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Williams, has a rich surfing history and was white hot in the nineties – literally. |
Pohnpei’s PPass serves up a bowl and half for the experienced Williams to snack on. Pic: Swilly
We’ve been on the verge of unleashing a ‘Where are they now?’ series here at Tracksmag.com for some time. But with a growing hit list of names we procrastinated, whom to feature first? After flicking through Tracks’ Galactik issue, that decision was made for us when we spotted Hawaiian Ross Williams in a Reef advertisement. An original member of filmmaker, Taylor Steele’s Momentum generation, the 5’11” natural footer, Williams, has a rich surfing history and was white-hot in the nineties – literally. His trademark new-romantic blonde hairdo was seen lighting up line-ups everywhere from 20-foot Waimea Bay to the Beach Breaks of Bali. Ross has been off the radar for many years and we wanted to find out why? How does a surfer, who starred in a swag of movies and regularly finished in the top 15 on the ASP World Tour, just disappear? And then, re-appear?
Tracksmag.com: Surfing wise, unlike a lot of the other boys from your Momentum generation, you pulled the pin early on your pro career?
Ross: My whole thing ended fairly abruptly, and sort of out of my control. Before I got married I broke my foot really bad, and it was in a cast for almost a year. And that was the year I fell of tour – so that set me off track as far as competing goes. And then by the time I was surfing again at 100 percent I had zero points, so I said, knowing I would have had a two or three year program to try re-qualify, ‘screw it’. Plus that was when I was getting close to thirty years of age and I’d just met my wife and got married. So that’s what sent me off that trajectory as far as competing was concerned. And then I had five or six years just free surfing and doing photo trips and the last three or four years, I’ve gone down even another notch and have been more of an ambassador for Reef. Mostly staying at home.
Five years free surfing seems like a good way to assimilate with dropping out of the competitive scene?
Yeah, it was good. I do miss the travelling, and I wish I did more than I do now, but it’s really hard with having kids. Hard logistically, and just hard being away from them too.
What about the tour do you miss? It’s hard when you didn’t get that last lap of honour and saying, “okay, I’m going to retire after this year?”
You know what’s good, when I do go on a trip – which is usually only once or twice a year – I feel like I’m fifteen years old again. I really appreciate it. I appreciate where I’m at and who I’m with. And in that sense you get all the appreciation back which is cool.
The hair’s a little shorter and the injury niggles very real, but the smile remains the same. Pic: Swilly
Aside from results, your surfing was [is] a mixture of power and new school flare. You had the power, but would also loosely blow the tail out with regularity. You and your Momentum buddies copped a bit of flack from the old guard at the time, but looking at where that surfing has led to, full air rotations etc, there must be some pride in your contribution?
Oh, yeah, when I see the kids who surf now days for sure. It’s weird actually, how that surfing evolved. When we were 18-19-20 years-old we didn’t put that into a realization, that you’re part of a generation – you’re just surfing. I just remember growing up watching, you know, hours and hours of videos of Tom Curren and all our favourite surfers. Obviously you get that big influence and the kids nowadays, its crazy how it keeps evolving and you think surfing’s kinda topped out but the way the kids are surfing now it just gets better and better. They’re surfing so good nowadays it’s inspirational.
In the latest Reef ad that appears Tracks, you appear with your old mate Shane [Dorian], and we can’t forget Suns Of Fun the classic movie you and he starred in together for Billabong, you guys must look back and laugh at those days when you were basically a double act?
Oh, yeah, yeah. You know I miss Shane’o. He lives on a different Island and he’s always travelling a lot. I only get to see him two or three times a year, so I really do miss him. And the other guys too – every time we get to hook up it’s like a reunion. Actually me and Kelly [Slater], and Shane did a trip to Costa Rica about a year ago and it was so much fun – felt like we were teenagers again.
Matching power with power, Ross back foot banks into a PPass chunk of water. Pic: Swilly
You have Taylor Knox and Rob Machado with you in that Reef ad too, so your Momentum generation brothers aren’t far away?
It’s crazy. I still kinda trip out on Taylor and Kelly and how they’re still doing the same thing I stopped doing ten years ago. Those guys are nuts!
Where do surf? Can you surf everyday? Do you have to go to the office or work?
My surf schedule is pretty cruisey actually and now that both my girls are in school, they’re in kindergarten and first grade, just recently my schedule has freed up. I’ve been getting in the water more than ever – it’s been awesome.
Nearly 20 years on Ross appears with his Momentum buds Rob Machado, Taylor Knox and Shane Dorian. Pic: Reef ad
Are you still on the North Shore?
Yeah, I live up on the hill at Pupukea. I bought a house here when I was 21 years old and I’ve been living here ever since.
So surfing set you up pretty well?
I can’t complain man it’s awesome. It created the lifestyle that I have now which is really simple and it allows me to spend a lot of time with them (my wife and my two kids). I basically feel like I’ve won the lottery. I have a really nice wife, she’s the coolest thing ever, and we have two beautiful girls, so I have to pinch myself cause it’s awesome.
That’s the Hawaiian way right? Hang with family, take it easy and surf as much as you can?
That’s the way, especially here in Hawaii, and you Australians do the same thing too. Appreciate the small things – that’s how we do it here. Now my seven year old is surfing, so the cycle is staring all over again. It’s amazing to watch, she’s got the bug – she totally loves it.
The North Shore is starting to get some swell, where are you looking forward to surfing this season?
I’ve been surfing everyday for the last couple of weeks. We’re already getting sone fun waves around the four five-foot mark. This time of the year we surf spots like Laniakea, Pupukea Beach Park by Pipeline, spots like that. As soon as we get the sand cleared by some big swell, then we’ll get spots like Off The Wall and Backdoor and stuff.
Sharing a boat with good friends is one thing, it’s barrels where Ross draws the line. Pic: Swilly
How do you rate your own surfing at the moment?
My surfing is pretty average at the moment to be honest, I still have it mentally, and if I put things together I can surf really good on a wave still. But I tore my MCL in February of last year and didn’t surf for four months. So the last two months I’ve been surfing a lot but a little rusty, so this kids got some work to do.
There’s a lot to be said for competition surfing, don’t you think? Look at Kelly and Taylor, would they be surfing as good now if they too quit ten years ago?
Definitely. For me, the one thing I miss most about competing, not so much the actual competition, but surfing everyday with guys that are at the highest level, that’s how you improve. It’s not so much the heat, that’s just automatic and everybody’s trying to do the same thing and get high scores… but all those surfs in between those heats – that’s how you improve!
What about 2011 who’s your tip for the ASP world title? Slater?
I think he will. He’s surfing better now than he ever has. That contest at Lowers; he looked the best to me. It’s just weird for me to say. I’d be totally honest with you if I didn’t think this; but he looks the best right now. He looks better than all those guys and I’m a groupie for surfing, I love watching the events online, I think it’s the best thing ever for our sport. To be able to follow surfing that closely; I totally watch it and love it – I’m a fan of the sport. Kelly, he looks like he could win a couple more.
It’s crazy isn’t it? I can’t believe he’s still dominating?
It’s getting to the point where he’s kind of being rude. Give some other guys a chance; I’m sure Parko [Joel Parkinson] or Taj [Burrow] want to win one. Those guys are unbelievable surfers, just get out of the way and let someone else have one, you’re kinda blowing it for the sport, Kelly. If I was Taj or Parko at this point, I would be totally over it. I’d look into breaking his ankles or something.
Thanks Ross, see ya in Hawaii.
