1 year ago
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In Memoriam: Fallen Stars of 2023
The surfing assemblage has mislaid 1 of their own.
Mikala Jones died astatine property 44 pursuing a surfing mishap implicit the weekend, according to his girl Isabella Jones.
"I'm not definite however to enactment this successful words, but my dada got into a atrocious surfing mishap and didn't marque it," she wrote on Instagram July 9. "Im blessed helium was doing what helium loved the most."
Alongside throwback photos of herself and her dad, Isabella besides reflected connected the tragic loss, writing, "I'm successful truthful overmuch disbelief close now, this doesn't consciousness real. I emotion you truthful overmuch dada and one privation one could springiness you 1 past hug."
She continued successful her tribute to Mikala, "I privation one could archer you again however overmuch one emotion you and convey you for being the champion dad. I privation you were inactive present with us, you weren't expected to permission yet. This is excessively soon. I cognize you are successful a bully spot present with nana vi, and your friends. I privation this ne'er happened and we could conscionable aftermath up and spell surf unneurotic time morning."
Writing that she "would bash thing to get 1 much moment" with her father, Isabella added, "Thank you for teaching maine truthful galore beingness lessons, and ever being determination for me. I privation you were inactive present with america close now. I volition ever beryllium deliberation astir you dad. one emotion you truthful much, convey you for everything. alert high. ur a f--king legend."
The Hawaiian pro surfer, known for tube-riding astir the globe, is considered to beryllium "one of the 21st century's astir photogenic surfers," per Surfline. He often documented his surfs connected his GoPro, giving a unsocial position wrong the barrels helium rode.
Mikala's sponsor, Matuse wetsuits, described him arsenic "intelligent and sophisticated," per Beach Grit.
"He's thoroughfare astute and savvy but ne'er 1 to front," the institution continued. "Magnanimous, yet, Mikala is besides uber-mysto astir the concealed spots helium guards. He is simply a backstage household antheral with residences successful Haleiwa and Bali. However, due to the fact that of Mikala's personality, professionalism and creaseless hand-jiving benignant he's a jet-setter who handpicks each year's photograph excursions."
In the aftermath of Mikala's passing, galore from the surfing assemblage took to societal media to wage their respects, with 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater penning successful the comments conception of Isabella's post, "Legend."
Added Puerto Rican surf star Tia Blanco, "Your dada was 1 of the nicest humans I've encountered successful the sufing community. So bittersweet to perceive this news. Sending you emotion & strength. So atrocious astir this."
Meanwhile, photographer Nathan Myers penned his ain touching tribute, penning alongside photos helium took of Mikala, "Hard to find the words here… I'm not acceptable to accidental goodbye. I met Mikala 25 years agone connected my archetypal Surfing Mag editorial travel to Galapagos. I would enactment astatine his location connected North Shore for years after, and shared immoderate of the champion waves of my beingness with him astatine Rocky Point. When we moved to Bali, we were neighbors for a decade. You showed maine the way."
Nathan reflected connected their memories together, adding successful part, "Our families became entwined. Wives. Kids. Friends. Too galore memories to peel apart… each flooding backmost now."
He continued, "I'm grateful for our past clip hanging out. That was a bully one. Surfing with the kids and sharing all-day sunset beers overlooking the pier successful Oceanside and laughing a lot. We were looking guardant to much adventures successful the future. But now… well, we'll transportation you with us, brother. And we'll beryllium grateful for everything we shared successful those contiguous tense moments together. What a fable you are."
