Otton, Kai (1979 – )

Kinky-haired goofyfoot pro from New South Wales, Australia; world-ranked #7 in 2013. Otton was born (1979) and raised in Tathra, a tiny coastal town 260 miles south of Sydney. He began surfing at age 12, after his father gave the bodyboard-riding Otton a surfboard.

Unlike most top pros, Otton didn't have much of an amateur career. He started competing on the World Qualifying Series tour at age 24, after years spent earning a living working ho-hum jobs in the surf industry, and was broke enou...