Jay Moriarity

Jay Moriarity became famous to the world when he was launched with the lip on this giant, 35 foot, offshore, top to bottom Mavericks monster - which was captured by surf photographer Bob Barbour and made the cover of Surfer Magazine in December 1994. At 14 years old, Jay began a grueling, five-year apprenticeship of swimming, paddling and writing essays before he took on the challenge of Mavericks. Jay Moriarity continued evolving into one of the best big-wave surfers in the world thru the 1990’s. He lived heroically, with passion and has been immortalized as an inspiration to young water athletes from around the world to live their dreams, face their fears. Jay left this earth too young, and the surfing world mourned. His life was made into the movie Chasing Mavericks in 2012, inspiring a new generation of water athletes to Live Like Jay. Santa Cruz photographer Bob Barbour was witness to many of young Jay Moriarity’s greatest moments but never more so than the morning this photo was taken. After arriving in Half Moon Bay together and heading out to the break, Jay waxed up and jumped off the boat and into the lineup. This was Jay’s first wave of the day… 16 years old, hair still dry and he paddles into this Mavericks monster.