Greg Long (surfer)
Encyclopedia
Greg Long is a 27 year old Californian surfer from San Clemente, California. He is the only surfer to win the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
, the Maverick's Surf Contest, and the Red Bull
Big Wave Africa event. Additionally, he is the most decorated surfer in the Billabong XXL big wave surfing awards. He is widely regarded as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.
Born and raised in San Clemente, Greg and his brother Rusty Long (surfer)
were introduced to the ocean at an early age by their father, who was a lifeguard. Greg surfed the waves at Trestles
at an early age and was highly regarded throughout the community as an up and coming star. At 17, Greg won the NSSA National Men's Open Title in 2001, and looked to have a promising career in competitive surfing. But, Greg's passion for big surf forced him to leave the professional circuit and focus entirely on traveling the world in search of biggest waves.
At age 15, Greg first paddled out to what eventually would be his home big wave break, an island off the coast of Baja, California called Todos Santos. There, he honed his big wave skills throughout his teen years and had many sessions with legendary big wave rider Mike Parsons
. After surfing Todos for a couple years, Long took his big wave act to spots such as Maverick's, in Northern California, and Dungeon's, in Cape Town
, South Africa. He won the Red Bull Big Wave Africa at Dungeon's in 2003 at age 19. The win officially put him on the big wave map, and he has since been a standout on every huge swell all over the world.
On January 5, 2008, Long and fellow riders Brad Gerlach, Parsons, and Grant Baker towed into waves at the Cortes Bank
that estimated to be around 60–70 feet on the face. That same year, Long won the Maverick's
surf contest in 20 ft. surf. In June 2008, he signed a sponsorship deal with Billabong
.
Long's biggest career achievement came in December 2009, when he won the prestigious Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
in massive 40 ft. surf at the North Shore's Waimea Bay. There, he took down ten time world champion Kelly Slater
and a host of the world's best big wave riders.
Long has been known for caring more for the spirit of big wave surfing, rather than the sponsorship deals, media attention, and contest wins. At the Maverick's Contest in 2008, for example, Long agreed to split the prize money among himself and the five other finalists. He is also known for pressing the limits paddle-in surfing, paddling into many waves which were once deemed unrideable without the help of a jet ski.
Notes
"The Long and the Short of It"
http://www.billabong.com/us/team-rider/surf/269/greg-long
http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/greg-long-signs-with-billabong-061008/
http://www.surfermag.com/features/greg-long-wins-quiksilver-in-memory-of-eddie-aikau/
Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau—known as The Eddie— is a surfing tournament held at Waimea Bay on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Created in 1984 at Sunset, then changed to the infamous Waimea Bay where Aikau was a lifeguard and where he and his family were caretakers of the valley...
, the Maverick's Surf Contest, and the Red Bull
Red Bull
Red Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
Big Wave Africa event. Additionally, he is the most decorated surfer in the Billabong XXL big wave surfing awards. He is widely regarded as one of the best big wave surfers in the world.
Born and raised in San Clemente, Greg and his brother Rusty Long (surfer)
Rusty Long (surfer)
Rusty Long is an explorer, journalist, professional big wave surfer, and photographer. At an early age he and his brother Greg Long were junior lifeguards as well as surfers in San Clemente, California there hometown. This lead to Rusty's quest for big waves he has earned the reputation as being...
were introduced to the ocean at an early age by their father, who was a lifeguard. Greg surfed the waves at Trestles
Trestles
Trestles is a collection of surfing spots at San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County, California. Trestles consists of, from north to south, Upper Trestles , Lower Trestles , and Middle Trestles . North of Upper Trestles is the surf spot called Cottons...
at an early age and was highly regarded throughout the community as an up and coming star. At 17, Greg won the NSSA National Men's Open Title in 2001, and looked to have a promising career in competitive surfing. But, Greg's passion for big surf forced him to leave the professional circuit and focus entirely on traveling the world in search of biggest waves.
At age 15, Greg first paddled out to what eventually would be his home big wave break, an island off the coast of Baja, California called Todos Santos. There, he honed his big wave skills throughout his teen years and had many sessions with legendary big wave rider Mike Parsons
Mike Parsons
Mike Parsons is a surfer sponsored by the Billabong company who famously successfully surfed a 66-foot wave at Cortes Bank, CA in 2001, for which he was awarded $66,000, the highest prize ever awarded in the history of professional surfing...
. After surfing Todos for a couple years, Long took his big wave act to spots such as Maverick's, in Northern California, and Dungeon's, in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa. He won the Red Bull Big Wave Africa at Dungeon's in 2003 at age 19. The win officially put him on the big wave map, and he has since been a standout on every huge swell all over the world.
On January 5, 2008, Long and fellow riders Brad Gerlach, Parsons, and Grant Baker towed into waves at the Cortes Bank
Cortes Bank
Cortes Bank is a dangerously shallow chain of underwater mountains in the Pacific Ocean, about 115 miles west of Point Loma San Diego, USA, and about 50 miles south-west of San Clemente Island, Los Angeles County....
that estimated to be around 60–70 feet on the face. That same year, Long won the Maverick's
Mavericks (location)
Maverick's or Mavericks is a surfing location in Northern California, U.S.A.. It is located approximately 2 miles from shore in Pillar Point Harbor just north of Half Moon Bay at the village of Princeton-By-The-Sea. After a strong winter storm in the northern Pacific Ocean, waves can routinely...
surf contest in 20 ft. surf. In June 2008, he signed a sponsorship deal with Billabong
Billabong
Billabong is an Australian English word meaning a small lake, specifically an oxbow lake, a section of still water adjacent to a river, cut off by a change in the watercourse. Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end...
.
Long's biggest career achievement came in December 2009, when he won the prestigious Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational
The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau—known as The Eddie— is a surfing tournament held at Waimea Bay on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Created in 1984 at Sunset, then changed to the infamous Waimea Bay where Aikau was a lifeguard and where he and his family were caretakers of the valley...
in massive 40 ft. surf at the North Shore's Waimea Bay. There, he took down ten time world champion Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
and a host of the world's best big wave riders.
Long has been known for caring more for the spirit of big wave surfing, rather than the sponsorship deals, media attention, and contest wins. At the Maverick's Contest in 2008, for example, Long agreed to split the prize money among himself and the five other finalists. He is also known for pressing the limits paddle-in surfing, paddling into many waves which were once deemed unrideable without the help of a jet ski.
Notes
"The Long and the Short of It"
http://www.billabong.com/us/team-rider/surf/269/greg-long
http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/greg-long-signs-with-billabong-061008/
http://www.surfermag.com/features/greg-long-wins-quiksilver-in-memory-of-eddie-aikau/