Tom Innes

Full name

Tom Innes

AKA

T.I. / Innes

DOB

2nd July

Hometown

Margaret River

Joined the West team

February 2007

What does it mean to you to be part of the West Surfing team?

I enjoy being part of a West Australian company. A lot of my friends work for West so it's pretty cool to represent my friends, family and the designs and concepts that they develop.

Entourage

I would have a massive entourage. My brother Bobcat, Shaun Pedersen, Andrew Sheridan, Mikala Jones, Dino Adrian, John Davies, Joel Traianos, Simon Zuvich...

Surfing forte

Ah I'm a competitive free surfer.

What motivates you to choose competitive surfing over free surfing?

I want to challenge myself. I'm a competitive person so I like being the best at whatever I do. At the same time I also enjoy surfing for myself, being in the ocean with no limits to time or place. I try to be the best in the water all the time.

Greatest surfing achievement

On paper it would be coming 4th in the Margaret River Classic in 2006. But personally it would be paddling into the 15ft+ wave at Margaret's in May 2007.

Tom not only received a round of applause from spectators as he walked up to the car park after this wave, he was also awarded the "Mike McAuliffe Award for Outstanding Performance in Surfing" from Surfing WA

Why did you choose to paddle into that wave?

Because I had just broken up with my girlfriend and I wanted to scare myself.

Furthest travelled for one swell

Ah 36 hours to Pompeii. I've been there a couple of times, it's sick but it's inconsistent.

Longest surf session ever

8 hours.

Best surf session ever

4 - 6 foot Boodji

Worst surf trip/wipeout

Worst wipe-out at North Point and worst trip would be Gnaraloo in the rain, in a tent in 2005.

What do you never leave home without?

Sometimes I forget my wetsuit so I can't say that. Ah credit card… Nah my teeth. Never leave home without them.

Ultimate night out

Oh a sunset BBQ, beers at the pub, a little bit of disco tech and going home with a hottie.

Plans for summer 07/08

I'll just be cruising, taking road trips down south and working at Gravy Creative (A graphic design firm and art gallery in Perth)

If you weren't a surfer

I would be a giraffe.

The hard road

Tom broke his pelvis in mid 2006 while on a photo shoot for local photographer Russel Ord. After a few months lying on his tummy and not doing much aside from physio work, Tom returned to surfing by competing in a 4 star WQS event in Hawaii later that year.