What Has Taj Burrow Been Up To?

Taj’s post-tour existence is a lot like travelling circus. No, not the grim, malnourished animal-filled Barnum & Bailey’s things of modern times. More like the events romanticised in early 1900’s black-and-white footage. Bears on unicycles, men fighting off lions with chairs, a healthy lack of clowns. Big tops people would gather under to watch dazzling feats with wide eyes. 

Eyes akin to the ones that beam over Taj wherever he happens to be. Catching a glimpse of one of surfing’s favourite characters before he packs up his things, disappears for a bit, and sets the tent up in the next location. Here he is recently at an unnamed Australian right-hander. Photographer Eden Pogonoski, who joined Taj’s company of performers down in New South Wales, will set the scene.  

“Normally when a swell like this pops up on the forecast, I try to ignore it because 80 percent of the time they’re hoaxes, but this one truly delivered,” remembers Eden. “I headed out to this wave just south of Sydney at first light to see perfect 1.5 to 2.5m barrels. Some of the best and heaviest waves I’ve ever witnessed came through on Saturday.

“Throughout the day, the line up was filled with familiar faces from the likes of Ryan Hipwood, Craig Anderson and Taj Burrow, as well as a bunch of locals. This shot of Taj was from the afternoon session. We got amazing front lit lighting conditions for an afternoon on the east coast of Oz as the sun is setting behind the mountains. Taj towed into this one and I knew it was going to make an epic shot. With all the water moving out there, it’s hard to stay in the same spot, so I was lucky to be in a good position for this one.”