Jeff aims for the big time in surfing

A TORQUAY surfer is among finalists for one of Australia’s most coveted surfing awards.
Jeff Rowley will fly to Sydney next week to find out whether he wins the main prize in the Surfing Life Big Wave Awards.
Mr Rowley is in line for the Biggest Wave title with some of Australia’s leading exponents of riding surf so large it requires tow-in assistance from jet skis.
The 31-year-old is also a finalist in a second category, Biggest Paddle-in Award, for surfers who catch their giant waves with the traditional method.
Mr Rowley caught his biggest ride last Autumn on a deep-water reef “somewhere close to home”.
He recalled catching the wave during a “rare Victorian day of sunshine and light winds”.
“Normally at home it’s howling winds, rain and freezing but this day was special,” he said.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be nominated for the awards, let alone actually be a finalist.
“Regardless of the outcome, I’m stoked to be a part of it and I definitely want to go bigger in 2011.”