Lead the Wave, Embrace your Passion, Share the Journey

(Photo by Jeff Hornbaker)

Born on 6 June 1966 in Sydney, Australia, Ross Clarke-Jones is a pioneering figure in the big wave surfing world. He became a household name in 1986 with standout performances at the Billabong Pro at Waimea Bay and the Pipeline Masters, launching a 12-year career on the ASP World Tour.

Ross is known for starring in and producing some of the most iconic surf films, including Mad Wax, The Sixth Element (narrated by Dennis Hopper), Storm Surfers 3D, and the four-part TV series Storm Surfers.

In 2001, Ross made history as the first Australian and non-Hawaiian to win the prestigious Quiksilver In Memory Of Eddie Aikau big wave contest at Waimea Bay, Hawaii. He also claimed runner-up titles in 2004 and 2016 at this elite competition.

Ross currently divides his time between Portugal, Hawaii, and Australia. Based on Phillip Island, he continues chasing fierce swells in the southern hemisphere, including hotspots like South Africa, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia.

SURFING ACHIEVEMENTS TIMELINE:
1986: 3rd in World Amateur Titles – Cornwall, England
1986: Turned professional
1987: 3rd at Gunston 500 – Durban, South Africa
1989: 2nd at the Billabong Pro
1990: 3rd at Pipeline Masters – Hawaii
2001: First non-Hawaiian to win the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Contest – Waimea Bay
2004: Runner-up at Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Contest – Waimea Bay
2009: Overall Champion for tow and paddle at Nelscott Reef Kingfish
2016: Runner-up at Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Contest – Waimea Bay
2018: Surfed one of his biggest waves at Nazaré, Portugal (18 January)
2018: Nazare "Rock Hop" (25 February)
2023: Competed at The Eddie Aikau
2023: Launched Born Maniac

FILM AND TELEVISION ACHIEVEMENTS TIMELINE:
1985: Starred in cult classic short film Mad Wax
1988: Appeared in Performers II
1989: Featured in All Down The Line
1990: Appeared in Generation X
1992: Featured in 110/240
1994: Starred in Surfers of Fortune
1994: Stunt performer in feature film Rapa Nui
1998: Appeared in video documentary Biggest Wednesday: Condition Black
1999: Starred in Extreme IMAX
2000: Directed and produced the world’s first tow-surfing contest, Red Bull Reef Seekers
2003: Appeared in Pororoca: Surfing the Amazon
2006: Starred in biopic The Sixth Element (narrated by Dennis Hopper)
2007: Featured in Red Bull Tai Fu
2008: Starred in Storm Surfers: Dangerous Banks
2010: Appeared in Storm Surfers: New Zealand
2012: Inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame
2012: Starred in award-winning documentary Storm Surfers 3D (narrated by Toni Collette)
2013: Appeared in Australian feature film Drift
2013: Starred in TV series documentary Explorers: Adventures of the Century
2018: Starred in short film Go Mad
2019: Competed in Survivor Australia Season 4: Champions vs Contenders 

In the world's most renowned big wave surf spots, you'll find Robbert Bigini. Born in 1999, this young Italian prodigy is making significant contributions and inspiring the world of big wave surfing. A warrior of the sea hailing from Torre del Lago, he carries the Italian flag among the ocean's giants. As an elite athlete of Lido_wave, he inspires a new generation of extreme wave dreamers.us your story......

Vinicius Dos Santos is a Brazilian professional big wave surfer from Santa Catarina, globally recognized for pushing the limits of human-powered surfing on the world’s most extreme waves. Competing at the highest level of international big wave surfing, he has been multiple times nominated for the World Surf League Big Wave Awards, often referred to as the “Oscar of Big Wave Surfing.”

Vinicius began surfing at just three years old at Praia da Vila, in Imbituba, Brazil. His early life was shaped by a strong connection to the ocean, balancing his surfing career with an engineering degree and professional work as a lifeguard at Joaquina Beach—an experience that deeply influenced his ocean knowledge, safety awareness, and physical discipline.

Since 2018, Vinicius has been based in Portugal, where he established himself as one of the leading paddle-in big wave surfers at Nazaré. One of the defining moments of his career came when he successfully surfed a wave scientifically measured at nearly 30 meters in height. The wave was analyzed and validated by PhD oceanographer Douglas Nemes and is considered one of the largest ever ridden in Nazaré’s history.

Known for his commitment to paddle-in surfing without jet ski assistance, Vinicius is among the few athletes redefining the limits of big wave performance through pure strength, technique, and ocean reading. In 2021, his achievements earned him three nominations at the Red Bull Big Wave Awards, making him the only Brazilian surfer nominated in three different categories in a single year.

Internationally, Vinicius has trained and surfed in some of the world’s most demanding big wave locations, including Hawaii and Mavericks, California. In 2023, he finished as runner-up at the prestigious La Vaca Gigante competition in Spain and continues to compete in the Gigantes de Nazaré Challenge, broadcast nationally in Brazil.

His impact on big wave surfing has been officially recognized by the Municipality of Nazaré, where his surfboard is permanently exhibited at the Surf Museum inside Forte São Miguel Arcanjo—one of Portugal’s most visited landmarks, welcoming approximately 400,000 visitors per year.

Beyond competition, Vinicius is a respected public speaker and storyteller. He has participated in international film productions such as Groundswell: The Other Side of Fear and major television series including 100 Foot Wave (HBO). He regularly appears in leading global media outlets such as World Surf League, Surfline, Magic Seaweed, The Surfer’s Journal, Globo Esporte, and The Times UK.

Through motivational talks, educational events, and public appearances worldwide, Vinicius uses sport as a tool to inspire resilience, courage, and determination across all generations.

“I am at the right moment in my life to surf the biggest waves in the world.”
— Vinicius Dos Santos