Eyewitness reports hunky actor Rob Lowe a big wave hellman!

A bigger threat at Pipeline or Teahupo'o than twice-over World Surf League champion Filipe Toledo.

Now, you are well accustomed to tales about actors who surf, on these pages, singers and models too. Celebrities, in general, I suppose. We examine their toned abs and chiseled faces as they slide upon li’l waves. Generally waist and under, if not knee, unless they happen to be at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch.

Rob Lowe: A Surfer’s Journey

Well, what if I was to tell you that there is an A-lister who hunts semi-secret bigger waves breaking over reef and charges upon them? Not just any A-lister, either, but a full on heartthrob — Rob Lowe?

But let us turn to rising star surfboard shaper Shea Somma for an account which he shared on this week’s episode of The Grit!

I have had a few celebrity surf encounters over the years. Maybe the most memorable of these incidents was from about 2011 or so. It was mid winter, a west swell was pumping. A friend and I had devoted a whole day to chasing surf in the general, let’s say, 805 zone. We lucked into a great morning of overhead waves completely to ourselves at a lesser known spot. This spot features an entry via a trail through a long, pitch-black tunnel, which emerges on the beach in front of the reef.

After surfing our brains out for 3 hours, we decided to eat the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we’d packed with us before heading out for a second session.

Sitting in the sun enjoying our lunch, and remarking on the shocking lack of a crowd, our conversation was interrupted by an incredibly jovial, “Hey guys!! Wow the waves are looking pretty good out there!! You get a few?!!” It was none other than Rob Lowe, emerging from the depths of the tunnel. He completely embodied his aggressively positive character, Chris Traeger, from the show Parks and Recreation, which was a huge hit at the time.

He was decked out in a floppy bucket hat, buckled snugly under his chin. He had just about the thickest zinc sunscreen application I’ve ever seen, but there was no mistaking that it was, in fact, Rob Lowe, armed with a 7′ or so Becker “Fun Shape,” once ubiquitously favored by beginners everywhere in Southern California and beyond.

My buddy and I were a bit dumbfounded. “Yea man! Fun waves!” was about all we could muster. Rob Lowe proceeded to virtually skip down the beach ecstatically, and then slowly but surely make his way paddling out into the lineup. We finished up our sandwiches and paddled out to join him.

Was Rob Lowe the greatest surfer I’ve ever seen? No. Did he completely yard sale it on several waves? Definitely. Did Rob Lowe embody the giddy stoke of a child newly in love with this silly act of wave dancing we call surfing? Absolutely. Sure there were a few blown waves, but there were also several respectable makes too.

To see Rob Lowe (relatively) charging well overhead sets, with pure enthusiasm, absolute abandon, and an ear-to-ear, shit-eating grin, still brings a smile to my face when I remember it.

I was already a fan of Parks and Recreation. But that session made me a true fan of Rob Lowe.

Amazing, no? Rob Lowe a full on charger?

A bigger threat at Pipeline or Teahupo’o than twice-over World Surf League champion Filipe Toledo?

Yes, amazing.

David Lee Scales also discussed former tour rookie Kade Matson’s annoying friend.

Enjoy.