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| Huge waves in Hawaii surf contest | Huge waves in Hawaii surf contest |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A rare surfing competition has been held in Hawaii as waves of 12m (40ft) pounded Oahu's famous North Shore. | A rare surfing competition has been held in Hawaii as waves of 12m (40ft) pounded Oahu's famous North Shore. |
| Thousands of people gathered on beaches and cliffs to watch the world's greatest surfers tackle the waves. | Thousands of people gathered on beaches and cliffs to watch the world's greatest surfers tackle the waves. |
| It was only the eighth time in 25 years that the Eddie Aikau competition, named in honour of a celebrated Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard, was held. | It was only the eighth time in 25 years that the Eddie Aikau competition, named in honour of a celebrated Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard, was held. |
| The contest is only staged in the most extreme surf conditions and last took place in 2004. | The contest is only staged in the most extreme surf conditions and last took place in 2004. |
| 'Unbelievably dangerous' | 'Unbelievably dangerous' |
| Nine-times world champion Kelly Slater was the strongest starter, but first-time entrant Greg Long, 24, took a narrow lead over his older rival and won with a score of 323 to 313. | Nine-times world champion Kelly Slater was the strongest starter, but first-time entrant Greg Long, 24, took a narrow lead over his older rival and won with a score of 323 to 313. |
| It really is about the wave and celebrating the ocean Greg Long In pictures: Monster surf contest | It really is about the wave and celebrating the ocean Greg Long In pictures: Monster surf contest |
| The victorious Californian - who took home a purse of $55,000 (£34,000) - said it was "a dream come true" to take part in the "biggest event of big waves in the world". | The victorious Californian - who took home a purse of $55,000 (£34,000) - said it was "a dream come true" to take part in the "biggest event of big waves in the world". |
| Long said the camaraderie of the contest, known as the Eddie, "encapsulates everything that's great about surfing". | Long said the camaraderie of the contest, known as the Eddie, "encapsulates everything that's great about surfing". |
| "It really is about the wave and celebrating the ocean. It's what we do: go out there and ride big waves." | "It really is about the wave and celebrating the ocean. It's what we do: go out there and ride big waves." |
| A total of 28 surfers were invited to take part in the event at Waimea Bay, chosen by a poll of the surfing community. | A total of 28 surfers were invited to take part in the event at Waimea Bay, chosen by a poll of the surfing community. |
| Organisers had been watching weather and wave conditions in the seas around the US state and announced early on Tuesday morning local time that the competition would run. | Organisers had been watching weather and wave conditions in the seas around the US state and announced early on Tuesday morning local time that the competition would run. |
| "We were all stoked out there, smiling, laughing and having a good time," said competitor Jamie O'Brien. | "We were all stoked out there, smiling, laughing and having a good time," said competitor Jamie O'Brien. |
| "This is like a natural arena out here for this and it's amazing to be a part of it," he told the Honolulu Advertiser. | "This is like a natural arena out here for this and it's amazing to be a part of it," he told the Honolulu Advertiser. |
| People travelled from around the world to the US state to watch the event. | People travelled from around the world to the US state to watch the event. |
| Malika Dudley of CBC News told the BBC people were lining cliff tops and had climbed trees to watch the vast waves. | Malika Dudley of CBC News told the BBC people were lining cliff tops and had climbed trees to watch the vast waves. |
| She said it was "unbelievably dangerous" to take part in the event - one surfer, Tom Carroll of Australia, had been injured - but that safety teams were in the water on jet skis in case of accidents. | She said it was "unbelievably dangerous" to take part in the event - one surfer, Tom Carroll of Australia, had been injured - but that safety teams were in the water on jet skis in case of accidents. |
| Eddie Aikau, after whom the contest is named, was a legendary surfer who died in 1978 at the age of 31, after capsizing in a traditional voyaging canoe en route from Hawaii to Tahiti. | Eddie Aikau, after whom the contest is named, was a legendary surfer who died in 1978 at the age of 31, after capsizing in a traditional voyaging canoe en route from Hawaii to Tahiti. |
| Are you in Oahu? Did you watch the Eddie Aikau surfing contest? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Oahu? Did you watch the Eddie Aikau surfing contest? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |