Stab Magazine | Mark Mathews Breaks Leg While Double-Towing

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

866 Views

Mark Mathews Breaks Leg While Double-Towing

The full story, here:

news // Oct 26, 2016
Words by Story
Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Mark got thrown into the deep end at 6:30am,” says cinematographer and filmmaker Tyge Landa, who was present yesterday morning when Stab’s good pal Mark Mathews snapped his leg while double-towing the formidable swell that was jabbing Australia’s eastern ribcage. “We went to South Oz last week and got skunked. So we headed out early this morning. His first one was ok and his second was a little chunky. It was solid six to eight foot, he got caught, dove and and got sucked over. It was a really sketchy wave and it was low tide as well. It looked like he broke his right leg. He must have landed feet-first on the rock ledge. I was driving the ski and Leroy waved me over… Mark was in a lot of pain. And he was upset – he only just got back in the water after the shoulder injury; he was like, ‘I can’t believe it… not again.’”

Tyge continues: “We put him on the back of the three-seater, we made an SOS call out the back and the ambulance told us not to give him any food or water. Mark was just laying on the beach in a shitload of pain. His leg looked dislocated. The ambulance arrived and they sedated him. They were then able to straighten his leg back up. Leroy has been doing this for a while and as soon as he realised how injured Mark was, it was a bit surreal. They did a good job though, and got him out of there in 20 minutes. It was pretty efficient.”

In case you’re unaware, Leroy partakes in the most daring style of surf photography imaginable – he and a surf buddy both tow into the same wave, Leroy at the back wearing pads and helmet, attempting to capture an in-the-tube moment from the foamball vantage point. Most of the time, he doesn’t escape the vortex. In this instance, the brave, charismatic gent that is Mr Mathews was the subject. “We’ve been working on a project with Leroy called Chasing The Shot,” continues Tyge. “It’s basically coming up with an idea and chasing the shot wherever you go. Mark really wanted to get the shot with Leroy riding behind him. I’m sure Mark will want to be chasing the shot again, and I’d be highly surprised if they don’t link back up. Mark really wants it up on his wall.” There might just be a little recovery before that. Here’s hoping it’s particularly speedy for our old friend.

This also isn’t the first time Mark’s come upon misfortune while trying to double-tow, as you’ll watch below, shot when Stab took Taj Burrow and Mark to WA’s The Right in search of the best surf photo ever. Get well soon, Chalk.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Full Frame: Scandinavia Is Surfing’s Next Frontier

A 30-hour drive, bathymetric maps, and 10 years of searching yield surfing's newest discovery.

Mar 29, 2024

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024
Advertisement