By Cristina Costea, http://www.BookSurfCamps.com
Big wave surfing is one of the most popular surfing styles and it is definitely the most spectacular. For big wave surfing, the waves need to be at least 20 feet tall, but for most big wave surfers, 20 foot waves are a child’s play. In January 2013, Hawaiian big wave surfer, Garrett McNamara, broke the world record for largest wave ever surfed; it was estimated to be 100 foot tall and the event took place in Nazaré, Portugal, a big surfer’s paradise. The holder of the previous 78 foot wave record from 2012? McNamara, himself!
This is where Andrew Cotton comes in – he plans to break this record, as he says “I’m always working towards [my goals] and […] one is always to surf the biggest wave ever; hopefully this year I’ll achieve that.” So, who is Andrew Cotton and why are his ambitions set so high?
A Surfer Through and Through
Andrew Cotton was born in Plymouth, England and grew up on the North Devon Coast. This was where he discovered surfing at a very young age. He loved surfing so much that his father gave him his first board on his seventh birthday and, as he confesses, “I took to it instantly”.
But surfing in the U.K. means a lot of waiting around for the right weather, and Andrew admits that “growing up in the UK, I […] never surfed loads in the younger days, I surfed most summers. It was probably around 14 or 15 when I started surfing all year-round and it started taking over my life!”
By taking over his life he means that, aside from surfing all year-round, he started working in a surfboard factory until his mid-twenties. “I’ve always worked hard to support my surfing and tried to tie my work in with my passion. Whether it’s been working in surfboard factories, surf shops or lifeguarding, it’s always maximized my surfing time and never taken me away from the sea or the dream.” But his passion has always remained big wave surfing and wanting to put the U.K. on the surfing map.
Many people don’t know that the U.K. has some of the best surfing spots in Europe. Newquay, Thurso, or Bournemouth are all places where beginners and experts alike can find excellent waves and surfing conditions. What Andrew wants to do is to make these spots, and others more popular to surfers. Maybe this is the reason why he’s still living in the U.K. with his wife, Katy, and his son and daughter.
We asked Andrew what other surfing spots he loves aside from Nazaré. His answer was Ireland, and he calls it a “great destination to go for surf missions, […] with every type of wave and you never know what you’ll find around the corner”. Whether in Ireland, Hawaii or Portugal, Andrew Cotton strives to do his best and is an ambitious and talented surfer.
The Chase for the Biggest Wave
What many people don’t know is that Andrew was there, in 2012, when Garrett McNamara set the previous record for the largest wave ever surfed. Andrew surfed his biggest waves there on his lucky board that he still has. He did think it was a wonder that board hasn’t gotten lost in Nazaré that year, and he confessed to us that “it’s in the garage at home. I haven’t ridden it for a while!”
So it was no surprise that he named McNamara as his biggest inspiration. “I take inspiration from everyone in some form or another, but the biggest influence in my big wave surfing has to be GMac. His big wave approach, his work ethic and his belief that anything is possible if you want it enough. That’s pretty inspiring.”