When the wave breaks there, don't be here: The story of Laurie Towner

By Marcus Thompson

Affectionately known as the ‘big three’ the surf industry’s biggest players Rip Curl (Torquay, Vic), Billabong (Gold Coast, Qld) Quiksilver (Torquay, Vic) all have their roots in Australia.

The companies grew from the back of cars and garages, servicing a small but growing surf population during the 1960s and early 1970s with clothes and surf hardware.

By the late 1970s surf culture had become a global phenomenon and the fascination surrounding surf culture led to unprecedented growth.

By the late 1990s the industry’s value was estimated at $10 billion.

Fast forward to the late naughties, the industry bubble was ready to burst. The global financial crisis of 2008, an over-saturation of surf culture in the marketplace and the rise of online retailers all contributed to the downfall. For core surfers the industry had lost its way. It was brought to its knees and is yet to recover.

As in most cases when industries fail, those who lose their jobs adapt their skill set and apply their tools to a new industry. But for the surfers whose job it was to surf to market the multi-billion dollar industry, the job openings were slim. There isn’t a big market for surfing critical, high-risk mountains of moving water outside the surf industry.

One surfer who was riding the wave and was plunged into the depths as the industry fell apart is Laurie Towner, regarded by many as the greatest big wave surfer on the planet. Laurie, like many former pro surfers works a trade and surfs between shifts.

Cover Image by Timothy Bonython

[mrimprovements]

Words to live by: appreciate every hour, be a father to your children, husband to your wife and the type of friend you'd like to have.

[dutch]

4:42 right there is priceless... That my friends is why we become fathers and realise at the end of the day, money means nothing. Family is everything. Damn that brought a tear to my eye seeing that. What a great bloke.

[jeffjeeves]

Surfing isn't a sport, it's an antidote to all the things in life that sometimes piss you off.You might have crappy job, a bashed up old car, and a board full of dings, but every now and then you experience the takeoff, the board comes alive, and you become earthed to some kind of current, the

[nelsonlugo]

Laurie has been my favorite surfer for so long that I can't even remember how long, and I'm 67 and started at age 9...
my first memory of him is a photo of the boy at Ships, which is still on my wall next to autographed pix of Curren, Shaun, Rabbit, Owens, Propper, The Animal and others. This video is precious to me. Live long and prosper, brother. Aloha

[MagicMalky]

i've known laurie since he was 13-14 he's always been a real good dude

[nicelydone]

I have a lot of respect and admiration for this man. He lives a big wave surfer’s lifestyle, has an amazing family life, and yes that’s right: he works hard for a living too. All in all not too bad! He doesn’t really seem too busted up or bitter about not being a rich and famous pro. He seems grateful for his blessings. Great story.

[stuarthayward]

Mad surfing skills and appears to be a humble as well. Cheers mate!

[chrismccarthy]

A great example of the quote: "Whatever obstacle comes your way, you gotta be prepared to jump over it!" Well done bro...

[kanakahawaii]

"When the wave breaks here dont be there, or you're gonna get drilled." - Turtle

[selectsovereigntydefendlib]

His humility makes him that much more of a badass.

[illsayitsinceno-oneelsewil]

I'm a 55 year old surfer from Huntington beach. I've surfed all over the world
YOU GUYS ARE NUTS!! Surfing a wave as oddball as that!!! Love to WATCH you do it though!!! Good for You!!! Keep on Surfing. Us old guys live vicariously thru you . THAT, is some Incredible

[MetalProductions]

Beautiful surf, beautiful family, and beautiful attitude ... i wish the rest of the world could live and have such a great view twards life ... may god be with us all

[MRxr]

That’s some crazy surfing. Especially his paddle ins. Best of luck, may you live a long full life

[edmccaffrey]

Life is short and precious, good on ya mate!

[thesurfingviolinist]

This is so well edited. Well told. What an inspiring dude.

[sushimamba]

He seems like a good bloke with his head screwed on right. He can be thankful he was well paid to do what he loves for part of his life. Now he's gotta earn a living (like most of us) and enjoy surfing purely for the love it. That's not too bad an outcome.

[johnpullen]

I'm 52yrs brought up our home town Yamba Angourie our family left i was turning 16yrs old. moved to Burleigh Heads i started my plumbing apprenticeship but everytime the swell was on i was straight back home for it . Never missed plus earning big money working for big companies doing commercial jobs highrise. funding myself chasing waves everywhere for decades. Moved back turning 30yrs to home Yamba Angourie watching Laurie as a teenager already a full team rider. He is such a humble, grounded, gifted young man and his achievements in the big wave travelling free surfing career. he showed and delivered that he is definitely 1 of the best in the world in this chosen career. To hear that he got dropped and had his young family and loving partner that news i thought couldn't be true. unfortunately it was and i couldn't process this how Laurie's career with the name he had already built. they would end a contract drop 1 of the best in the world. and it's all over just like that we'll ive seen some clips on YouTube Laurie surfing now for Essential. and what shows you everything Laurie is was the clip him packing the family up. travelling Australia and Surfing many places ive spent decades travelling to . Watching him surfing many solid session's alone but the heartfelt moments. are Laurie out surfing with his wife and kids are priceless and fishing or free diving bringing in the dinner. A true waterman and devoted family man wish you all the best in the future plans Laurie.that life will provide you and your family with everything you deserve 🤙🤜🤛🍻🥂

[kenmoore]

What a great ambassador for surfing In Australia.

I started surfing in 1969 and now at 62 I still feel the Stoke however, like most things in life it is usually the good guys that get shafted.

Shame about that .

Just remember next time you are in a surf shop and are about to purchase a product make sure that it is one from a company that is ethical and not just chasing a buck !

Sad to see that surfing has become a "Business " with Bean Counters making the decisions.

[thomasknight-wagener]

so in other words a tiler is a better surfer than the ones on contract and he does his part in his job and still finds time to hit the world's biggest waves

[shamusmurfett]

What a bloody legend! Wish there were more blokes like this getting it done.