Andrew “COTTY” Cotton

Andrew “COTTY” Cotton

• Current Location: North Devon, UK / Global Big Wave Chasing
• Role / Title: Professional Big Wave Surfer & Team Rider
• Instagram: @andrew_cotton
• Other Key Partners: Red Bull, Breitling, Ford, Dryrobe
• Key Achievements:
• World-renowned charger of monumental big-wave spots like Nazaré (Portugal) and Jaws (Hawaii).
• Multiple XXL Big Wave Awards nominations and winner nods for historic wave rides.
• Pioneer of heavy-water Atlantic tow-surfing and board evolution.

• Custom Gear Setup:
• Core Quiver: Custom Navy build with a reverse chest zip system.
• Branding: Team Issue stamp alongside his name (“COTTY” / “TEAM ISSUE”), clean interior lining.

Visual Gallery (3-4 Image Concepts)

• Image 1: Cotty dropping into a massive, heavy-water mountain at Nazaré.
• Image 2: Pumping down-the-line on a heavy European slab.
• Image 3: Portrait of Cotty on the cliffs or preparing his gear before a massive swell.
• Image 4: Action shot or lifestyle framing in his custom Born Slippy gear.

The Interview

Q: Firstly, please introduce yourself by telling us your name and area of surfing.

My name is Andrew Cotton, and my focus is professional big wave surfing and heavy-water exploration.

Q: What is your local break?

Croyde / North Devon, UK.

Q: Where is your favourite spot in the world to surf, and why?

Nazaré in Portugal has to be up there because of the sheer scale, power, and raw energy of the wave, but home in Devon holds a special place in my heart when it’s firing.

Q: What do you think the surf industry can be doing better to support the health of the oceans?

Pushing harder on transparent supply chains, eliminating single-use plastics entirely from manufacturing and packaging, and ensuring that the brands profiting from the ocean are actively reinvesting back into coastal conservation.

Q: What inspirational brands and companies have you come across who are doing things that are better for the ocean?

Brands like Patagonia set a massive benchmark for corporate responsibility. Closer to home, seeing hyper-focused gear projects like Born Slippy taking a localized, high-durability approach rather than churning out cheap mass-market disposable gear is a huge step in the right direction.

Q: Any final message you would like to share?

Respect the ocean, understand its power, and leave every lineup better than you found it.

(Note: Cotty torture-tests our rubber in the heaviest water on the planet. Use code COTTY at checkout to support his campaign.)