Jay Moriarity
{{Short description|American surfer}}{{Infobox surfer
| name = Jay Moriarity
| image = Jay moriarity.jpg
| caption = Jay Moriarity
| birth_date = {{birth date|1978|6|16}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|6|15|1978|6|16}}
| death_place = Indian Ocean, off the Maldives coast
| residence = Santa Cruz, California
| height =
| weight =
| years_active = 1987-2001
| sponsors= O'Neill
| stance =Regular (natural) foot
| shapers=
| quiver=
| favorite_waves= Mavericks (Half Moon Bay, California), Pleasure Point, (Santa Cruz, California)
}}
Jay Moriarity (June 16, 1978 – June 15, 2001) was a surfer from Santa Cruz, California.{{cite news|title=Jay Moriarity - Obituaries, News - The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jay-moriarity-729274.html|accessdate=20 December 2011|newspaper=The Independent|date=28 July 2001|author=Andy Martin|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907035139/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jay-moriarity-729274.html|archivedate=7 September 2010|url-status=dead|location=London}} He was an accomplished surfer, waterman, and adventurer. As a surfer, he made his reputation surfing Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, California. At age 16, he was made internationally famous when his wipeout at Mavericks was caught on film and made the cover of Surfer magazine. Although a successful competitor, Jay is remembered as a soul surfer, winning many sportsmanship awards throughout his career. A biopic of his life, Chasing Mavericks, was released in 2012.
Life
Born in Augusta, Georgia on June 16, 1978, Jay moved with his family to Santa Cruz, California, when he was just a baby. His father was an Army Ranger and traveled most of the time. Jay began surfing at age 9 and rode his first waves at Sewer Peak.{{cite web |title=Surfer Today |url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-compelling-surf-life-story-of-jay-moriarity |website=Surfer Today}} Not limited to either a shortboard or a longboard, he was known as a versatile surfer who appreciated all aspects of surfing. This appreciation was rooted in an overall love for the ocean, seen in his accomplishments as a swimmer, paddler, diver, and fisherman.[http://www.surfline.com/surfing-a-to-z/jay-moriarty-biography-and-photos_868/ Jay Moriarty Biography and Photos | SURFLINE.COM] Achieving success in surfing as a youngster, he became increasingly interested in surfing Mavericks, north of Santa Cruz in Half Moon Bay. After intense physical and mental training with his friend and Mavericks regular Frosty Hesson, Jay began surfing Mavericks at just 15 years of age, and soon became a respected regular in the line-up.
In 2001, Moriarity co-authored a book with Chris Gallagher entitled, The Ultimate Guide to Surfing. A film, Chasing Mavericks, directed by Curtis Hanson, chronicling the life of Moriarity was released on October 26, 2012, with Jonny Weston playing the role of Moriarity.[https://deadline.com/2011/02/berlin-gerard-butler-set-for-walden-medias-mavericks-105779/ Deadline :Gerard Butler Set For Walden Media Surf Pic 'Mavericks'] so
Moriarity died a day before his 23rd birthday on Friday, June 15, 2001, in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the island Lohifushi in the Maldives, drowning in a freediving accident. Moriarity was in Lohifushi for an O'Neill photo shoot, went free-diving alone and was not seen after. A search party recovered his body late Friday night.
Memorial Paddleboard Race
Moriarity has an annual paddleboard race in his memory, the annual Jay Moriarity Paddleboard Race aka "The Jay Race" is held in Capitola. After his death a memorial was held for him at Pleasure Point. All of Jay's family, friends, his wife, Kim, and mentor Frosty, attended.
See also
- Mavericks, California
- Chasing Mavericks (2012 film)
References
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External links
- [http://jayrace.surftech.com/ Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard Race] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704055254/http://jayrace.surftech.com/ |date=2014-07-04 }}
- [http://www.theinertia.com/surf/coaching-jay-moriarity/ Frosty Hesson describes coaching Jay Moriarity to surf Maverick's.]
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Category:Sportspeople from Augusta, Georgia
Category:Accidental deaths in the Maldives
Category:Sportspeople from Santa Cruz, California