Twenty-six year old Greg Long, sponsored by Billabong swimwear, outlasted the other competitors from other countries to clinch $55,000 in cash prize money. This was based on his fantastic performance in “The Eddie,” a giant wave contest that was named in the honor of surfing legend Eddie Aikau.

This competition is usually staged whenever the height of waves reach a high of 40 feet at Waimea Bay. The condition of the waves this week was the first time in the past five years that made it possible to stage this event.

Long got a 100 percent score to seal the victory. He’s also the first surfer from California to win the title.