Jeff Rowley

Jeff Rowley
Rowley in 2012
Born (1979-04-06) 6 April 1979 (age 45)
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
OccupationProfessional big wave surfer
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Websitejeffrowley.com

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]

Jeff Rowley surfs the "Jaws" break at Peahi, Hawaii

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 Bells Beach, Victoria and "the swell of the decade" at Cloudbreak, Fiji along with the high-risk, and very shallow break at Teahupo'o, Tahiti.[6][7]

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

  1. ^ "Million dollar baby @ The Weekly Review". Theweeklyreview.com.au. 6 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b Wilkins, Georgia (2 February 2012). "Surfer rides some truly record breakers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Jeff Rowley paddles in to 50-foot Jaws". Surfertoday. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ Carroll, Nick (17 August 2021). "Storm in the Background". Surfline. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Jeff Rowley releases big wave surfing photographs". Surfertoday. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Big Wave Surfer Jeff Rowley Becomes An Ambassador For Tourism Australia". Fox Sports. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  9. ^ Deakin University. "Alumni in profile, Deakin University". Deakin University. Retrieved 1 June 2012.