Introducing Thomas Marr, our newest WAW recruit, former world bodysurfing champion and recent winner of Whomp Off Australia and Slydefest handplane bodysurfing event on the Gold Coast.
Congrats on the recent event win Tom! First time bodysurfing with the WAW BadFish in competition. How did it hold up?
I was very surprised by how well the BadFish went given the size of the surf at Slydefest. It didn’t miss a beat and put me in the right spot for some pretty solid sections. Check out this sequence (from L:R):
We have been hearing your name at the top of the list in so many bodysurfing events over the years, so time to brag. how many events have you actually won or finished on the podium in, so far in your bodysurfing career? A list is fine. If you need more paper just ask.
I’ve been really lucky to take part in some awesome contests both domestically and internationally. Competitive bodysurfing has enabled me to meet so many brilliant people and visit some really awesome places.
I generally don’t like talking about contest results, but I’ve had a long hard think and I believe that this is the list as it currently stands.
o 2015 Noosa Festival of Surfing Deus Whomp Comp – 1st
o 2015 Manhattan Beach International Bodysurfing Championships – 2nd
o 2015 Chubascos Huntington Beach Bodysurfing Contest
§ Handplane – 1st
§ Bodysurf – 1st
§ Contest Grand Champion
o 2015 Coronado URT Whomp Open Men’s – 2nd
o 2015 39th Annual World Bodysurfing Championships
§ Men’s 18-24 – 1st
o 2016 Noosa Festival of Surfing Garage Handplanes Body Bash – 1st
o 2016 Wommin Whomp Comp – 2nd
o 2016 Manhattan Beach International Bodysurfing Championship – 1st
o 2016 Chubascos Huntington Beach Bodysurfing Contest
§ Handplane – 2nd
§ Bodysurf – 1st
§ Tandem – 1st
o 2016 40th Annual World Bodysurfing Championships
§ Men’s 18-24 – 3rd
o 2017 Noosa Festival of Surfing Garage Handplane Body Bash – 1st
o 2019 Wommin Whomp Comp – 1st
o 2019 Whomp Off Australia – 1st
o 2020 Slyde Fest – 1st
Thats a seriously impressive list mate, I’m sure it would be difficult but If you were to pick your proudest competitive bodysurfing moment what would it be?
Far out, that’s a tough one. I think I have two:
Firstly, winning the 2019 Wommin Whomp was pretty special. It was my fourth year in the event, and I hadn’t managed to crack 1st place (thanks Jack Mac), so I was pretty stoked to finally take that one out. Also, all the crew that take part in the Wommin event are just legendary, I have some really good mates amongst them and it just made it all the more special to have them on the beach.
Secondly, competing and winning the 2019 Whomp off Australia was super special. I had the pleasure of teaming up with the DaFin Hawaii Crew, which included some absolute legends such as Keallii Punley, Kanealii Wilcox and not to mention Mr. Mark Cunningham himself. Getting to compete and hang out with Mark is pretty special. He’s someone who I have a lot of respect for both in the way he rides waves and for the way he conducts himself outside of the water. I first met mark in 2015 over in California and since then we have periodically bumped into each other over the years at various bodysurfing events. He’s just a cool dude and someone who I think has got it all figured out.
We’ve also noticed that where you go, the family follows, notably your Dad Jae Marr. How long have you and your Dad been bodysurfing together?
You’re absolutely right, I’m really lucky to have a super supportive family who all enjoy days on the beach and bodysurfing. Generally, my brother Jacob, my dad Jae and myself will take part in contests all together.
Dad and I have been bodysurfing for as long as I can remember, it was something I grew up doing and it has since become a really big part of my life and also a big part of my relationship with my Dad.
Did your Dad teach you how to bodysurf?
Yeah, Dad taught me to bodysurf. My first memories of body surfing are hanging on to my dad’s back and face racing down waves at our local haunt, Maroochydore Beach. Like many Aussie kids I grew up in a Surf Life Saving Club and this is where I was first properly introduced to bodysurfing. Funnily enough my Dad was actually our nipper age-manager, so he had a fairly pivotal role in teaching myself and all the other kids how to bodysurf. At first it was just a necessity for surf club lifestyle but as I grew older, I found stealing handplanes from the surf club gear shed and taking them for a burn was much more fun than nipper swim training.
You regularly compete alongside you Dad in competition, so who’s the best bodysurfer?
Dad and I have been lucky enough to do a bunch of contests together, we actually went to the US together in 2016 and did a whole host of contests while over there. On paper I think I have him covered but I’m sure he has a different opinion on this. Whenever he heads to coast for a bodysurf without me, he reliably returns and informs me about the 6 flips he did and also the odd belly-spinner.
I will however give him props for a contest result in 2016. We were over in California and we were competing in the World Bodysurfing Championship at Oceanside Beach. I was in the 18-24yrs age division and he was in the old bloke’s division, in which he was joined by Mike Stewart. I came 3rd in my division that year and Dad actually managed to come a close 2nd to Mike, so I guess on a technicality Dad had me beat in 2016.
Do you have any tips for the Dads out their wanting to teach their kids to bodysurf or kids trying to get their old man back in the water?
For Dad’s wanting to get their kids in the water, just make it fun. Speaking from experience, it is a really awesome past time to share with your dad and something I feel very lucky to have in my life. For kids trying to get their Dad back in the water, I would highly recommend a little bit of well-placed banter to kick start the old engine. I also find a new set of fins or a new handplane is generally a good incentive to get the old boy back in the water.
Finally, if you were going to buy your Dad a WAW Handplane, which one would you choose and why?
100% the Bad Fish, I just can’t go past that beautiful combination of stoke and sustainability.
Thanks so much Tom, we are stoked to have you onboard team WAW and we look forward to your future of success.
To check out what Toms up to, whether its road triping, longboarding or bodysurfing give him a follow over on Instagram @Thomas.a.marr
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