As Laurie Towner’s apt to tell you, catching the wave of your life early in your career can be a double-edged sword. One drop at Shipsterns and a wipeout at Off the Wall put Laurie front and center in the maelstrom that is the surf media. In one year he went from an unknown Aussie bloke to Surfer Poll “Heavy Water” winner and Billabong XXL contender. This is all well and good, especially for somebody who’s hoping to get by for a while simply being a surfer, but as Laurie puts it, “I don’t want to be known as just a big-wave guy.” And the thing is, while he’s got the solid frame of an unridden-realm maestro, he lights it up whether it’s 2-foot beachbreaks or 10-foot Off the Wall. The regularfooter has all of the fins-free, above-the-lip maneuvers down cold, and thanks to his experience in waves of consequence, he has a smooth, flowing style that a lot of guys his age are still searching for. Be it blowing tail or negotiating a series of stair-steps, Laurie shows grace under fire all situations, and that’s what could keep the career going for years to come.