Tom Curren
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Tom Curren is an American surfer.


Professional career

By the time Curren joined the ASP World Tour in 1983, he was competing with professionals such as Rabbit Bartholomew,
Shaun Tomson Shaun Tomson (born 21 August 1955) is a South African professional surfer and former world champion, environmentalist, actor, author, and businessman. He has been listed among the top 10 surfers of the century, and was the 1977 World Surfing C ...
, and Cheyne Horan. He was
world champion A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
in 1985, 1986, and 1990, and won 33 championship events in his professional career, the latter being a total only bettered by
Kelly Slater Robert Kelly Slater (born February 11, 1972) is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time. Slater is also ...
. He achieved notoriety for his competitive drive and for his surfing style. He had made a decision to retire from competitive surfing in the mid-1990s. In 1990, at Margaret River, Curren rode a wave all the way from the take-off zone to the Rivermouth, roughly a 1200-foot ride. He then had to walk back to Mainbreak from the Rivermouth to re-enter the surf. Those who saw it say it has never been repeated, in or out of competition. Curren still surfs in contests on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS.) He is also often invited to surf in World Championship Tour (WCT) trials or contests as a wildcard. He has competed in the Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am Surf Contest for 3 years in a row, surfing on the
Switchfoot Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Foreman (bass guitar, backing vocals), Chad Butler (drums, percussion), and Jerome Fontamillas (guitar, keyboards, back ...
team. In his five-year rise to
World Surfing Champion The International Surfing Association (ISA) is the world governing authority for surfing, SUP racing, SUP surfing, bodyboarding and all other wave riding activities. The ISA is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. After the 202 ...
, Curren appeared under a contract with surfboard company Channel Islands. He co-produced and rode pro surfboard models such as the Black Beauty and the Red Beauty. Early in his professional career, he signed with OP swimwear then later changed sponsorships deals to Rip Curl Wetsuits and Clothing.


The Fish Revolution

After his hiatus, Curren temporarily re-appeared at an ASP Surfing Competition in France in 1993, armed with a 1970s 5'5" Twin Fin he'd reportedly bought second hand in a New Jersey Surf Shop (Surfers Supplies in Ocean City, NJ). He entered and proceeded to beat Matt Hoy, who was ranked eighth in the world at the time. Curren showed the world how to use the fish board and how to use it with a modern style of surfing. Curren has collaborated on retro fish and egg designs with surfcraft design engineer and fellow Santa Barbaran George Greenough.


Video game appearances

Curren is a playable character in the video game '' Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer''.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curren, Tom 1964 births American surfers World Surf League surfers American multi-instrumentalists Living people Sportspeople from Santa Barbara, California