Foster makes a splash

Foster was the winner of the Biggest Wave Award for his charge down a massive wave at Cow Bombie, near Gracetown, in August last year.

He took home $20,000 for his efforts.

The 27-year-old moved to WA’s South West when he was 15 after his family made the move from Ocean Reef. Foster said he had spent a number of years chasing the swell at Cow Bombie and was stoked to have won the award.

“That one day we got out at about 8.30 in the morning and about halfway through the session was when I caught that wave,” he said.

“I didn’t really think much of it and when I saw the picture I thought it looked pretty good.

“It was a pretty crazy ride.

“There was no one out there that day apart from our crew and the photographer shot off his jetski so he can get right in there.”

Eleven of the 12 finalists for awards were from Western Australia with Foster attributing this to WA’s amazing coastline.

He said WA was the “state to be in” for 2014 surfing.

Foster, who now lives in Tasmania, said he moved over to tackle a new surfing lifestyle.

However, he admitted it was living in WA’s South West that had strengthened his love and skills for surfing. “I was petrified of waves when I was about 16,” he said.

“I guess it was moving down south where I really just took off with surfing.” Foster said, however, Ship Stern Bluff in Tasmania had become his “favourite wave in the world”.

“It’s a different ocean; it’s a lot colder here in Tasmania and they are totally different oceans and you can feel it when you wipe out,” he said.