Taj Burrow (born 2 June 1978) is an Australian retired professional surfer. Taj retired from the WSL World Tour in June 2016 where he left a legacy of power and impressive surfing.

Taj Burrow
Burrow at the 2013 Quiksilver Pro France in Hossegor
Personal information
Born (1978-06-02) 2 June 1978 (age 46)
Busselton, Western Australia, Australia
ResidenceYallingup, Western Australia, Australia
Bali, Indonesia
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Surfing career
Best year1999 & 2007 – 2nd in ASP World Tour Ranking
Career earnings$10,925,033 AUD prize money
SponsorsBillabong, Lost Surfboards, Von Zipper, Globe, Futures Fins
Major achievementsASP World Tour Runner Up 1999, 2007

ASP Rookie of the Year 1998

Australian Male Surfer of the Year 1997
Surfing specifications
StanceNatural (regular foot)
Websitetajburrow.com

Early life

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Burrow was born in Yallingup, Western Australia, Australia to American parents and began surfing at age 7.[1]

Career

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In 1998 he qualified for the ASP World Tour at the age of 18 years, becoming the youngest surfer to ever win a national title.[2] Burrow had already earned a place on the world tour a year earlier, but he turned it down stating that, as a 17-year-old, he was "too young to do the tour full-on".[1][3] After his first year on tour in 1998, Burrow claimed the ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year award after finishing 12th place in the rankings.[4][5]

In 2007 Burrow won the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.[6] He backed this up with a victory at the 2007 Billabong Pro in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, where he claimed the title over the then 8-time world champion, Kelly Slater. This win helped to secure his 2nd-place ranking on the ASP Men's Tour, his second runner-up season placing.

In 2009, Burrow defeated Slater in the final of the Billabong Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline.[7] In the same year he finished fourth place on the World Tour.[5]

Burrow won the 2013 Hurley Pro event in September 2013 for the first time, beating fellow Australian Julian Wilson.[8]

Sponsors

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As of September 2013, Burrow is sponsored by Globe, Billabong, Modom Surf, Von Zipper and Nanotune.[5]

ASP Tour wins

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Year Event Venue Country
1999 Coke Surf Classic Manly Manly Beach, Sydney   Australia
1999 Rio Marathon Surf INTERNATIONAL Rio de Janeiro   Brazil
2001 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Gold Coast   Australia
2002 Mundial Coca-Cola de Surf Saquarema   Brazil
2004 Nova Schin Festival Florianópolis   Brazil
2007 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Jeffreys Bay   South Africa
2007 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach   Australia
2009 Billabong Pipeline Masters Banzai Pipeline   United States
2010 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Gold Coast   Australia
2012 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Gold Coast   Australia
2012 O'Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California   United States
2013 Hurley Pro Trestles San Clemente, California   United States

Other projects

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In 2003 Burrow released a book entitled Taj Burrow's Book of Hot Surfing,[9] and has also produced a series of his own surf videos: Sabotaj (2000),[10] Montaj (2002)[11] and Taj Burrow's Fair Bits (2005).[2]

In 2008–09 Globe released a shoe line named after Burrow.[12]

Since 2005 Burrow has hosted the 'Taj Small Fries' junior surfing competition at Yallingup, Western Australia.[13]

Personal life

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Burrow married Rebecca Jobson in November 2018.[14] The couple had an intimate ceremony so Jobson's sick mother was able to attend. They had a second wedding in February 2019.[15] The couple have two daughters.[16] Jobson was a contestant (and placed 6th) on cycle 4 of Australia's Next Top Model in 2008.

References

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  1. ^ a b Warshaw, Matt (2003). The Encyclopedia of Surfing. Harcourt. p. 94. ISBN 0156032511.
  2. ^ a b "Team - Taj Burrow". Billabong US. Billabong International Ltd. September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Surf with Taj - About Taj Burrow". Archived from the original on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  4. ^ Fuel TV Profile Archived 29 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ a b c "Surfer Profile: Taj Burrow". ASP World Tour. The Association of Surfing Professionals. September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  6. ^ Margie McDonald (13 April 2007). "Burrow last man standing to ring bell". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Pushing our Burrow". Herald Sun. Australian Associated Press. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Taj Burrow Wins The 2013 Hurley Pro". Surfing Magazine. GrindMedia, LLC. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  9. ^ Taj Burrow's Book of Hot Surfing
  10. ^ Sabotaj
  11. ^ Montaj
  12. ^ 23-Jan-2009 Surf Europe article 'Taj re-signs with Globe Shoes', retrieved 24-Oct-2011
  13. ^ Simon Barratt (January 2010). "Taj's Small Fries grommet event set to roll in Yallingup". Surfers Village. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  14. ^ Richards, Natalie (28 November 2018). "Taj Burrow and model girlfriend tie the knot". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  15. ^ Sanders, Krystal (8 February 2019). "Taj Burrow marries model... again". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Taj welcomes a new grommet". PerthNow. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
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