The following official announcement was made today:
After many years of competitive surfing, World Professional Tour competitor and 2005 number 6, Trent Munro has decided he’ll officially retire at year’s end.
Trent’s career has seen him travel all over the world from his home soil of Scotts Head throughout Australia, to North and South America, Europe, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, Malaysia, Tahiti, Indonesia and that is just part of it!
Trent states, “I’ve had a great time - win, lose or draw. I have met great people and life long friends along the way too. It has been an amazing experience travelling and doing what I love to do but it has taken its’ toll -- living out of a suitcase for over 12 years and a couple of major injuries is enough for me. I’m ready to move onto the next chapter.
“One of the best surf trips I’ve had is heading to Malaysia with Parko and Taj to do tow-ins in this incredible wave pool. It was the first time it had been performed I think”.
Trent is due to become a father early next year, which he says he doesn’t want to miss out on.
Trent’s accolades outweigh a lot of the top 44 competitors on the World Championship Tour. Under his belt he has; two World Championship Tour wins; six World Qualifying Series wins, many 2nds and 3rds, was named 2001 Rookie of the Year for being one of only two fastest rookies ever to win a WCT event (shared by Bobby Martinez) and has been voted twice by his peers as the most under-rated surfer. Add to this Trent’s many Pro Junior victories. Most memorable though is his Bells trophy that he won the Rip Curl Pro in Victoria in 2005.
“That ‘Bell’ is priceless. Seeing the names on the perpetual trophy and being among them is crazy! I’ll have that memory and feeling forever. Also, winning back to back 6 star events in France 2003 was another great achievement which I believe only Tom Curren, Parko and Mick Campbell have also achieved.
“I’ll miss most of the boys for sure. I’ll miss most of the venues we go to and the people I’ve met but really it is just the right time for me to pack my board bags away and move on. I have stayed with some great families along the way and I really can’t thank them enough for making me feel at home”.
And moving on is what he’ll be doing. Trent has decided to put back into the sport he has made a successful career from as he commences the Trent Munro Surf Academy.
“I’m really excited about it. I get asked frequently about helping so and so improve on this and that because it is just not covered in my area. I am also in the process of organising camps throughout the year for surfers all over Australia at intermediate to elite level.”
Trent is also hoping to host an annual event and will be adding activities to the Academy all the time. “I just believe that when I was a junior we had loads more training camps and events which were so helpful, so I’d like to bring back the opportunities I had as a youngster”.
Along with Trent’s passion and knowledge of surfing, he’ll be joining forces with another former WCT surfer and good mate Lee Winkler from Coffs Harbour to better cater for the camps. Dates at this stage are not locked in but keep an eye on the Academy website for 2008 camp details.
For now, Trent will concentrate on the Trent Munro Surf Academy and enhance surf awareness and safety among learners, plus build on the abilities and drive of the intermediate and elite level surfers.
And, to keep his finger on the pulse, Trent also has a role in the worlds biggest surf podcasting company, Podsurf.tv, which he will also continue to work closely with, liaising regularly with the world’s top surfers.
“Life’s good. I’m happy with my career and all I have achieved. I’ve had the best times -- win, lose or draw -- and have some great experiences and stories to tell. I can’t wait to start the next part now!”