 invited surfers plus six wildcards.
"Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means "stand strong", was derived in reference to the sport of stand up paddle surfing and to upholding a healthy and positive approach to wave riding.
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The 2010 QUIKSILVER KU IKAIKA CHALLENGE
Presented by C4 Waterman
NO GO FOR SUNDAY 1.31.10
(Makaha, HI) - January 30, 2010 --- Organizers of the third annual Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman, have issued a NO GO for competition at Makaha tomorrow, Sunday 31, 2010. The approaching swell from the north-west is not expected to meet the required 15 feet minimum.
The event has until February 28, 2010, to run and organizers will continue to monitor each record winter swell as it approaches the Hawaiian Islands. Updates will be issued throughout the period.
The Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge is a big-wave, stand up paddle (SUP) invitational surfing competition that runs on one day when wave face heights exceed 15 feet at Makaha Point, on the west shore of Oahu.
The 2010 list of invitees and wildcards features a mix of legendary and rising SUP experts that includes defending champion Aaron Napoleon, Jamie Mitchell (Australia), Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti), Ibon Amatriain (Euskadi), Robby Naish (Hawaii), and Gerry Lopez (Hawaii).
The Ku Ikaika Challenge will offer a total prize purse of $10,000, with $3,000 going to the winner. The main event will consist of 30 invited surfers plus six wildcards. (Listed below.)
"Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means stand strong, was derived in reference to the sport of stand up paddle surfing and to upholding a healthy and positive approach to wave riding.
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EYES ON SUNDAY/MONDAY FOR POSSIBLE 'GO'
(Makaha, HI) - January 26, 2010 --- Organizers of the third annual Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman, are closely watching a developing swell that could see the event run this weekend. While tomorrow's swell has officially been ruled a no-go, the following system may deliver contestable waves of 15-feet-plus this Sunday into Monday. Tomorrow's swell is only expected to show around 12 feet at Makaha, accompanied by less-than-favorable winds. An update on the ensuing weekend swell will be issued as the system develops.
The Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge is a big-wave, stand up paddle (SUP) invitational surfing competition that runs on one day when wave face heights exceed 15 feet at Makaha Point, on the west shore of Oahu. The event holding period runs through February 28, 2010.
The 2010 list of invitees and wildcards features a mix of legendary and rising SUP experts that includes defending champion Aaron Napoleon, Jamie Mitchell (Australia), Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti), Ibon Amatriain (Euskadi), Robby Naish (Hawaii), and Gerry Lopez (Hawaii).
The Ku Ikaika Challenge will offer a total prize purse of $10,000, with $3,000 going to the winner. The main event will consist of 30 invited surfers plus six wildcards. (Listed below.)
"Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means stand strong, was derived in reference to the sport of stand up paddle surfing and to upholding a healthy and positive approach to wave riding.
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Holding Period Begins Today; Invitees Announced
(Makaha, HI) - January 15, 2010 --- A record-setting winter of gigantic surf continues in Hawaii, and Quiksilver is proud to announce the third annual Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman. This event is an invitational big-wave stand up paddle (SUP) surfing competition that will run on one day between January 15 and February 28, 2010, when wave face heights exceed 15 feet at Makaha Point, on the west shore of Oahu. "Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means stand strong, was derived in reference to the sport of stand up paddle surfing and to upholding a healthy and positive approach to wave riding.
In a similar vein to the recent Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau that ran on December 8, 2009, the Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge is a one-day big-wave invitational that features 30 of the sport's leading experts. The inaugural event was staged on Valentine's Day in 2008, and was won by well-known Hawaiian waterman Aaron Napoleon.
The 2010 list of invitees features a mix of legendary and rising SUP experts that includes defending champion Napoleon, Jamie Mitchell (Australia), Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti), Ibon Amatriain (Euskadi), Robby Naish (Hawaii), and Gerry Lopez (Hawaii).
The Ku Ikaika Challenge will offer a total prize purse of $10,000, with $3,000 going to the winner. The main event will consist of 30 invited surfers plus six trialists. (Invitees listed below.)
The concept for the event was developed by C4 Waterman co-founder Brian Keaulana, who wanted to showcase SUP surfing at the historic venue of Makaha -- home of the very first international surfing event in 1963 -- while also giving back to the local community. It was embraced as a natural fit for Quiksilver, a brand built upon adventure, commitment, endurance and style - key components of SUP surfing and the waterman's lifestyle.
Stand up paddle surfing first surfaced on the shores of Waikiki back in the 1940s and '50s. The original Waikiki Beachboys blended their favorite sports of outrigger canoe paddling and surfing, utilizing a canoe paddle to both paddle and surf while standing. It was an adaptation made for convenience as it afforded the Beachboys a better view of the Waikiki surf lineup where they assisted tourists in learning to surf and took their photos while doing so.
The sport has enjoyed an incredible global rebirth in recent years and has been given a high-energy, modern-day spin: big-wave riding. Utilizing a paddle that is today specifically designed for SUP, surfers maintain an upright position while paddling out to the lineup, paddling into the waves, and then surfing them to shore. The paddle is not only a tool for navigating the lineup, but is also critically employed throughout the surfer's maneuvers on the wave.
INVITEES:
Aaron Napoleon (HAW)
Antoine Delpero (FRA)
Alex Salazar (BRZ)
Didier Tin Hing (TAH)
Archie Kalepa (HAW)
Bonga Perkins (HAW)
Brian Keaulana (HAW)
Chuck Patterson (USA)
Craig Davidson (HAW)
Dave Kalama (HAW)
Dave Parmenter (HAW)
Duane DeSoto (HAW)
Gerry Lopez (HAW)
Greg Carson (PR)
Greg Pavao (HAW)
Ikaika Kalama (HAW)
Ibon Amatriain (EUS)
James Watson (AUS)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Kamu Auwae (HAW)
Kekoa Auwae (HAW)
Keone Keaulana (HAW)
Leleo Kinimaka (HAW)
Mel Puu (HAW)
Noland Martin (HAW)
Raimana Van Bastolaer (TAH)
Robby Naish (HAW)
Rusty Keaulana (HAW)
Titius Kinimaka (HAW)
Todd Bradley (HAW)
The Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge, presented by C4 Waterman, is a big-wave stand up paddle (SUP) surfing invitational staged each winter at Makaha Point, on the West Side of Oahu, Hawaii. "Ku Ikaika", a Hawaiian phrase that means stand strong, was derived in reference to the sport of stand up paddle surfing and to upholding a healthy and positive approach to wave riding. The Quiksilver Ku Ikaika Challenge features a selection of legendary and rising SUP exponents from around the world. Founded in 2008, the Ku Ikaika was the world's first big-wave SUP contest. A one-day-only event that runs when waves on the point reach a minimum of 15 feet, the Ku Ikaika fittingly takes place at Makaha - the birthplace of professional surfing.