In this conversation, Phillips shares how and why it all began, plus his favourite surf spots.
It’s evening in Noosa, a small surfer’s town on eastern Australia’s Sunshine Coast. Tropicsurf founder and director, Ross Phillips, is sitting in front of a large canvas showing a cresting wave. He’s just got home after a long day, he says, but is always happy to talk about surfing. It’s his obsession, after all.
Noosa is one of the best places to learn to surf in the whole of Australia, Phillips explains. It’s one of the few beaches in the country that faces north. That means the waves bend around in a particular way; they’re smaller and more gentle than most. That’s why Phillips opened his original surf school here – one of the first in the country, he says.
Growing up in Brisbane, Phillips didn’t live far from the waves. He surfed for the first time aged six; “you never really forget the first wave you caught. I think it’s the same for most people. I knew at that moment I’d spend the rest of my life chasing that feeling.” It’s hard to explain the exact emotion Phillips is describing. He’s trying to capture it in a book at the moment, which he’s writing in collaboration with several other pro surfers: Why We Surf. “It’s a lot more than adrenaline. You could go and do bungee jumping and get the same adrenaline shot. But you wouldn’t do that a second time. Surfing’s not like that. It’s harder to reach the point of achievement.” Phillips’ theory is that humans are hardwired to enjoy experiencing success that doesn’t come easily. Surfing is hard-earned and therefore transcendent.
We’re really connected to the earth through the water.
Add water to the equation and you have a whole other dimension to the experience. “We’re really connected to the earth through the water. When you’re surfing, every part of your skin is in contact with nature; it heightens everything.” Phillips is fascinated by the research of Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist and creator of the ‘Blue Mind’ movement. Nichols theorised that we have a red mind state (hyper-stressed), grey mind state (depressed) and blue mind state: “the latter is the ultimate place to be, and for whatever reason, water helps us get there”, Phillips says. “Science is starting to explain what I’ve always inherently known; being in and around water is vital for our wellbeing.”
But it hasn’t been a natural relationship for Phillips. When he was around a year old, he crawled off a jetty and sank into the water. His mother dived in, “Sunday dress and all”, to scoop him out. “I think I may have some embedded trauma”, Phillips says, “some fears around being underwater. The water is my second home now. But there’s always a tension there.” That’s partly why he relates so strongly to his Tropicsurf clients: “everyone has an element of fear when it comes to the ocean. It’s natural; we can’t breathe underwater.” Phillips explains that all Tropicsurf’s instructors are highly attuned to the fact that some clients may lack confidence or have fears from prior negative experiences in the water: “our teaching style is very empathetic. We meet people where they’re at, but at the same time encourage them to conquer their fears and progress.”
COMO Maalifushi is in close proximity to one of my favourite waves in the entire Maldives
Tropicsurf evolved naturally, reaching a point where Phillips wanted to expand his instruction, helping clients improve their skills in new places and with different challenges. He realised there was an untapped market in private surfing experiences away from the crowds. The Maldives had all the factors that make for desirable surfing – warm, clear water, white sand beaches, a palm-tree-peppered ambiance, as well as long and reliable waves. When COMO Maalifushi opened in the Thaa Atoll in 2014 it was a game-changer.
Phillips instantly knew he wanted Tropicsurf to partner with the resort: “COMO Maalifushi is in close proximity to one of my favourite waves in the entire Maldives – arguably my favourite in the whole Tropics.” Of all COMO Maalifushi’s 20-odd surf breaks, Phillips speaks of Farms with near reverence. He explains how the shape of a coral reef determines the shape of a wave that breaks over it: at Farms, there’s a contoured reef corner that makes what’s called a ‘mechanical’ wave. “It means every wave does a similar thing. So instead of trying to guess at what’s coming next, you can concentrate on the things you want to focus on. You’ll catch more waves because they’re easier to read.” And of course there’s the advantage that Farms flushes surfers out into a “deep little swimming pool” rather than shallow water, making for a much safer exit. It’s beautiful too: “pristine, unbelievably picturesque and dreamy in every regard”. Phillips pauses for a second: “10/10”.
And what of COMO Uma Canggu, where Tropicsurf has another luxury surf outfit? “It’s totally different. Magnificent, of course, but different”. There’s a diversity to the surf at Canggu that excites him: “maybe eight different types of waves just off one beach”. There’s a wave for every ability, and it’s directly in front of the resort. There’s something raw about that proximity, Phillips says, and a real pulse to being at the heart of the action in Bali: “you might not catch as many waves, but you’re getting all the vibes. There’s a bustle to the atmosphere and everyone there is surfing mad.” He describes how when you’re not surfing, you’re at one of “millions” of surfer’s bars or cafés, absorbing it all. When it comes to choosing which wave to surf, Tropicsurf’s guides are trained to match a client’s skillset to their perfect wave – ”something achievable and safe, but stretches them out of their comfort zone just a little bit”. A grading system for clients and waves ensures a good pairing, and “before you even show up to your lesson, your guide is looking at the forecast in advance, planning the perfect wave for your skillset, and adapting to your surfing grade. It’s pretty cool.”
Tropicsurf is dedicated to a level of planning that’s perhaps surprising in a sport where the optics are generally focused on appearing ‘chill’. But that ties into the company’s broader mission. “I’d like to think that what we offer is more than just a stand up on a surfboard”, says Phillips. He describes how the way Tropicsurf operates is broader and more holistic, and that a one-hour lesson is geared towards teaching “a way of living”. Surfing, Phillips explains, is a way of living mindfully and surrendering to the present, because “when you’re riding a wave, you can’t possibly think of anything else at that moment. Nothing else matters.” Phillips mentions the American psychologist and author, Timothy Leary, and a favourite quote, about how surfers have cracked what it should mean to be human: “your future is right ahead of you, the past is exploding behind you, your wake is disappearing, your footprints are washed from the sand. It’s a non-productive, non-depletive act that’s done purely for the value of the dance itself.”
Surfing induces what Phillips describes as a ‘flow state’ – a fast-track to improved mental and physical health. It’s why COMO Hotels and Resorts is such a natural partner for his brand. “My favourite part is COMO Shambhala”, says Phillips, “especially COMO Shambhala Kitchen”. He describes how as an athlete, you need to fuel your body properly to reduce inflammation and help generate lasting energy. “The right diet is really make or break for how long you surf, and how well you surf”. The opportunity to book in for a deep-tissue massage or some gentle stretching after a surfing session is invaluable too. Phillips explains how surfer’s get “locked up” in their neck, shoulders and lower back, from “all that lying on the board and paddling and arching their neck”. His own daily routine includes yoga, Pilates, and plenty of stretching.
What’s next for Phillips? These days, it’s just being in the water that counts. “Especially as I get older, being in the ocean makes me happy. It’s where I find peace”, he says. “When I was younger, surfing was all about the act of riding the wave. Now it’s the holistic experience, whether I’m just having a swim or a dip, floating or sitting on my board.” And when it comes to Tropicsurf? “Ah now, that’s a different matter. My clients have got some energy to burn!” Last September, Tropicsurf ran a new “boot camp”-style concept at COMO Maalifushi, for clients that wanted to become the best surfers they could, with “a bit less lounging around the pool than usual”. The fully immersive, seven-night retreat was a “smashing success” – so much so, that the next iteration will be going ahead at COMO Maalifushi in September 2025.
The right diet is really make or break for how long you surf, and how well you surf
Book a session with a Tropicsurf instructor at COMO Uma Canggu or COMO Maalifushi.
