Thomas Victor Carroll is a surfing godhead from Newport Beach, Australia, known for his radicality, focus, and power. He competed on the world tour from 1979 to 1993, winning the world title in 1983 and 1984, and taking home a total of 26 event victories, including the Pipeline Masters in 1987, 1990, and 1991. In 1988, he made history by signing surfing’s first million-dollar contract. He won the 1984 Surfer Poll and was inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 1990. In the aughts, he teamed up with Ross Clarke-Jones to chase big waves around Australia. In his 2013 autobiography, TC: Tom Carroll, written with his brother, surf journalist Nick Carroll, Tom was very forthcoming about his drug use. Now 62, he’s been sober for many years. A calmer, quieter presence, Carroll meditates daily, but still surfs voraciously. In this episode, Carroll talks with Jamie Brisick about the North Shore, his first Pipe Masters win, competing in the face of tragedy, helmets, battling addiction, the complexities of a hunger for attention, and his favorite surfers to watch.
Produced by Jonathan Shifflett.
Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin).
Feature image by Todd Glaser.
