From Near Death To Wave of a Lifetime: Surfers Are in Awe of Tom Lowe’s Ridiculous Irish Slab
Seven months ago, Tom Lowe was a broken man. He was laid up in a Tahitian hospital after miraculously surviving another near-fatal wipeout at Teahupo’o, his second escape from the slab in as many years.
Months removed from the near-death experience, with serious physical and mental rehab in the books, the Cornishman is back in the water, with more perspective and gratitude for his life than ever before. So when one of the best Mullaghmore swells in years started barreling into the coast, he made sure to take in the moment. With dozens of skis going to and fro across the lineup, Tom put his head down on his gun and packed one of the biggest waves of the day. Here’s the full video, and Tom’s full account of the lead-up and the moment of truth is written. It is well worth a read.
“I’m finally home with my family after the gnarliest run of waves I’ve ever had. I got two rides of my life in the same week. After all I’ve been through, I’ve found it hard to process it without breaking down in tears most days. Not sad tears, but just pure gratitude. I was literally dead 6 months ago, so extremely nervous heading over to chase my first giant swell. When I reached the Motherland, I felt a weight lift off my chest and knew I was where I was meant to be.
From that first big day, everything just felt so freeing and I managed to catch special rides each session, and the swells kept coming, with each one bigger than the next.
“Then the megabeast “tow” swell lined up and it was time to see if I could take it to another level…Jumping off the rocks was easy enough as myself and Robbie paddled out.
I watched a few from the channel and made my way to the take off spot. Robbie followed me out and we both got a one under our belts pretty fast. Then Ned joined the madness.
The sets were giant and with howling offshores and more skis than I’ve ever seen towing anything that moved, it was about as challenging as it gets to line anything up.
“After accepting that it wouldn’t happen given all the ski carnage, I found myself paddling with everything I had into a beast. A tow guy was behind again and in my peripheral it was pretty off putting. But I was committed and no turning back. I found my line in and it felt like forever to get down as I hit those big ribs in the face. But as soon as I recovered, it was perfect as I set my stance and entered another dimension. Coming out I’ve never felt so happy after a wave. I just floated in the water looking up at the sky laughing. A handful of days later and I’m only just coming down from that high now.
"I want to thank my wife for always holding it down whilst I chase my dream and for being there for me through those tough times after my accident. Shout out to the crew that I got to share these mind blowing days with that will be with us forever.”
The comments on Tom's post lit up like a Christmas tree, praising his sheer hutzpa for pulling into a wave like that with his own two hands while skis buzzed around him. Some of the best surfers in the world had to tip the cap. "Wow insane tom!!!” Nathan Florence wrote. “Paddling in those conditions with tow guys breathing down your back while u try to read and commit to a wave this size on a paddle in is so crazy and tough, ride of a lifetime man congrats!!!”
“That was seriously epic Tommy!!” Shane Dorian said. “Wave of a lifetime brother.”
“That was psychotic Tom well done man,” agreed Noa Deane.
“You are amazing, Lowey,” Conor Maguire posted. “I can’t imagine turning to paddle for that thing. You’ve raised the bar yet again. So happy for you!
Another crazy layer to the story? This was just one of two waves of a lifetime Tom wraggled on this day. “Can’t wait to share my other ride of my life soon,” he teased.