User:FoleyTobin/Sandbox

Martin Potter (born October 28, 1965, Blyth, Northumberland, UK), nicknamed 'Pottz' or 'Eggy Potter', is a British-born ex-professional surfer raised and educated in Durban, South Africa.

Pushing the limit of performance surfing, Potter was well known for his 'free-surfing' style and particularly his speed rather than his consistancy on the professional circuit. An early proponent of aerial surfing, Potter is considered by Kelly Slater to be an early influence on his surfing style.

Although considering himself an 'international' and his surfing roots being in South Africa, Potter is notable for being the only British surfing world champion, winning the title in 1989. He has resided in Durban, Brisbane and currently resides in Biarritz.

Early life
Martin Potter (born October 28, 1965), nicknamed "Pottz" and "Eggy Potter", is a British born surfing professional who was educated in Durban, South Africa. He began surfing off the beaches of hometown Durban at age 10. When 15 years old he began surfing big waves at “banzai pipeline” more than 20”waves with the assistance of jet-ski, (tow-in) not like the wodern times , but we can say Potter was one of pioneers on tow-in surfers. Also it invented maneuvers like  “rock’’roll ( same as the skateboard).He won the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour, and therefore the title of "World Surfing Champion," fourteen years later, in 1989. 'Pottz' redefined competitive surfing through performing risky moves such as aerials, which were previously only in the domain of free surfing.also He led the way for a new form of competitive 'risky surfing' which is now a standard on the ASP tour. In addition to South Africa, Potter once resided in Australia on Sydney's northern beaches, and now lives in southwestern France.

Trivia

 * In 2009 as part of a promotional campaign for a surfboard company Potter was presented with a board shaped by 9 times world champion Kelly Slater as a gift.