Tom Butler

I have grown up in Newquay all my life, thrown in the sea at the age of five, I started out on a bodyboard as most do. I soon realised lying down and holding on was not for me!! I taught my self how to surf on my dad's mal at the age of nine or ten. Got my own board a few months after, a 6'4 yellow beast nicknamed The Pig for obvious reasons. I started competing in the UK comps shortly after this and had won my first English national grommet title by age eleven.

I have always been really competitive and determined, before I started surfing in competitions I took part in surf life saving and played football, both at a high national level. I love to out do my friends and brothers, and  am always going toe to toe with them all, trying to push each other in to the water.

My main aims and goals I am setting myself for 2010: Firstly to improve my UK Pro Surf Tour ranking, finishing 2nd last year I only have one way to go; being crowned the champ at the end of this season. The standard in the uk at the moment is going through the roof with at least 10 surfers from our shores really making an impact on the rest of the surfing world. I have the ability and hunger to make a Uk number 1 finish this year. To give myself the best chance of achieving this, I will keep super fit with lot's of cross training and will constantly be working on my technique. Most importantly, having a clear mind and positive professional attitude.

Second, we have some of the best big wave spot's in the world here in the Great British Isles, I get most excited in the sea when conditions are big and challenging. I'm going to be pushing myself  in the bigger stuff a lot this year and can't wait for the first big swell's to start hitting our coast's. I'll  be setting off on a fair few surf trip's over the course of 2010 taking a jet ski, kindly sponsored by Cornwall Entertainment, with the intention of finding the biggest barrels out there to ride! 

Current UK Professional Rour Ranking: 2nd 09

• DoB: 18th April 1989
• Stance: Goofy
• Sponsors: Quiver Surfboards, Seabase, Etnies footwear, Creatures of leisure.
• Favourite Wave: Lakey Peak, Pipeline.
• Favourite UK Wave: To many special spot's to pick just one, North Fistral's up there!!! 
• Favourite Surfer: Bobby Martinez, Joel Parkinson (+ anyone who charges hard).
• Favourite Surf Destination: Indonesia, Ireland, Hawaii, Australia.
• Favourite Surfboard's Quiver 5'10 poppa and 6'0 WOC(weapon of choice). All shaped by Luke Hart.
• Favourite Surf Movie: Second to None, Endless Summer 2, used to act being pat and wingnut!!! 
• Favourite Beer: Tiger, Stella, depends what mood im in!