Laird has a bit of a Marmite effect on surf fans. He has at times totally ‘sold out’ but it is also undeniable that he has made some incredible contributions to surfing’s advancement and been a genuine pioneer in big wave surfing. The adopted son of Bill Hamilton, legendary Hawaiian waterman, Laird grew up in Hawaii and forged a career for himself as a model, surfer and extreme sport pioneer.

It is his big wave antics which set him apart. He and friends Buzzy Kerbox and Darrick Doerner pioneered tow surfing, using straps from windsurf boards on surf boards. This opened up an incredible playground of big wave spots and Laird went on to lift the lid of Jaws on Maui and surfed the incredible ‘Millennium’ wave in Tahiti which kickstarted a big wave revolution that still continues today.