Surfers in Hawaii got a rare treat, as waves pounding Oahu's famed North Shore reached 40 feet -- high enough for an extreme surfing competition that last happened five years ago.
Thousands massed at Waimea Bay on Tuesday to watch the impromptu competition, the Eddie Aikau contest, which can only be held when wave heights are consistently 40 feet or higher.
The National Weather Forecast had forecast 30 to 40 foot (nine to 12 meter) waves, with some reaching as high as 50 feet (15 meters).
The contest, named for a legendary Hawaii surfer who died in 1978 aged 31 when his canoe capsized, was last held in 2004.
The strict rules that govern when the extreme competition can be held means it has only happened eight times in the 25 years it has been held.
By Tuesday afternoon local time, Florida surfer Kelly Slater was leading the contest, though South African Greg Long had the best score of the day, a perfect 100, according to the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper.
Only 28 surfers are invited to compete in the event, which caused traffic jams as locals flocked to watch competitors glide down the roaring faces of waves the height of buildings.
"It's pretty overwhelming to surf out here on a day like this with all the spectators," competitor Michael Ho told the Advertiser.
The winner will take home 55,000 dollars and the total purse for the competition is 98,000 dollars.
The National Weather Service said the waves were caused by a large storm to the northeast of the island and warned that "dangerous, battering waves will pound the shoreline, producing very dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents."
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
