As San Clemente surfer Greg Long took a gut-wrenching leap down the face of wave measuring at least25 feet, he looks back to see a building-sized wall of whitewash swallow him.

“Where did he go?” one of the contest announcers said with a twinge of concern in his voice, as a moment passes with no visual on Long.

“That was guts and glory right there.”

The massive, jaw-dropping wave earned Long the highest score of the day – a perfect score of 100 – allowing him to take home the victory and $55,000 at theprestigious 25th anniversary Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau contest – heldTuesday in treacherous waves slamming the North Shore of Oahu.

“I’m humbled to even be in this event,” Long told the crowd. “It’s about that respect, friendship and camaraderie in the lineup, whichI know Eddie had out there.”

Long – who has already accumulated a long list of awards for his skills as a big-wave surfer – was just one of about 30 surfers from around the world invited to participate in the Eddie contest, which has only been held seven times in the past 24 years. It requires waves greater than 25 feet to be held.

Here’s some photos from OC Register’s Mike Goulding. Read more and see slideshow here.

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