Ross Clarke-Jones

Catching up with the Notorious RCJ
 
Welcome to episode 1 of season 2 of Late Drop – The Big Wave podcast. The series was created to showcase conversations with some of the best big-wave surfers in the world — hosted by one of the best big-wave surfers in the world. New episodes will drop on Surfline every other week — upcoming guests include Nathan Fletcher, Tony Moniz and others. Stay tuned here for more.
 
Big-wave visionary? Middle-aged grom? Good Time Charlie? Screw loose? For one of the big-wave world’s most unforgettable characters, Ross Clarke-Jones is most likely all of the above. One of the first men to make an actual career out of big-wave surfing, RCJ’s love affair with Waimea Bay finally earned him an Eddie win in 2001 — maybe the most coveted of big-wave accomplishments. Simultaneously a tow-surf god, RCJ pioneered the unruly waters of Nazare, trading North Shore winters for European staycations. Stuck in Australia until further notice, Jamie Mitchell chats with the very vibrant and frothy Ross Clarke-Jones in the newest episode of the Late Drop.
 
 0:00: Growing up on Central Coast, Childhood, Discovering drive for pro surfing, Getting on Quiksilver, State then Queensland Champion, Starring in “Mad Wax,” the cult film
 
15:52: Breaking through tour comps to get to big waves, Following in Kong’s footsteps, Getting to Hawaii, Billabong Pro at Waimea Bay on a 7’10”, Feeling at home in Hawaii, Embraced by Da Hui
 
27:14: Winters on the North Shore, The tow-in movement, Legendary swell of 1998, The accident with the Jet Ski
 
46:30: Relationship with The Eddie event, Finally winning The Eddie, The 2016 Eddie event
 
1:01:53: Relationship with Nazare, Posting up in Europe, Racing cars, Burgers and Not-Burgers, Getting sucked into Nazare cliff, Australian Survival Series
   
1:19:18: Ross’s 5-to-Finish Questions

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