Greg Long is the 2015/2016 Big Wave Tour Champ

San Clemente’s Greg Long, is one of big wave surfing’s most decorated pioneers. The man’s been at the forefront of the paddle revolution since day one. After his third place finish at the Pe’ahi Challenge and his second spot at the Todos Santos event he’s solidified his place as this season’s BWWT champion (without taking first place in any event). He won the Eddie in ’09, and is the most endowed surfer by Billabong’s XXL Big Wave Awards. This is his second time holding the title. He also took the honours back in 2012, the same year of his near drowning out at Cortes Bank, an incident that changed his entire outlook on big wave surfing. It never held him back, the man just recalculated into the hard charging machine that we love today.

During the event at Jaws, Mr Long pulled into the heaviest closeout we’ve ever seen in competition. “There’s two sides of that wave to me,” Greg told Stab. “It was one of the biggest waves I’ve ever paddled, the most technically difficult and the biggest barrel I’ve ever been in. It was one of the best waves I’ve ridden in my whole life. I also see it as being a huge mistake. I don’t take off on waves that I don’t think I can make, that was a risky situation. But in the moment you either take the chance or let it go and wonder for the rest of your life.”

“The 2015/2016 season has been one for the record books,” Greg told the WSL. “There’s been record-breaking waves, more big swells, bigger barrels… basically every single level of performance in big-wave surfing has been shattered this year. For me, it is always an honour to be a part of that. It is a tremendous feeling being crowning the 2015/2016 WSL Big Wave World Tour Champion.

“To see Greg win another Big Wave Tour title is amazing,” said BWWT Commissioner Peter Mel. “I was there at Cortes Bank when he experienced his near drowning. He could have easily stepped away from big wave riding at that time. To see him dedicate himself and overcome any negativity from the accident is an inspiration. Congratulations Greg.”