The World's Greatest Professional Surfer of All-Time

Had a pretty classic Monday: South wind arrived in the lineup at the same I did (after early morning glass). I fielded a variety of emails ranging from late bills, offers I swear I unsubscribed from and the IRS needs something or other from me. Oh, and the WSL is launching something called “The Challenger Series” which sounds complicated and undeserving of the celebration they’re throwing it. Plus, the next World Tour stop is in a fucking pool. But, all is not lost. I did end up having a fun surf and then I just saw this post from The Momentum Files YouTube — (still) one of the surf sites that keeps delivering salvation from the doldrums of the modern condition — featuring Taj’s surfing from Trilogy, Billabong’s super movie starring Taj, Parko and Andy.

I have long-hailed Taj as our greatest professional surfer specimen. During his career he managed to be both a constant threat on the World Tour — often mixing it up with Kelly and Andy (still think Kelly got juiced in the heat at Lowers Taj lost that woulda given him the title in 2008) while also serving up the best, most jazzing surf vids parts ever. That coupled with his positive demeanor and grom-like enthusiasm — Taj famously would bring Balderdash and other board games on surf trips and make groms play and get off their phones — make him one of the greatest ambassadors we’ll ever have.

He is from a very by-gone era when dudes loved to surf and entertain as much as they loved to compete. Nowadays you’d be hard pressed to find a competitive pro surfer willing to sandwich some surf trips in between events (aside from Italo, I’m pretty sure he’s the new Taj on tour). Everyone is too busy stretching at home and logging wave pool sessions to go on a trip with their friends to bag clips. But not Taj. And I will forever love him for that.

I figure this 10-minute video part is enough to salvage any rough day and is just icing if you’re already out there killing it today. Give it a watch and try to adopt some of that Taj Burrow enthusiasm. It’s contagious. And may he long reign as The World’s Greatest Professional Surf of All-Time.—Travis Ferré