All around the world, Tyler Hollmer-Cross is fast becoming a household name for big-wave surfing. Although the 25 year-old stretches 6’5’’ tall, the waves he surfs still manage to look enormous – the biggest in the world, in fact.
Sponsored by Quiksilver since 15 and one of the youngest to ever ride Shipsterns at 16 years of age, you’d think this guy would have a head on him as big as the waves he surfs. But if you thought this, you couldn’t be further from the truth. Ty is so laid back he’s almost horizontal. He earns a crust painting and rendering and saving up for surf trips.
Tyler is nominated for the “Monster Tube” award at the 2012 Billabong Global Big Wave Awards for what he considers his best moment so far this year, “Biggest wave ever surfed! I got the biggest barrel of my life and the heaviest wipeouts – with just the core Tassie chargers out”
When asked what makes a good big wave surfer, Tyler responded, “You’ve definitely got to be fearless and you’ve got to have big balls I suppose.” Tasmania is where the bravest Australian surfers test their skill… the wave that got him the XXL nom is called Shipstern Bluff. And it’s unforgiving. “Compared to a normal wave it feels like a giant has picked you up and it just throws you, like you might travel underwater for 50 meters in a couple of seconds.”
Sponsors: Quiksilver
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Bio courtesy of: Stompinground.tumblr.com
