Born on the NSW Central Coast in 1966, Clarke-Jones learnt to surf at the age of ten and soon discovered he had a passion for riding waves which terrified surfers twice his size.
He developed his big wave chops at Terrigal Haven but soon outgrew its potential. “I was never scared in the ocean as a kid. I always wanted it to get bigger,” he says. Clarke-Jones had enough skill in small waves to compete on the ASP World Tour for 12 years and finished as high as 24th in the world. But it was obvious his real passion was for riding big waves. At the age of 19 he made a lasting impact in the Billabong Pro which was held in 20 foot waves at Waimea Bay in Hawaii. The surf was so big several competitors refused to paddle out for their heats. Clarke-Jones didn’t hesitate and impressed many with his fearless rookie performance.
Genetically blessed
Waimea Bay would later be the site of his biggest surfing victory. In 2001 Clarke-Jones won the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave invitational event, the first non-Hawaiian to do so. “Winning the Eddie is the highlight of my competitive career. It’s much more than a competition – there’s a lot of prestige and respect associated with it. It changed my life really,” he says. In 2003 a documentary of Ross Clarke-Jones’ remarkable life, The Sixth Element, was released to popular acclaim. The film is narrated by Hollywood legend Dennis Hopper and includes the startling detail that Clarke-Jones’ great-great grandfather (Sir William Howell) was an explorer who married a princess from a Borneo head-hunting tribe. Clarke-Jones says that this colourful family background may partly explain his own adventurous nomadic existence. “I can’t stay in one place for long, I get itchy feet.”
Risky business
Unfortunately, an exciting life chasing big waves around the world doesn’t come without a price. Clarke-Jones’ injury list is almost as notorious as his big wave achievements. It includes ten fin chops, one broken nose, a fractured spine, separated and fractured ribs; a snapped bicep, pulled trapezium, busted shoulder and several near-drownings. Such injuries are unlikely to slow him down for long though. “People ask me if I’m getting sick of riding big waves but I still get a buzz out of it. I still have the need to do it.”
The search for the 100 foot wave
His surfing goals include discovering more big wave spots, winning another Eddie at Waimea Bay, riding a 101 foot wave and making more exciting and interesting film and TV segments about big wave surfing. “I’ve been on stand-by for a 100 foot wave for twenty years. I’m ready for anything.”