Martin Potter – The Progressive Pioneer
“Air Before Its Time, Power with Purpose”
🌊 Basic Info
Full Name: Martin Potter
Nickname: Pottz
Born: October 28, 1965 – Blyth, Northumberland, England (raised in Durban, South Africa)
Nationality: South African/British
Surfing Stance: Regular
Favorite Surf Spots: Jeffrey’s Bay, Bells Beach, Off the Wall, Sunset Beach
🏆 Career Highlights
Championships & Titles:
1989 ASP World Champion
Credited with pioneering aerials and progressive surfing in competition long before it was mainstream
Winner of multiple CT events throughout the late 80s and early 90s
Notable Competitions:
Bells Beach, Gunston 500, Pipeline Masters, Op Pro
Led the movement to make competitive surfing more exciting with critical maneuvers
Best Performances:
1989 World Title season – completely outperformed the field with rail-to-rail aggression and aerial innovation
Notorious for pushing limits in waves like Sunset and Backdoor, mixing tube time with rail game and above-the-lip flair
Signature Moves:
Introduced the 360 air and tail-slide hacks in competition when most were still doing cutbacks
Combined explosive top turns with consistent heat strategy
Helped shape what modern surfing looks like today, long before “progression” was a buzzword
🏄♂️ Surfing Style & Equipment
Board Preferences:
Pushed the limits on shorter, lighter boards with higher responsiveness
Often shaped by Spider Murphy and Glen Minami, built for innovation and flair
Wetsuit & Gear:
Wore gear from brands like Rip Curl, Town & Country, and later became a face of surf commentary
Known for colorful 80s suits and his stylish black-and-yellow boards
Training & Fitness:
Pottz was more raw talent than routine—spent endless hours in the water refining moves
Eventually leaned into training for stamina and big surf performance
Wave Preferences:
Loved hollow reef breaks and punchy beach breaks where he could launch and destroy sections
J-Bay, Bells, and Backdoor were some of his best arenas
🌍 Life Beyond Surfing
Hobbies & Interests:
Surf commentary, traveling, working with young surfers
Became a long-time WSL broadcast analyst, known for his passionate insights and tough critiques
Social Causes:
Involved in surf development programs in South Africa and with rising African surf communities
Supports youth mentorship through boardrider clubs and surf camp initiatives
Fun Facts:
One of the first surfers to make aerial surfing part of a competitive arsenal, way ahead of his time
Often wore tiger stripes and bold colorways that matched his high-flying surf
Still surfs daily and is a staple at major surf events worldwide as a commentator and legend
🎥 Photos & Videos
Watch 80s surf classics like Performers, Beyond Blazing Boards, and Storm Riders
WSL has also featured Pottz in its Legends of the Tour video series
📢 Latest News & Updates
In 2025, Martin Potter is coaching junior tour surfers and consulting on WSL event formats
Recently launched his own podcast series called Beyond the Lip—interviews with fellow legends and modern stars
Inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame and honored at this year’s WSL Founders' Tribute
