Tom Lowe

Growing up skateboarding, when the surf scene in Cornwall hadn’t yet become the behemoth that it is today, there was a small crew of older surfers that Tom Lowe looked up to. He eventually found himself committing to surfing –– cutting school and heading to the beach to learn how to catch a wave. Surfing, skating, and music go hand in hand for Lowe, so when it comes to personal style his love for these three worlds influenced his dress sense. Vans sponsor him and he can often be seen in their gear, but he’s quick to assert that the concept of ‘style’ has never been a big consideration in his sartorial choices. “I grew up in St. Ives, which is a small town, so ‘style’ wasn’t really a thing for me. Although now that I’m sponsored by Vans, I’m lucky enough to be dressed by one of the biggest surf and skate brands in the world”.

Back then, being out on the water was his biggest source of inspiration, he remembers. “That was our way of expressing ourselves; a way to get rid of all that teenage angst, instead of throwing eggs at police cars and causing trouble around town”. Now Lowe describes his life as nomadic. “I chase storms”, he says, explaining that although his surfing takes him all over the globe, the probability of storm-induced surf conditions are higher in certain locations at certain times of the year. “We can go from Portugal to Ireland; Ireland to Hawaii; Hawaii to Mexico –– but it’s got to stay loose, we make plans knowing we are rolling the dice on a location; it’s always a gamble”.

Pinballing around the world has allowed Lowe to experience some of the wildest surf on the planet, from Jaws in Pe’ahi, Hawaii, to Mavericks in California. His favourite place, though, might come as a surprise to some. “Ireland will always be the wildest place to surf”, Lowe says. “The gale force winds; the snow on the mountains; the energy –– it’s so raw and beautiful”.

“My proudest moment happened in Ireland, in a place called Mullaghmore, catching a long barrel wave. It was really powerful and heavy, and it took me a whole year to catch it. I’ve had so many bad wipeout scenarios, and I really had to pay my dues –– it felt like a gift from Ireland, this big reward for all of the tough times and challenges. I ended up coming 2nd in the Ride of the Year at the XXL Awards that year [2020]”.

Looking back on this moment, his pride is evident. He clarifies that he chooses which swells to go on; when to go –– it’s his journey, and although being placed so close to the top of the contest is a big achievement, he maintains that “it was the ride of [his] life”.

It’s this drive that keeps Lowe’s ambitions growing. For him it’s not just about being content with maintaining the same level: it’s about self-improvement. “I know I can get a bigger and better ride in Ireland. I’ve still got some rides in me for sure, I still want to complete a ride that I fell out of at Jaws”.

Though he’s nearing 40, he’s physically still in great shape, so the list of rides doesn’t appear to have an endpoint just yet –– besides, everyday is a learning experience. “There is no mastering the board; every single wave is different.” Lowe says. “It’s not like a skate park or a basketball court where there are fixed lines: its nature; it’s loose and wild and it keeps you coming back for more. Learning to flow with your board; following the rhythm of the ocean –– it’s always new”. This connection to nature pulses through Lowe’s veins. He feels it both on land and at sea, though his connection with the water is unmatched. “If I can’t go in the sea – even for a few days; even just for a swim – I start to get a bit weird”, he laughs. “It’s a real part of who I am.”

In some ways, Lowe concedes, his whole life is guided by the sea, travelling as he does following the storms and the tides. His family, wife Tess and young daughter Tigerlily, also surf and share his love of the water.

But that isn’t to say that it comes without risk. When asked about the dangers in his career, Lowe lists off injuries and near-misses that have put him in peril. ‘Its a big, serious, heavy thing we [surfers] do out there. You’ve got to dig deep and push yourself over, you know. Its like fucking with nature at times”.

With a second on the way, there is the possibility that these water-nomads might set down some roots. “Now that Tigerlily is four, we’re getting closer to school age. She’s the happiest girl in the world, but it’s hard to have a routine and structure living like we do, so at some point we want to have a base camp in New Zealand, where my wife is from and where Tiger was born. The ultimate dream really is to have a base camp in New Zealand, and one in my home town of Cornwall”.

That being said, Lowe shows no signs of slowing down, and his drive to get out there on the water is just as strong as it ever was. There’s a heavy sense of adventure in jumping on a flight to find those waves, though since getting married and starting a family there is a more tactical approach to when and where he rides –– but this is currently working out. “I’ve been getting the best rides of my life in the last couple of years, and having fewer wipeouts too, which is always nice”, he laughs.