Photo: This Surfer Is Late For His Heat

Photographer Allen Hughes captured this amazing shot of an unknown surfer, late for his competition, leaping into the waves at Santa Cruz's Steamer Lane. (You can see a larger version here.)

Hughes explained the photo to

"Everyone else was watching the surfers out at sea but then I noticed this guy running. He was late for his heat. I could tell that he was anxious so I focused my camera on him. Before anyone knew it he ran and jumped off the cliff."

On Facebook, Hughes said it's a nice shot, but was really no big deal:

"[A]nyone who's ever surfed Steamers knows it isn't unusual to see someone jump from this point. He timed it perfectly and landed behind the whitewater and paddled out."