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Honolulu - Professional surfer Sion Milosky died on Thursday in California, while catching giant waves at legendary surf spot, Mavericks, near San Francisco.
According to the Hawaii News Now website, word of Sion's death began spreading just a few hours ago, and people in the surf community are stunned. His many closed friends are devastated.
Kind and courageous, 35-year-old Milosky, was in the prime of his life. In April, he made headlines in Transworld Surf Magazine, with the title, "Sion Rules the Winter."
Witnesses say just before sunset, Sion was charging 40 to 60 foot surf at Mavericks, when he was held under for two waves. His body found about 20 minutes later face down near the harbour entrance at Half Moon Bay.
Grant Washburn, a big wave surfing veteran, said, "I'm pretty sure he wiped out, board came away, he had no leash."
The news spread rapidly online with Sion's Facebook page filling up with condolences.
Milosky was from Kalaheo, Kauai, but moved to Oahu's North Shore, where he made a name for himself as one of elite crew at Pipeline. Last winter he surfed what's believed to be the biggest wave ever paddled into at Himalayas.
He was actually surfing Mavericks last November, the day his close friend and fellow Kaua'ian, Andy Irons died.
Jodi Wilmott, a representative for Quicksilver who knew Milosky, added, "I think there's just a lot of heartbroken people in the North Shore family, you know, just a lot of just broken hearts for a family. I think people experienced this not too long ago with Andy Irons and you know while Sion was very much loved and admired, I think you just can't help but think about young families and parents and wives and children who have to find a new way to move forward."
Milosky, was not only a great guy, but a friend of mine since our high school days on Kauai. My favourite story about Milosky happened just recently.
A couple months ago, a woman was swept out to sea in front of his house at Rocky Point well past sundown. As a fire crew arrived and began unpacking, Sion grabbed his longboard, and without saying a word paddled out in the pitch black in big surf. For 45 minutes he looked and yelled and then found the woman alive. He couldn't believe it. He pulled her onto his board and paddled her in saving her life. She never said thank you. The story never made the news. He never got an award. Sion had no need for recognition.
Milosky was renowned for his fearless approach in heavy waves and had netted himself no less than four covers on surfing magazines around the world the past year. He was also recently named the North Shore Underground Surfer of the year and had received $25 000 as prize money for the accomplishment. He had used that prize money to travel to California to further his big wave resume. He is the second renowned big wave surfer to die at Mavericks after Mark Foo drowned there in 1994.
Milosky is survived by his wife and two young daughters.
According to the Hawaii News Now website, word of Sion's death began spreading just a few hours ago, and people in the surf community are stunned. His many closed friends are devastated.
Kind and courageous, 35-year-old Milosky, was in the prime of his life. In April, he made headlines in Transworld Surf Magazine, with the title, "Sion Rules the Winter."
Witnesses say just before sunset, Sion was charging 40 to 60 foot surf at Mavericks, when he was held under for two waves. His body found about 20 minutes later face down near the harbour entrance at Half Moon Bay.
Grant Washburn, a big wave surfing veteran, said, "I'm pretty sure he wiped out, board came away, he had no leash."
The news spread rapidly online with Sion's Facebook page filling up with condolences.
Milosky was from Kalaheo, Kauai, but moved to Oahu's North Shore, where he made a name for himself as one of elite crew at Pipeline. Last winter he surfed what's believed to be the biggest wave ever paddled into at Himalayas.
He was actually surfing Mavericks last November, the day his close friend and fellow Kaua'ian, Andy Irons died.
Jodi Wilmott, a representative for Quicksilver who knew Milosky, added, "I think there's just a lot of heartbroken people in the North Shore family, you know, just a lot of just broken hearts for a family. I think people experienced this not too long ago with Andy Irons and you know while Sion was very much loved and admired, I think you just can't help but think about young families and parents and wives and children who have to find a new way to move forward."
Milosky, was not only a great guy, but a friend of mine since our high school days on Kauai. My favourite story about Milosky happened just recently.
A couple months ago, a woman was swept out to sea in front of his house at Rocky Point well past sundown. As a fire crew arrived and began unpacking, Sion grabbed his longboard, and without saying a word paddled out in the pitch black in big surf. For 45 minutes he looked and yelled and then found the woman alive. He couldn't believe it. He pulled her onto his board and paddled her in saving her life. She never said thank you. The story never made the news. He never got an award. Sion had no need for recognition.
Milosky was renowned for his fearless approach in heavy waves and had netted himself no less than four covers on surfing magazines around the world the past year. He was also recently named the North Shore Underground Surfer of the year and had received $25 000 as prize money for the accomplishment. He had used that prize money to travel to California to further his big wave resume. He is the second renowned big wave surfer to die at Mavericks after Mark Foo drowned there in 1994.
Milosky is survived by his wife and two young daughters.
