As 100 foot Wave season three kicks off we catch up with Andrew Cotton about his relentless pursuit of the ocean’s giants.
Cotty, how has your winter been?
Yeah, it’s been good. This winter, I’ve been focusing less on just being at Nazaré, and more on chasing the best waves when they’re really worth it. I know there are better waves out there, and I’ve been trying to make smarter decisions about where and when to go. But overall, it’s been another season of learning and adapting, which is what big-wave surfing is all about.
How has Nazaré changed since you first went there?
Yeah, it’s a completely different place now. When I first came to Nazaré, it felt like a big-wave Disneyland – this insane, larger-than-life wave that didn’t quite fit the traditional mould. At the time, a lot of the surfing world didn’t take it seriously. In fact, it was almost mocked, especially by some of the more established big-wave communities. But over the years, it’s gone through some major changes.
Nazaré has created opportunities for so many people to live their dream, to actually make a career out of big wave surfing, and to push tow surfing to a level I never could have imagined when I first started. Without a doubt, it’s still one of the most mind-blowing spectacles in surfing, especially when it’s massive. No matter how much it changes, when you see those waves breaking from the cliffs, it’s still something special.
The new season of 100 Foot Wave kicks off this month. Some great waves in there.
Yeah, I’ve seen some rough cuts of the new season, and it looks really cool. Cortes was crazy. I was actually in Ireland at the time, chasing some waves around Bundoran Bay, when I got a call from Garrett. He was like: “Can you be in San Diego within 48 hours?” And for me, it was a no brainer. I jumped in the car, drove straight to Dublin, flew to Portugal, swapped out some boards, and then got straight on a flight to San Diego.
The place is just something else – the cleanest ocean I’ve ever surfed, so much wildlife, seals everywhere, even a couple of massive sharks cruising through the line up. You’re in the middle of nowhere, no land in sight, just completely exposed.
I remember seeing footage of Cortes in the early 2000s and thinking it was impossible, and there was no way I would ever surf it. So to actually be there was just surreal. It’s a place I never thought I’d have the opportunity to surf, and I feel lucky to have experienced it. But I know that wave is still out there, waiting.
And you’ve even got your own shoe? Bit like Kendrick!
Haha, yeah, who would’ve thought I’d have my own boot? It’s pretty funny when you think about it. I’ve been really fortunate to work with XTRATUF for the past three or four years now. It all started with a small project – this campaign I did called the ‘Three Lakes Challenge’, which was about off-season training. I went swimming in the three highest lakes in the UK and made a YouTube video about it. XTRATUF supported that, and from there, we built a really strong relationship. They’ve been great supporters and a solid sponsor ever since.
What I love about this collab is that it’s not just about designing a boot – it’s about asking deeper questions. The whole thing is inspired by thought-provoking ideas, like ‘What makes you feel alive?’ and ‘Is this it?’ These are the questions that push you to go further, to take risks, and to keep searching for what really matters. It was amazing that XTRATUF was open to bringing that kind of storytelling into the design.
One of the most exciting parts for me was also working on the packaging. I remember as a kid, loving shoeboxes – how they came with stickers, little cards, all those details that made them feel special. So we went all in on that. The box is completely different from anything they’ve done before – thought-provoking, unique, and something that really adds to the experience.
Honestly, I’m just so stoked on the whole process. XTRATUF has been an amazing partner – not just in supporting me but in backing big wave surfing as a whole. To have a brand of their size and reputation supporting surfing in this way is huge, and I can’t thank them enough.
What’s next? Still some crazy waves out there to be discovered…
Yeah, what’s next? I’m excited. I’m excited for the future, for big wave surfing, and for everything it holds. One of the things I’m really looking forward to is working with the next generation of British talent – building a solid team that’s not just riding some of the biggest waves on the planet, but also pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
For me, big wave surfing has never been about winning – it’s about going first and exploring. That’s what has always driven me, from those early days on the west coast of Ireland, figuring out Mullaghmore, to those first few seasons at Nazaré, when no one really knew what was possible. And that’s what still excites me – what’s around the next corner? What’s the next big discovery? The beauty of big wave surfing is that you never know when it’s going to happen. It’s not about this year or next year – it’s about patience. It’s about being in the right place at the right time, with the right people, and then when it all comes together… anything is possible.
That’s what keeps me motivated every day. That’s what makes me get up, train, stay fit, stay sharp. Because the next big wave, the next big moment – it’s always out there, just waiting.
Pick up Carve issue 227 for the full interview!
