• PHOTOS: Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau, Feb. 25

Sunny Garcia looked about as calm as could be, walking into Foodland near Waimea Bay at 5:30 a.m. today.

Garcia said hello to some friends and chatted with others, awake at that ungodly hour in preparation for competition in the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big-wave surf contest at the Bay.

“The buoy (reading) was pretty big last night and we’ll see. You never know,” the former world champion said. “I just parked my truck (at the bay parking lot). From looking at the waves from the corner where the light is, it looks pretty big. It’ll be a good day if they run it, for sure.

“You’re never really, really ready (for the Eddie), but we haven’t surfed (the contest) for almost seven years, so for sure it will be good. I got back here last night about 12:30 and got down there (to the Bay) at 4:30. I’m as ready as I’m going to be. I flew in from California yesterday. I broke my arm after Christmas, so I’ve been in California trying to rehab. But my elbow healed crooked, so I’m gonna go in on Monday and get surgery and get it straightened out. For today, it’s good enough.”

Garcia is one of 28 competitors and one of 17 from Hawaii in the event that calls for 40-foot wave-face heights. They’re all trying for the $75,000 first-place check.