Australian · Perth, Australia · Born 13 June 1978Australian professional surfer known for his progressive surfing style and consistent World Championship Tour performances throughout the 2000s.
Born in Busselton, Western Australia, on June 13, 1978, Taj Burrow emerged from the powerful surf breaks of his home state to become one of professional surfing's most naturally gifted athletes. Growing up in a region renowned for producing world-class surfers, he developed his distinctive style on the demanding waves of Margaret River and surrounding breaks, which would later become the foundation of his fluid, effortless approach to competitive surfing. Burrow's professional career began in the late 1990s, and he quickly established himself as a formidable competitor on the World Championship Tour (WCT). His breakthrough came in the early 2000s when he consistently challenged for world titles, finishing as runner-up twice during his career's peak years. Known for his exceptional rail work and smooth transitions, Burrow combined power surfing with technical precision in a way that distinguished him from his contemporaries. His performances in heavy water conditions, particularly at his home breaks in Western Australia, became legendary among surfing enthusiasts. Throughout his two-decade career, Burrow secured multiple WCT event victories and maintained consistent world championship contention for over a decade. His ability to adapt his surfing to different wave conditions around the globe made him one of the tour's most versatile competitors. Despite never capturing the elusive world title, his runner-up finishes represented some of the closest championship battles in professional surfing history. Burrow's legacy extends beyond competitive results to his influence on surfing's aesthetic evolution. His flowing style and commitment to progressive surfing helped define an era of the sport, inspiring a generation of surfers to prioritize both performance and grace. His contribution to surfing culture, particularly through his connection to the Western Australian surf scene, cemented his status as one of the sport's most respected figures and ensured his place among surfing's all-time greats.
Finishing runner-up in the 2007 World Surf League Championship
How They Played
Progressive, aerial-focused surfing with exceptional technical ability
Lasting Impact
One of Australia's most technically gifted surfers who helped define progressive surfing in the 2000s
Career Honours
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Quiksilver Pro France 2000
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2000
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Quiksilver Pro France 2001
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay 2001
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Quiksilver Pro France 2005
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Billabong Pro Teahupoo 2008
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Quiksilver Pro France 2008
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay 2009
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Billabong Pro Teahupoo 2013
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner - Quiksilver Pro France 2013
- WSL Championship Tour Runner-Up 1999
- Surfer Poll Award Winner multiple times
- inducted into the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame 2017
Australian Athletes