The Eddie 2026/27: Tom Lowe Makes The Invite List

Nov 3, 2026

Poster for the 2026/27 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational showing a surfer dropping into a giant blue wave under an orange sky, with a second surfer paddling below and the invitee and alternate lists down the right

Artwork: David Carson

The Eddie 2026/27: Tom Lowe makes the invite list

Rip Curl has named the 32 invitees and 25 alternates for the 2026/27 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational at Waimea Bay. Tom Lowe is the only surfer from the UK on the list, and 1990 champion Keone Downing takes over as Contest Director.

Who's in

Lowe lines up against a field dominated by Hawaiian chargers, with five past winners of the event among the invitees. Bruce Irons, Ross Clarke-Jones and John John Florence are all back, along with the two most recent champions, Luke Shepardson and Landon McNamara.

Annie Reickert, Emily Erickson, Felicity Palmateer and Paige Alms are the four women in the main field. Ha'a Aikau carries the family name into the line-up, and Grant "Twiggy" Baker and Matahi Drollet bring South Africa and Tahiti into the mix.

Downing takes charge

Keone Downing won the event in 1990 and now steps in to run it. Speaking about the coming winter, he pointed to the forecast.

“With El Niño continuing to intensify as we head towards winter, this season definitely holds a lot of promise,” said Downing.

“I’m deeply grateful and humbled to be entrusted with this responsibility. It is a privilege to honor Eddie Aikau’s legacy.

“When my father (George Downing), together with Eddie’s father ‘Pops’ Aikau, and Eddie Rothman first conceptualized this event at Waimea Bay, they knew that this was something special. My father always reminded us that ‘the Bay calls the day’, and those lasting words will continue to guide the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational as we pay respect to Eddie and the power of Waimea Bay and carry this tradition forward.”

My father always reminded us that ‘the Bay calls the day’

When it runs

The Eddie only goes when wave faces at Waimea reach 40 feet and conditions are good enough for a full day of competition. The holding period opens on 6 December 2026 and closes on 4 March 2027, with the traditional Opening Ceremony on Thursday 3 December.

The event was founded in 1985 and this winter will be its 42nd, but it has only run 11 times. Two of those have come in the last four seasons, with Shepardson winning in 2023 and McNamara in 2024.

Eddie Would Go banner with the Rip Curl logo and the event dates, 6 December 2026 to 4 March 2027, at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Hawaii

Image: Rip Curl

Eddie Aikau

The contest honours Eddie Aikau, the North Shore's first official lifeguard. Stationed at Waimea Bay, he is credited with saving more than 500 lives. He was lost at sea in 1978, aged 31, after the voyaging canoe Hōkūleʻa capsized in heavy seas between Hawaii and Tahiti and he paddled away on his board to find help for the crew.

Rip Curl is partnering with the event for a third year. “Rip Curl is honoured to partner with this iconic event for a third year, and we couldn’t be more excited by the calibre of invitees,” said Ashley Reade, Rip Curl CEO. “Supporting events with a rich history and cultural significance is core to Rip Curl’s DNA, and few events embody those values more powerfully than The Eddie.”

2026/27 invitees

Aaron Gold (Hawaii), Annie Reickert (Hawaii), Ben Wilkinson (Australia), Billy Kemper (Hawaii), Bruce Irons (Hawaii), Chad Keaulana (Hawaii), Eala Stewart (Hawaii), Eli Olson (Hawaii), Emily Erickson (Hawaii), Ezekiel Lau (Hawaii), Felicity Palmateer (Australia), Grant “Twiggy” Baker (South Africa), Ha'a Aikau (Hawaii), Ian Walsh (Hawaii), Jake Maki (Hawaii), Jamie Mitchell (Australia), Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii), Joey Cadiz (Hawaii), John John Florence (Hawaii), Kai Lenny (Hawaii), Koa Rothman (Hawaii), Landon McNamara (Hawaii), Luke Shepardson (Hawaii), Makua Rothman (Hawaii), Mark Healey (Hawaii), Mason Ho (Hawaii), Matahi Drollet (Tahiti), Nathan Florence (Hawaii), Paige Alms (Hawaii), Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia), Seth Moniz (Hawaii), Tom Lowe (England).

Alternates, in replacement order

Men: Torrey Meister (Hawaii), Kala Grace (Hawaii), Cliff Kapono (Hawaii), Kaiwi Berry (Hawaii), Russell Bierke (Australia), Josh Moniz (Hawaii), Tyler Larronde (Hawaii), Ivan Florence (Hawaii), Lucas Chianca (Brazil), Tiger Doerner (Hawaii), Mikey O'Shaughnessy (Hawaii), Barron Mamiya (Hawaii), Nic von Rupp (Portugal), Francisco Porcella (Hawaii), Mitch Sanborn (Hawaii), Steve Roberson (Hawaii), Kipp Caddy (Australia), Koa Smith (Hawaii), Isamu Sumi (Japan), Jojo Roper (USA).

Women: Laura Enever (Australia), Bianca Valenti (USA), Tiare Lawrence (Hawaii), Makani Adric (Hawaii), Justine Dupont (France).

Past champions

Denton Miyamura (1985, held at Sunset Beach), Clyde Aikau (1986, the first year at Waimea Bay), Keone Downing (1990), Noah Johnson (1999), Ross Clarke-Jones (2001), Kelly Slater (2002), Bruce Irons (2004), Greg Long (2009), John John Florence (2016), Luke Shepardson (2023), Landon McNamara (2024).

This year's poster is by artist and designer David Carson and shows Eddie and his late brother Clyde surfing Waimea Bay under a North Shore sunset. Event updates will run on the @theeddieaikau and @ripcurl Instagram accounts, and the Eddie Would Go merchandise collection is on sale at ripcurl.com. More on Eddie's life and the work of the Eddie Aikau Foundation is at eddieaikaufoundation.org.