Name: Jamie Sterling
Discipline: Professional Surfer
D.O.B.: 3/18/81
Current Residence: Haleiwa, HI

Although Jamie Sterling has no problem tackling the waves in any conditions, he's one of the elite few to have developed a reputation for being a big-wave surfer, circling the globe to track down the biggest swells.

He’s tackled the Cortez Bank, Jaws, Mavericks, Dungeons, Teahupoo, Todos Santos, the Chilean monsters El Buey and El Bajo, and towed in on every outer reef on the North Shore.  Instead of just building a relationship with one wave, he’s traveled around the world, constantly trying to predict where the next big wave will happen, a mission he’s dubbed “The Endless Winter.”

STARTING SMALL
Sterling grew up on the North Shore, surrounded by the energy of big wave riding his whole life.  His first magazine picture was from a contest he competed in at just 5 years old. There was arguably no better wing to be taken under than that of the late Ronnie Burns, who coached and inspired Sterling. He also looked up to legends like Derek Ho and Pancho Sullivan.

When Sterling was 17, he was growing more and more comfortable in Oahu’s most intense arenas. A December swell at Waimea Bay would be a defining moment in his career. Sterling took a thrashing, nearly a two-wave hold down, the worst in his life to that point. But, instead of scaring him, Sterling was encouraged. “That wave let me know what I could handle.”

STORM CHASER
Sterling didn’t set out to define himself as a big wave hellion, but the international surf media was enamored by his focus. He was a major player in Red Bull’s Big Wave Africa event, receiving an invite in 2001 at the age of 19. Tow or paddle, wherever big waves are breaking around the world, Jamie is there.

In fact, if he's not in the water, he's on the Internet, checking out the latest conditions, ready to bolt out the door when the time is right. "The whole week prior to leaving is crazy with anxiety, watching the swell develop," he says. "Two days before the swell hits you finally pull the trigger and buy your ticket, and the next day you get on the plane. Every trip is filled with adrenaline. We're about 80% guaranteed we're going to get waves, because we've been tracking it. We know exactly how big it's going to be, and what day and time of day it'll be the biggest."

Sterling's big-wave prowess has earned him invites to prestigious tow-in contests like Mavericks and the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau. Unfortunately, wave conditions don't always measure up, and the events didn't even go down in '07. However, Sterling came away from the '08 Mavericks contest with an impressive 3rd place finish, only to hop a red-eye to Waimea Bay in case the surf conditions green-lighted The Eddie the next morning. The contest remained on hold.

SHAPING THE FUTURE
Sterling's contributions to surfing aren't limited to photos in magazines and sections in surf films. He was part of a committee of surfers who brainstormed the creation of the Association of Pro Tow-Surfers (APT) back in 2006, deciding on formats and locations for a full-scale big-wave surfing tour.

Sterling is also part-owner of the Pipeline Posse, helping to resurrect the legendary surf brand. They released their first film, entitled Project One, in the summer of 2007. The film documents many different sessions at Pipeline. "We want to do another one in the future," Sterling says, "but we're just getting started right now, launching the brand as a clothing company. It's been really hands-on training for me to see how you run a business."

HAVE BOARD, WILL TRAVEL
Since Sterling has to go where the waves are, he's had a chance to experience cultures from around the world. Most of his international travel happens between March and October, often with month-long stints in places like Tahiti, Australia, Ireland, and Mexico, chasing his Endless Winter. "Basically, there's a northern hemisphere winter and a southern hemisphere winter, so I'm constantly in winter," he says.

Fortunately, if there's a big wave somewhere, Sterling's not the only one there; the international surf media is tracking the same weather patterns, so they're there to document the history-making sessions. On a trip to Australia in 2007 with Aussie tow partner Mark Visser, Sterling got photographic proof of a few waves that earned him nominations for the Australian Big Wave Awards and the American Billabong XXL Awards, to be awarded in '08. A session in Tahiti with Carlos Burle netted what Sterling called one of the best waves of his life, getting tubed into a 15-foot west bowl at Teahupoo.

He's also been collecting footage for a unique feature on Fuel TV. "Firsthand" is a bio-feature that typically follows an athlete for a number of weeks, but Sterling's Firsthand will document his life for an entire year, from February '07 to February '08, featuring many of his international trips.

One of those trips was for Outside Magazine in August '07. Sterling traveled with a handful of professional skiers and snowboarders to New Zealand for a crossover feature with a tow-in surf session and a snow session on the slopes. It was just one more adventure for the man who's constantly searching for the world's best wave.

And just what does that entail? "A wave that's at least 5 meters in height," Sterling muses. "A hollow wave that'll allow me to go into the barrel and get tubed. That's the dynamic for a really good ride for me. Then to come out with the spit, to get blown out of the wave, that's my ultimate ride right there. It's tricky to get deep in a big barrel. There's so much turbulence, so to pick the right line and make it, that's pretty much the top for me."