Bede Durbidge

Background

Bede Durbidge, nicknamed Durbo, Bej and The White Fijian, was born in Brisbane, Queensland and grew up in Point Lookout, on North Stradbroke Island. He began his career in the Australasian Junior Series, and after four years in the World Qualifying Series joined the World Championship Tour in 2005. His most notable victory came at the Boost Mobile Pro in Trestles, San Clemente, California, where he needed only five waves to defeat seven-time champion Kelly Slater.

He later came in second in the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast of 2007. His best season was 2008, where he finished the ASP world tour as the runner-up overall. Durbidge retired from the World Surf League in 2017 after 13 seasons, including three career victories and three years where he was ranked in the Top 5 (2007-2009). He plans to be the lead coach for Australia's elite surf team program in preparation for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Outside the ASP World Tour, he won the 2007 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the 2004 Nokia Lacanau Pacific Motion Pro in Lacanau, France, and the 2003 Rip Curl Newquay Board Masters in Newquay, England. His wife, Tarryn, became a social media sensation from the gourmet lunches she made for their daughter Willow. Durbidge is co-owner of Balter Brewing Company with Joel Parkinson, Josh Kerr and Mick Fanning.