Hawaii Big-Wave Surfer Dies at Mavericks

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Local big-wave surfer Sion Milosky, 35, died Wednesday after wiping out at Maverick’s in Northern California.

Reports estimate waves were as big as 60 feet.

Milosky, from Kalaheo, Kauai, had ridden a series of waves before the lip of a wave he was riding collapsed on top of him, said surfer Ken Collins. A second wave crashed on him after the first. He disappeared for 20 minutes and was found face down, tethered to his surf board. He was pronounced dead at 7:46 p.m., according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Collins, who Milosky was staying with while in Santa Cruz, told the San Jose Mercury News the fall happened during low tide when water depth averaged 15 to 20 feet.

Milosky was the father of two daughters.

Videographer Chris Killen captured this footage of Milosky riding at Mavericks yesterday. He’s the goofy-footer, with regular-footer Nic Lamb on the inside.

In an interview with abstractlines.tv, Milosky talks about the biggest wave he’s ever ridden (near the 9:00 mark):

Sion Milosky Biggest Wave Ever Paddled into from abstractlines.tv on Vimeo.

Read more at the San Francisco Examiner.

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