Jeff Rowley
Jeff Rowley | |
|---|---|
Victoria, Australia | |
| Occupation | Professional big wave surfer |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Website | jeffrowley |
Jeff Rowley (born 6 April 1979) is a professional big wave surfer from Torquay, Victoria, Australia.[1] He grew up at Bells Beach, a popular surf location in regional Victoria.[2]
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Accomplishments
On 4 January 2012, he became the first Australian to paddle into a 15 metre high wave at Jaws Peahi, Hawaii, for many years known as the biggest and most dangerous surf break in the world.[3][4] Using an inflatable wetsuit he rode the wave with a 3 metre Channel Islands surfboard, which he later said was not large enough.[3] His effort placed him as 4th in the world at the 2012 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards.[5]
He was a finalist in 2012's Australian Surfing Life's Oakley Big Wave Awards, having surfed 'albatross' near Bells Beach, a break he described as "like coming down a five-storey building that's moving at about 80 kilometres an hour."[2]
Described as "fearless", Rowley is also known for surfing at the 2021 Fifty Year Storm invitational at
Later career
In 2012, Tourism Australia appointed him as a "friend of Australia' alongside Baz Luhrmann and The Wiggles to promote the country as a destination.[8]
Rowley has earned a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University and also works as a motivational speaker.[9]
References
- ^ "Million dollar baby @ The Weekly Review". Theweeklyreview.com.au. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ a b Wilkins, Georgia (2 February 2012). "Surfer rides some truly record breakers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Jeff Rowley paddles in to 50-foot Jaws". Surfertoday. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Matthew, Schultz (7 January 2012). "Big wave surf daredevil Jeff Rowley paddles in to conquer Hawaii's Jaws". News.com.au. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ "Adventure Waterman Jeff Rowley Places 4th in the World As An Elite Big Wave Surfer". Fox Sports/AU. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ^ Carroll, Nick (17 August 2021). "Storm in the Background". Surfline. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Jeff Rowley releases big wave surfing photographs". Surfertoday. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ "Big Wave Surfer Jeff Rowley Becomes An Ambassador For Tourism Australia". Fox Sports. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Deakin University. "Alumni in profile, Deakin University". Deakin University. Retrieved 1 June 2012.