As a teenager, Ross Longbottom fell in love with the freedom surfing offered, and now 70 years on his dedication to surf culture continues to run through his bloodline.

Board design and surfing has now defined three generations of the renowned Longbottom family.

The youngest of the family to carry on the surfing talent is Summa Longbottom, granddaughter of Ross and daughter of Dylan – one of the best big wave riders and shapers in the world.

She is following in her dad’s footsteps, chasing mammoth waves at Cape Fear in Tasmania and Portugal’s Nazare, the world’s biggest wave, at just 14 years old, and shaping her own boards with the help of Dylan.

Recently in Victoria, 20-year-old Summa surfed the best wave of the day among the world’s best big wave surfers and four days later, conquered Tahiti’s infamous surf break, Teahupoo, on the biggest swell of the year.

“She made a bunch of crazy waves and had two big wipe-outs which she handled like a true legend,” says Dylan, who tows her in.

Summa surfing the wave of the day in Victoria

“Next for Summa is chasing big waves all around Australia and in Indonesia then to Nazare in November.”

Dylan, along with older brother Darren, a surf shop owner, grew up surrounded by some of the best surfers and shapers of the time as Ross was a pioneer of the surfboard industry.

Ross judged some of the first professional surf competitions and worked for 20 years at two dominant board factories firstly as a glasser and then owner at the latter.

Growing up in Ross’ factory is a core memory of Dylan and Darrens, and it’s what inspired them to start their careers in the surf industry.

Dylan with older brother Darren at Zinc Surf

Ross threw the pair into the surf at a young age and they became talented board riders on Kiama’s surf breaks when they moved from their hometown in the Sutherland Shire in 1990. 

“The character of each of the boys showed in their surfing. Dylan was a big wave rider right from the start, he had no fear. But Darren was a measured surfer like me, he wouldn’t take on a wave if it was dangerous,” Ross says.

Darren surfing

Dylan’s trademark fearlessness led him to surf some of the world’s most terrifying waves including Nazare and Teahupoo during the Code Red Swell – one of surfing's most historic days.

It scored him a role as a Hollywood stunt double for the Point Break remake and he is known for the time he stole Darren’s board – shaped by Ross, starring KISS star Ace Frehley on it – painted it black, put foot straps on it and did aerials in the surf. Ross says it’s what put him on the map.

As a big wave rider, Dylan became an internationally recognised shaper who specialised in big wave boards and is now one of the very few shaper surfers.

Dylan surfing at Teahupoo in 2012

“He makes certain boards for certain surf conditions. The big waves, especially ones like Nazare, need big boards that are completely different to any other board in the world,” Ross says.

“Dylan is one of very few who makes them, and he has the top guys riding them.”

Dylan now runs his two factories in Bali and the Shire, Dylan Surfboards – which ironically sits on the same street Ross worked on – and although he has retired to 30-foot waves, he has business across the world especially in Morocco and Canary Islands.

Ross and Dylan at his factory in the Sutherland Shire

As for Darren, he worked his way through surfboard factories and unknowingly completed all the right steps to opening his own surf shop, which he did in 2004.

Along with Zinc Surf on Terralong St, where he stores Dylan’s boards, he co-owns Kiama’s Rip Curl store and continues to successfully run the two businesses.

“I’m so proud of Darren and Dylan. They have made good lives,” Ross says. 

After ending his wave-riding days, Ross keeps himself fit by taking daily walks and swims. 

When he is not out of the country or journeying through Australia in his treasured Kombi van with his partner, he stops in at the cafes of Kiama for a coffee.