CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
World Surf League winning team, tallest wave in the world 2014 / 2015 season. World Surf League top 5 Barrel ride in the world 2016.
Tom’s first memory of being in the ocean was aged 3 clinging on to his mums back as she plunged into the rock pools off the Cornish coast. In his younger years Tom was very shy until he became interested in sport. This was were he felt most comfortable. Being the middle child of three brothers meant he was always competing against both brothers either side of him. Until the age of 10, football, swimming, surf life saving, skateboarding and bodyboarding took up all of his time. Then he discovered his passion for surfing which has always been his main focus ever since.
Tom’s first English surfing title came shortly after this aged 12. During his Junior surfing career aged 12 - 18 he consistently won British and English titles as well as placing 3rd in Europe in under 16’s and under 18’s age groups . He burst into the mens competitive scene winning the mens English title aged only 19, he held the English title again aged 23.
Always enjoying the ocean most when the storms were raging, naturally Tom wanted to ride bigger and bigger waves. Around the age of 21 his love for big wave surfing developed. In the Atlantic winter season of 2014, Tom exceeded any child hood dreams and rode some of the biggest waves in the world at Nazare beach, Portugal. The World surf league chose Tom and Big wave partner Sebastian Steudtner as record holders this year for tallest wave in the world.
Tom’s utilised his ocean experience working water safety on some high profile sporting events. Including Red Bull Cliff Diving, Red Bull Storm chase (windsurfing) Baku - European sport's games. He also gained a lot of experience working as an R.N.L.I beach lifeguard throughout the years whilst he wasn't chasing big waves.
Tom has founded Coastal Crusaders Community Interest Company which aims to educate, create social environments, integration and advancements to levels of health, fitness and social interactivity. Our key focus is on working in partnership with schools and their students, for whom we offer our Surf 2 Success programme of motivational, supervised opportunities to participate in a range of ocean activities, including swimming, surfing, stand up paddle boarding, aquatic life saving, Yoga, Mindfulness and surf-specific fitness.We also offer professional Ocean coaching sessions and workshops for anyone and everyone. In addition, we run beach events, corporate and team building days. A percentage of profits from our ocean sports coaching and corporate days are re-invested to fund our work with school children and disadvantaged members of our community. See more @ coastalcrusaders.org.uk
