By Mick Cross
Two surfers, one title, 30 years apart.
A stocky goofy footer from Windang NSW, Michael Lowe, won the 1994 Australian Junior Surfing title.
Move forward 30 years to November 2024 and not much had changed, except a leaner and taller goofy footer from the opposite end of Perkins Beach, which joins Windang and Port Kembla, surfed for national glory and won.
His name, Samuel Lowe, Michael’s son.
From a young age Samuel surfed well beyond his years. Locations where locals gave you no peace; the reef left you reminders of who was in charge in the form of snapped boards, blood, and scars; and respect above all else was the currency to get you waves.
Hawaii has humbled many a young surfer over the years and it was no different for Samuel early 2024. A serious injury put him in hospital both in Hawaii and when he eventually got home, keeping him out of the water for two months as he recovered. Recover he did, there was a title to go after.
‘I didn’t even know it was 30 years earlier that dad had won it!” said Samuel. “I was reading down the list when I first arrived at the beach and saw his name in 1994 and thought ‘wow, no pressure’, I was already in my home town with everyone watching me’.”
Samuel, the world class junior surfer, and his mate Zac, on his own journey as a camera operator/producer of surfing and outdoor content, took off to Indonesia along with some mates this past winter.
They jumped in feet first, with no rules, no script and, in true surf film tradition, engaged the music of Hockey Dad, a local band from the South Coast. The result, the surf film Marked Absent.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for both Zac and I,” said Samuel. “Being able to this this with your mates as we strive for our own success is awesome.”
Samuel will head off to Peru in early December to make a charge at the Junior World Surfing Title – and yes, that’s right, it’s a title also won by his dad Michael in Bali, back in the mid 90s.
Featured image: Samuel Lowe settling into the green room on the South Coast of NSW. Photo: Eden Podongski
