Big wave surfer Sion Milosky killed in accident at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay
Big wave surfer Sion Milosky died Wednesday after he was pitched into the sea by a towering wall of water and then held beneath the surface by a second wave at Maverick's Beach in Half Moon Bay, about 25 miles south of San Francisco.
Milosky, 35, wiped out after catching the wave just before dark at Mavericks, home to some of the biggest waves in the world, according to Jack Morrisey, surfing team manager for Milosky’s corporate sponsor, Volcom.com.
“It’s with a very heavy heart that we bid farewell to Hawaiian family man and big wave surfer Sion Milosky,” Volcom said in a statement. “After a wipeout and a two-wave hold down at Mavericks, Sion passed away. Words can¹t begin to describe how saddened we are by this loss.
“Sion's first passion was his wife and kids, and surfing giant waves was his second,” the statement added. “Our sincere condolences go out to Sion's family and friends.”
Morrisey said photographers “loved Sion,” a native Hawaiian, because of his penchant for riding huge waves.
Maverick's generates waves up to 80 feet high because of its geography and geology. After gaining momentum for 1,000 miles, arctic swells slam into a reef off tiny Pillar Point, a peninsula that juts into the Pacific at Half Moon Bay. There, the sea bottom abruptly rises from a depth of more than 100 feet to only a few feet, punching the swells skyward.
Professional surfer Mark Foo died in a surfing accident at Mavericks in 1994.
Morrisey said Volcom was creating a foundation for Milosky’s two young daughters.
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-- Louis Sahagun
Photo: Sion Milosky Credit: Volcom
EDITOR'S PICKS:
R.I.P
Posted by: LABASS | March 17, 2011 at 08:28 PM
R.I.P
Posted by: woody | March 17, 2011 at 08:50 PM
So why are you not crediting Kelly Burgess (a colleague?) Who wrote the breaking news nearly 12 hours ago?
Posted by: Popeye The Sailor Man | March 17, 2011 at 09:28 PM
Very few people get to do what their passions are all about and enjoy doing it. It is even rare to die, doing what you love to do. How many people die every year in auto accidents, DUI, heart attacks, cancers even homicide and not enjoy doing what they like in life? Although it was sad he died at 35, he died doing what he loved most.
Posted by: Commentator | March 17, 2011 at 09:37 PM
Eddy would have gone too. Aloha Brudda.
Posted by: Zippy | March 17, 2011 at 09:46 PM
Spare Air...
Posted by: Mike | March 17, 2011 at 10:22 PM
May he rest in peace and the deepest condolences to his family...
Posted by: alan shore | March 17, 2011 at 10:23 PM
So sad. May you rest in peace.
Posted by: Steve | March 18, 2011 at 12:30 AM
mark foo was killed because he was a bit tired from his late flight to the mailand- he was pushing it a bit after several hours of surfing in the cold water. I imagine the same situation was true with sion.
surfing in cold water is kinda like skiing. your mind thinks its got another run or two left in the tank but the body is already on fumes. ( why they close the slopes at 4:oo pm or even 3:30 at some areas)
add a long hold down after the wipe out or even a 2 or 3 wave hold down and drowning enters the pic. nothing scarier than wiping out and not getting a good breath or worse still, falling so hard you have the breath knocked out of you. then a 60-90 second hold down.
then you are finished. the waves don't have to be huge for it to happen either. many surfers have drowned in 6-12 foot surf.
Posted by: xane | March 18, 2011 at 01:41 AM
“Sion's first passion was his wife and kids, and surfing giant waves was his second,”
Sadly (very sadly for his family), he seemed to mix up his two passions...putting number two in front of number one.
Posted by: Marcia Twane | March 18, 2011 at 01:51 AM
Sad for his family and friends. Surfing on the universal wave of energy.
WE will all be there soon enough!!!
Posted by: observer | March 18, 2011 at 04:55 AM
When you're a parent, you should cut down on the adrenelin rushes. RIP to this young man, and good luck to his kids and wife.
Posted by: Truth | March 18, 2011 at 07:42 AM
I surf, small waves, nothing like Mavericks. But my perspective has always been one of surprise, surprise that this sort of thing doesn't happen more often. The level of risk taken by big wave surfers is quite literally unbelievable. I am glad I don't have the skill to surf waves like that, the temptation would be so great, so easy to get sucked into a state of lost perspective. So sorry for the loss to the surfing community and especially Sion's family. Pat
Posted by: Patrick Tekeli | March 18, 2011 at 09:02 AM
Please go to departedngone and Let The World Know that we have lost a Good Life.
Departed N Gone
Posted by: warrk21 | March 18, 2011 at 07:54 PM