Billabong’s only Tassie Devil: Mikey Brennan

Michael Harley Houston Brennan was born in Belfast Ireland in 1986, moving to Australia at the age of 1. His move prompted a solid relationship with the Apple Isle that would lead him on a path towards achieving his surfing dreams of being one of the worlds best big wave riders.

Mikey, as he is known, grew up around the southern port of Hobart, attending school and participating in most Australian sports before really taking surfing adventure’s to a new level. Mikey reminisces camping with mates on the west coast for weeks at a time over summer without a tent and scoring perfect empty waves.

One of his most inspiring memories was when Pioneer of the ‘Stern’ Andy Campbell, now resident of Indonesia, spoke about surfing at Mikey’s high school- which Andy had once attended years before him. Andy’s passion was something Mikey immediately related to which inspired him, at the young age of 16, to follow Andy to the Bluff. Andy soon enough threw Mike into a traditional surfing pastime of grommet abuse and learning the ropes of surfing one of the worlds heaviest waves.


Mikey’s achievements have been littered with injuries which have yet restricted his will and drive to achieve his goals. In 2008 Mikey was nominated for both ‘ride of the year’ and ‘monster barrel’ and attended the Billabong XXL awards where he met his hero Shane Dorian winner of the award and long time big wave rider. Mikey has had numerous worldwide editorial exposure through magazine covers nationally and overseas building a reputable name for himself and gathering a heap of great friends along the way. Mikey has been responsible for leading the charge at Shipstern Bluff and is not afraid of a wipeout after he broke his back in seriously deadly waves off the coast of Tasmania. Mikey hopes to achieve his goals in the near future including a XXL award and monster paddle and is working seriously hard to be as prepared as possible. In the next couple of years it will be likley you will be seeing more from Mikey as he plans to achieve his goals in and out of the water having fun all along the way.