Defending champion Bruce Irons of Kaua'i heads the prestigious list of invitees for this season's Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surfing contest at Waimea Bay.

The list of 28 invitees and 24 alternates was announced this week.

The "Eddie" contest is the oldest and most revered big-wave contest in the world. It can be held only on a day between December and February when waves reach 20 feet (by traditional Hawaiian measurements).

Because of the strict standards, the contest has been completed only seven times since the first one in the 1984-85 season.

Bruce Irons won the last one in December 2004.

This season's invitees: Bruce Irons, Andy Irons, Brock Little, Carlos Burle, Clyde Aikau, Darryl Virostko, Greg Long, Jamie O'Brien, Jamie Sterling, Kelly Slater, Keone Downing, Makuakai Rothman, Mark Healey, Michael Ho, Noah Johnson, Peter Mel, Reef McIntosh, Ross Clarke-Jones, Rusty Keaulana, Shane Dorian, Sunny Garcia, Tom Carroll, Titus Kinimaka, Takayuki Wakita, Grant Baker, Ramon Navarro and Ibon Amatriain.

The holding period for the contest starts on Dec. 1 and ends on Feb. 28.

Because the contest can run on any day during that time frame, the alternates often get a chance to replace the invitees who are not on O'ahu at the time.

This season's alternates: Kala Alexander, Pancho Sullivan, Garrett McNamara, Kohl Christensen, Dave Wassel, Keoni Watson, Nathan Fletcher, Ian Walsh, Danny Fuller, Kalani Chapman, Taylor Knox, Chava Greenlee, Jamie Mitchell, Myles Padaca, Tony Moniz, Darrick Doerner, Ken Collins, Ross Williams, Derek Ho, Paul Patterson, Anthony Tashnick, Koby Abberton, Laurent Pujol and Laurie Towner.

STAND-UP SPECIAL

Hawai'i surfers Duane DeSoto, Ekolu Kalama, Kainoa McGee and Keali'i Mamala will be featured in the "Stand Up World Tour Contenders" television special on Sunday.

The broadcast is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on KITV (Ch. 4).

The show is a preview for the inaugural 2010 stand-up paddle world tour. The tour will feature some of the world's best watermen riding waves via stand-up paddleboards.

The first event of the 2010 tour is scheduled for Sunset Beach in February.

GODINEZ SECOND

Hawai'i surfers Megan Godinez and Stacia Ahina reached the final of the women's division of the PLA Pro Championships longboard contest last week.

Godinez placed second; Ahina placed fourth.

Cori Schumacher of California won the women's division.

Taylor Jensen of California won the men's division. Kai Sallas was Hawai'i's top male, placing seventh.

A weekly feature about surfing in Hawai'i. Submit comments or story ideas to dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or call 535-8101.