Jeff Rowley
{{Short description|Australian surfer (born 1979)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jeff Rowley
| image = Jeff Rowley.jpg
| caption = Rowley in 2012
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|4|6}}
| birth_place = Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| occupation = Professional big wave surfer
| height = 6 ft 1 in
| partner =
| website = {{URL|jeffrowley.com}}
| children =
}}
Jeff Rowley (born 6 April 1979) is a professional big wave surfer from Torquay, Victoria, Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.theweeklyreview.com.au/article-display/Million-dollar-baby/3968 |title=Million dollar baby @ The Weekly Review |publisher=Theweeklyreview.com.au |date=6 February 2011 |access-date=1 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423110628/http://www.theweeklyreview.com.au/article-display/Million-dollar-baby/3968 |archivedate=23 April 2012 }} He grew up at Bells Beach, a popular surf location in regional Victoria.{{Cite web |last=Wilkins |first=Georgia |date=2 February 2012 |title=Surfer rides some truly record breakers |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/surfer-rides-some-truly-record-breakers-20120203-1qwaq.html |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
Accomplishments
On 4 January 2012, he became the first Australian to paddle into a 15 metre high wave at Jaws Peahi, Hawaii, for many years known as the biggest and most dangerous surf break in the world.{{Cite news |title=Jeff Rowley paddles in to 50-foot Jaws |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/jeff-rowley-paddles-in-to-50-foot-jaws |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Surfertoday |language=en-us}}{{cite web |last=Matthew |first=Schultz |date=7 January 2012 |title=Big wave surf daredevil Jeff Rowley paddles in to conquer Hawaii's Jaws |url=http://www.news.com.au/national/big-wave-surf-daredevil-jeff-rowley-paddles-in-conquers-hawaiis-jaws/story-e6frfkvr-1226238678285 |access-date=1 June 2012 |publisher=News.com.au}} Using an inflatable wetsuit he rode the wave with a 3-metre Channel Islands surfboard, which he later said was not large enough. His effort placed him as 4th in the world at the 2012 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards.{{cite web|title=Adventure Waterman Jeff Rowley Places 4th in the World As An Elite Big Wave Surfer|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv/adventure-waterman-jeff-rowley-places-4th-in-the-world-as-an-elite-big-wave-surfer/story-fn6u5607-1226365387500|publisher=Fox Sports/AU|access-date=1 June 2012|date=24 May 2012}}
He was a finalist in 2012's Australian Surfing Life's Oakley Big Wave Awards, having surfed 'albatross' near Bells Beach, a break he described as "like coming down a five-storey building that's moving at about 80 kilometres an hour."
Described as "fearless", Rowley is also known for surfing at the 2021 Fifty Year Storm invitational at Bells Beach, Victoria and "the swell of the decade" at Cloudbreak, Fiji along with the high-risk, and very shallow break at Teahupo'o, Tahiti.{{Cite web |last=Carroll |first=Nick |date=17 August 2021 |title=Storm in the Background |url=https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/storm-in-the-background/128604 |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Surfline}}{{Cite news |title=Jeff Rowley releases big wave surfing photographs |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/jeff-rowley-releases-big-wave-surfing-photographs |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Surfertoday |language=en-us}}
Later career
In 2012, Tourism Australia appointed him as a "friend of Australia' alongside Baz Luhrmann and The Wiggles to promote the country as a destination.{{Cite web |date=15 February 2012 |title=Big Wave Surfer Jeff Rowley Becomes An Ambassador For Tourism Australia |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv/news/big-wave-surfer-jeff-rowley-becomes-an-ambassador-for-tourism-australia/news-story/6d7ecaefbbf60db6903f14d8f812ee38 |access-date=24 January 2023 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}
Rowley has earned a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University and also works as a motivational speaker.{{cite web|author=Deakin University |url=http://www.deakin.edu.au/alumni/profiles/articles/jeff-rowley.php |title=Alumni in profile, Deakin University |publisher=Deakin University |access-date=1 June 2012}}
References
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