Surfer Mag posted a unique behind the scenes perspective of Bruce Irons at the Eddie 2009. Watch it here.

Yesterday, December 8th 2009, was the first time since 2004 that the Eddie was a go. By 8am Waimea Bay was packed full of people watching the first heats paddle out into 40′+ waves.

Spectators in awe of a huge set pounding the shore

As if you needed a sign…

House size swell

Sharks Cove, normally a tranquil snorkeling kid-friendly lagoon, today a treacherous washing machine of explosive water.

Pulling into the close out shore break after a long ride from the outside.

Thousands packed in all the way around the bay

Another long ride into the shore pound.

Wall of water

Struggling to get out of the shore break

Surrounded by white wash

Kelly Slater preparing to take one on the head…all to amuse the screaming spectators.

Mountains of water

There is a gigantic swell heading towards the north shore of Oahu right now. They’re predicting faces of 30-40′ on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

This means that there’s a great chance that the Big wave invatational in memory of Eddie Aikau will go off.

Excited to feel the rumble of the waves breaking on the shore

Yesterday they announced the invitee list to the Quiksilver Big wave invitational In Memory of Eddie Aikau (aka, “The Eddie”). The holding period for this event is December 1 through February 28, with the opening ceremony being held at Waimea Bay at 2pm onDecember 3rd.

Here’s the invite list:

Andy Irons, Hawaii
Brian Keaulana, Hawaii
Brock Little, Hawaii
Bruce Irons, Hawaii
Carlos Burle, Brazil
Clyde Aikau, Hawaii
Darryl Virostko, California
Greg Long, California
Jamie O’Brien, Hawaii
Jamie Sterling, Hawaii
Kelly Slater, Florida
Keone Downing, Hawaii
Makuakai Rothman, Hawaii
Mark Healey, Hawaii
Michael Ho, Hawaii
Noah Johnson, Hawaii
Peter Mel, California
Reef McIntosh, Hawaii
Ross Clarke-Jones, Australia
Rusty Keaulana, Hawaii
Shane Dorian, Hawaii
Sunny Garcia, Hawaii
Titus Kinimaka, Hawaii
Tom Carroll, Australia
Grant “Twiggy” Baker, South Africa
Ibon Amatriain, Euskadi
Ramon Navarro, Chile
Takayuki Wakita, Japan

The best way to know when this event will go off is to sign up for text notifications.

Now lets just cross our fingers for some big swells over the next couple months.