“It was definitely a case of, I’m going to run off into the fields and skip school and go surfing he said. Because, you know, fuck you,” said British charger Tom Lowe in his new movie ‘Let Me Live’, presented by Yeti. It’s an attitude Tom has carried throughout his big wave surfing career. He’s never been bothered about the spotlight, surfing has always been his form of escapism. He’ll happily surf some of the biggest and gnarliest setups in the world and he doesn’t care if anyone sees.
Born and raised in a caravan by his parents in St Ives, Cornwall, Lowey didn’t have a clear or traditional path to big wave surfing. However, its those factors which have made him commitment personified.
“You’ve got to be pretty resilient,” Lowe said as he stood in front of a wave he grew up surfing. “You’ve got to be keen as fuck and resilient, because all them times you’re down here and it’s sleeting; freezing, shittiest onshore winds ever, and you’re out there, numb. For some reason, you know you’ve got to put that energy in because something’s going to come of it. But it’s hard to keep that belief, for sure.”
Directed by Keith Malloy, Let Me Live takes a deep dive into the life of Lowey, told through those closest to him, who helped make him who he is today.
“When the other surfers are numb and heading to the pub, Tom Lowe is still out charging in the cold, Cornwall waters,” the description reads. “A passion rather than a profession, he never cared if anyone saw him surf. But a friendship with photographer Mickey Smith changed that, opening a path for Tom to earn a living doing what makes him feel most alive.”
Click the link above to watch.
