Big wave surfer Jojo Roper receives Paddle

During elementary school, Jojo Roper dabbled in Little League at Tecolote Field. However, mastering the art of hitting curveballs loses its charm when your father is the legendary San Diego surfer Joe Roper.

“I played a couple of seasons, but I just wasn’t into it,” recalled Roper, 35. “I preferred to go surfing. I’m sure my dad was thrilled that we spent our Saturday mornings at the beach instead of at a baseball field.”

At three years old, Joe introduced young Jojo to surfing near Crystal Pier. By five, he had his very own surfboard. Many of his earliest memories are tied to that ocean experience.

“There was a little shore break forming and I was pulling into a close-out barrel,” recalled Roper, who grew up in Pacific Beach and surfed the San Diego coastline from La Jolla to Point Loma. “I can remember that moment vividly. It was such a cool experience, and my dad was giving me a thumbs up. Getting tossed into the shore break at a young age – though I was scared, it showed me I could handle the water with him watching over me.”

Now a professional surfer, Roper recently received the prestigious Men’s Paddle-in Wave of the Year award during this year’s Surfer Big Wave Challenge held on Oct. 19 in Nazaré, Portugal, for riding a nearly 50-foot wave at Mavericks near Half Moon Bay.

“At this point in my career, I feel like I’m in my prime,” Roper expressed. “I’m aiming for bigger and better waves. My ultimate goal is to catch waves that will be talked about for years. You ride those big waves that withstand the test of time and pick up some contests along the way.”

Roper’s next chance to catch one of those legendary waves is in December during the 2024-25 Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.

Set to take place from Dec. 14 to March 13 at Waimea Bay in Oahu, Hawaii, this invitational is often regarded as the Super Bowl of surfing.

“It feels like a lifetime achievement award,” Roper remarked. “Especially coming from California. It’s incredibly tough to even make it onto the alternate list, and being invited is a huge honor; I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

The 39th “Eddie” will include 28-40 surfers from all around the globe, but with a minimum swell height requirement of 20 feet, the competition is not guaranteed to take place.

“You can line the bay and experience these massive waves – it’s truly the best show on earth,” Roper stated. “There’s nothing comparable. The Aikau is extraordinary. It only runs every couple of years – I am hoping it goes this season.”

Roper estimates he spends over 300 days in the water each year.

“It never becomes monotonous, and I hope it stays that way,” he shared. “Last year, I had some fantastic days surfing perfect waves in Mexico with a few buddies. ‘Are we spoiled?’ ‘We’re going to do this every day for as long as we can until it’s time to head home.’”

The fear Roper experienced as a child in the shorebreak has lingered, yet it keeps him motivated to seek out that perfect wave.

“For anyone to claim they aren’t scared is nonsense,” he expressed. “The idea of being pulled deep underwater and facing harsh conditions is intimidating. The adrenaline kicks in. It drives you to keep coming back for more. Some individuals take hard falls and never return.”

In the water, Roper has endured a broken back and a torn ligament in his hip.

“It wasn’t a full-on panic situation – I was going to die or anything like that,” he clarified.

Not to mention the countless occasions he has been yanked underwater for much longer than expected.

“You begin to see stars,” he recounted. “There have been two occasions where I was under for so long I thought that was the end. That’s part of the mental challenge. You can hold your breath far longer than you believe. I even started smiling underwater; I caught myself laughing, but that’s risky because you lose air.”

Roper describes his current relationship with his dad as “best friends who act like two squabbling brothers.”

Regardless of his professional surfer status, the father-son dynamic still holds when they’re in the water together.

“When my dad joins me in the water, I position myself to make sure he gets his fair share of good waves,” Roper joked. “It’s mostly like, ‘You still got it, kid.’”