Sion Milosky dies surfing Mavericks

Hawaiian big-wave surfer Sion Milosky has died surfing Mavericks, California. Famous for catching the biggest wave ever paddled into, Sion’s career accelerated over the last few years thanks to a partnership with Hawaiian photographer Daniel Russo. Russo captured some of Sion’s most incredible big-wave moments, and over the last five years the two became very close friends. When Stab called Daniel to find out what happened, he was at home in Hawaii. Daniel had originally planned to fly over to Mav’s with Sion three days ago but opted instead to change his ticket for a flight tonight.

Russo had spoken to Danny Fuller who, along with Nathan Fletcher, had been surfing Mav’s with Sion just before he was killed. The trio had been surfing Mavericks for the past three days, and by all accounts Sion had been dominating every session and getting the best waves. Fuller and Fletcher started to get too cold, so they took one of the jetskis into the bay. Sion told them that he wanted to stay out and catch some more waves, so Fuller and Fletcher went in without him.

Soon after, another surfer came in on a ski. Fuller asked him if he’d seen Sion, and if he was coming in. The surfer said he hadn’t seen him at all. Fuller and Fletcher immediately went back out to look for Sion.

According to what Russo had been told, “(Sion) had gotten a big wave on the outside, made the drop and everything, then the lip exploded behind him. He wiped-out and was under for a couple of waves of the set, then afterwards no-one was really paying attention to him, I guess.”

When Fuller and Fletcher found Sion, he was floating on the inside near the rocks. They took Sion in, but he was dead by the time they reached the hospital.

Russo was understandably distraught about losing one of his closest friends: “Over the last five years, we became really close. All the moments that we’ve experienced were just so… on-the-line. Just the highest degree of difficulty and the highest highs of emotions. He’s done some things that like, a lot of people couldn’t even begin to understand.”

Sion is the second surfer to die at Mavericks, after Mark Foo died at the famous big-wave spot in 1994. Our condolences go out to Sion’s friends and family.

In January last year, Surfing Magazine did a story on a wave that Sion caught, known as the biggest wave ever paddled-into. The Above photo, as well as the video and the quotes below are courtesy of Surfing. Check out their full article here.

Nathan Fletcher: “That was the biggest thing I seen anyone paddle into, ever”
Shane Dorian: “Hands down the biggest wave I’ve seen anyone paddle into.”
Jamie O’Brien: “I looked down that wave and I have never seen a bigger wave before.”

[showvideo]