No. 1: Jay Moriarty
Chasing Mavericks ring any bells? This wonder kid’s story even inspired Hollywood producers. His claim to fame? Riding one of California’s biggest and most impressive waves, Mavericks, at the age of 16, which turned him into a surfing celebrity virtually overnight. Unfortunately, his career was short lived as he died at just 22 in a free diving accident. We granted him the no. 1 spot in our countdown because it is safe to assume that, had his career not ended so abruptly, he would have continued to ride the waves to perfection for many more years to come.
