Sponsors: Billabong, Firewire Surfboards, Globe, Boost, Creatures of Leisure, VonZipper
Years Pro: 9 Stance: regular
Favorite Spot: Home sweet home and Mentawai’s (Indonesia)
Vehicle: Audi A4, Ford f150, Holden Commodore wagon, piece of shit Toyota Landcruiser
Pet: Golden Retriever named Reef that probably doesn’t recognize me anymore.

Favorite Food: Japanese and Mexican

Who or what inspires you? People who go big or try new things like Danny Way in new DC Video. I also love good movies like ‘Yeah Right'.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Surfing really good waves regularly, eating heaps of food and laughing a lot.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? 'Rip into it' ' puppet' 'sweaty!' 'crook' 'rank' 'slut' 'dooley'… I have endless amounts of trash talk.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Making a living from doing what I love! I would surf everyday no matter what, even if it wasn’t my job.

If you could choose what to come back as, what would it be? Some kind of maniac rockstar!
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? The Goldy (Queensland) is pretty damn good!
What do you most value in your friends? They rip into anything.
What motto do you live by? Rip into everything!

THE SKINNY KID

Taj began his surfing days in southwest Western Australia at the age of 7. What the Yallingup area lacked in population, it certainly made up for in a plethora of barnacle clustered ledges, deathly points and windswept beach breaks. With these kind of surroundings and raised as an only child by parents Nancy and Vance, Taj and surfing meshed together like a freshly poured concrete slab. After only two years on the craft, he took out the under-18's division of a local contest and didn’t look back, progressing to regular grommet and junior contests around the world in which he was rarely beaten. Further down the track he was named Young Australian Sportsperson of the Year, a coveted title usually reserved for our mainstream sporting prodigies.

HE DOESN’T LIKE TO LOSE…….EVER

While some surfers battle the hard ‘QS slog for years or even a lifetime, Taj qualified for the WCT ranks on debut and at 18 became the youngest to ever qualify for the 'CT and then shunned it. Turning down his first opportunity at a top 44 position was a rare moment in the history of world surfing, stating reasons as more time to "mature" as a surfer so he could be "a genuine world title contender". Taj knew he would be back, and the following year he was. On his first full time 'CT year, TB took out the 1998 WCT Rookie of the Year award. In 1999 he finished second behind Occy and used his runners-up glass trophy as a fruit bowl, second best simply wouldn't do. The kid from Yallingup was being touted as surfing’s future world champ and with an unparallel competitive streak from the ping pong table to the poker table, Teebs knew the stakes.


THE CREATIVE GENIUS

You could forgive your mum in thinking that Taj is some sort of Hollywood superstar he's been in that many movies. His first up flick 'Sabotaj' began a string of profile movies to hit our shelves, followed shortly after by ‘Montaj’ which won “Video of the Year” at the 2002 Surfer Magazine Readers Poll Awards. Earlier this year he released his third movie, 'Fair Bits' which once again is taking surf videos and surfing in general in fresh and unexplored directions from skits with Ben Stiller to Malaysian wave pool jet ski antics. Not content with film, he also co-wrote a book titled 'Taj Burrow’s Book of Hot Surfing.'

THE SUPERSTAR

Surfing alone isn't his only string in his bow. Taj embodies the modern day surfer in the 21st century. He's got a repertoire of moves that look like they've been taken back from the future; His freakish air talent constantly amazes the masses and inspires the young. He's' onto it; As well as his movies and book, Taj regularly contributes to magazine columns all over the world as well as having his own website. He mingles with the rich and famous; During the whole Paris Hilton phone scandal earlier this year it was uncovered that a Mr Taj Burrow's digits popped up in her phone book. Three houses on the now exclusive Yallingup hill, a penthouse on Queensland’s Gold Coast, more pimped rides than MTV and world wide fame are all simply the fruits of TB’s labour.

THE FUTURE

Taj so far hasn't managed to climb that final hurdle - a world title. Although one gets the sense that it's just around the corner. With solid performances each year on tour, futuristic surfing abilities and that lightening competitive anger it can’t be far off now. In 09 all bets will be off as Taj goes to claim his maiden world title.