The waiting period for this winter's Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau starts on December 1 and runs through to February 28. Only held if there's a day with the swell at Waimea holding steady at 20 feet or more, there's a reason that winning an Eddie is one of the most respected feats in the world of surfing. If you don't know much about who Eddie Aikau was, here's his brother Clyde talking about why he became a hero to so many people in Hawaii and around the world.  

For more about the event, including this year's invitee list, be sure to check out the contest site here.