Pro Surfer Kalani David Dies at Age 24 After Suffering Seizure While Practicing
Sep 19, 2022
OAHU, UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 9: Kalani David of Hawaii advances to the quarterfinals of the Pipe Invitational, the trials of the 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters after placing second in Heat 3 of Round 1 at Pipeline on December 9, 2019 in Oahu, United States. (Photo by Tony Heff/WSL via Getty Images)
Professional surfer Kalani David died Saturday after suffering a seizure while practicing.
"He was surfing when he apparently suffered some kind of epileptic seizure and drowned," Costa Rica's Judicial Investigation Agency said to the Associated Press (via NBC News). "The death is still under investigation."
According to the AP, the 24-year-old suffered from Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a congenital heart condition that can cause seizures, paralysis and cardiac arrest.
Per Alexander Haro of The Inertia, David previously had a seizure while he was skateboarding in August 2016. He was placed into a medically induced coma for two days following another seizure at home in Hawai'i that December.
David quickly built a reputation for himself as both a surfer and a skateboarder. He won a gold medal in the under-16 group at the ISA World Junior Championships. He also competed in the 2012 Summer X Games in Los Angeles, placing 18th in skateboard park.
Legendary surfer Kelly Slater called David "one of the most talented surfers/skaters in the world" on social media.
"He was constantly pushing his limits," Slater said. "My condolences to the great family and friends that Kalani had on every beach around the world."
Surfing Icon Kelly Slater Wins Billabong Pro Pipeline Event Days Before 50th Birthday
Feb 6, 2022
Kelly Slater celebrates after winning the Billabong Pro Pipeline on Feb. 5, 2022, in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Slater won the contest just short of his 50th birthday. (Brady Lawrence/World Surf League via AP)
Kelly Slater isn't slowing down as he approaches age 50.
The surfing legend. who hits that milestone Friday, took home the Billabong Pro Pipeline event over the weekend, becoming the oldest winner of the event's history. Slater has won surfing's most prestigious event a record eight times, with the first coming all the way back in 1992.
No other person has won the Billabong Pro Pipeline more than four times.
Seth Moniz, a rising 24-year-old who wasn't even born the first time Slater won this event, finished in second.
Now that he's proved he can beat the best of the next generation, Slater says he'll consider retirement from full-time surfing. He said he spoke to Tom Brady, who announced his retirement from football last week, in the aftermath of the 44-year-old quarterback's decision to walk away.
“It would be interesting if that happened in the same week,“ Slater said, per Pat Graham and Eddie Pells of the Associated Press. “We’ll see how that goes. I’m contemplating whether I stop now or really go full bore this whole year, which would be, in my eyes, really for the fans and saying goodbye to everybody after all the years of support they’ve given me.”
Olympic Surfing 2021: Medal Winners, Scores and Results
Jul 28, 2021
Carissa Moore, of the United States, holds the gold medal, South Africa's Bianca Buitendag holds the silver medal and Japan's Amuro Tsuzuki holds the bronze medal in the women's surfing competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at Tsurigasaki beach in Ichinomiya, Japan. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Carissa Moore of the United States and Italo Ferreira of Brazil took home surfing's top prizes in the sport's first-ever appearance at the Olympics.
Moore defeated South Africa's Bianca Buitendag 14.93 to 8.46 in the women's gold-medal match. Ferreira had no problems in his gold-medal match against Kanoa Igarashi, scoring an easy win, 15.14 to 6.60.
Women's Surfing Results
Gold: Carissa Moore (United States) def. Bianca Buitendag (South Africa), 14.93 to 8.46
Bronze: Amuro Tsuzuki (Japan) def. Caroline Marks (United States), 6.80 to 4.26
Bronze: Owen Wright (Australia) def. Gabriel Medina (Brazil), 11.97 to 11.77
The weather forecast led organizers to push the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals into one day. The medal matches were originally scheduled to be held Wednesday, but tropical storm Nepartak is expected to cause large rainfalls in the Tokyo area this week.
Despite some gloomy conditions early in the day, things started to clear up in time for the women's final.
A four-time champion on the ASP Women's World Tour, Moore further solidified her standing as the best surfer in the world with this performance.
"I feel super blessed, super fortunate. It's been an incredible experience," Moore told reporters after her win. "It's been a crazy couple of days, a little bit of a rollercoaster of emotions just trying to figure out the break, find my rhythm, learning how to trust myself without my family here."
🇺🇸SURFIN' USA🇺🇸
Four-time World Champion Carissa Moore is the first-ever Gold Medalist (🥇) in the Women's Surfing Shortboard competition, defeating 🇿🇦's Bianca Buitendag.
The defining move of Moore's run was a two-turn combo that garnered a score of 7.33 to put her over the top for gold.
Things were also emotional on the men's side when Ferreira clinched the first gold medal for his country with a brilliant run on the waves.
What a moment.
Brazil's Italo Ferreira made history as the first Olympic gold medalist in men's surfing, and was carried out of the water by his team. #TokyoOlympicspic.twitter.com/8fACqFjmtS
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2021
It wasn't entirely smooth sailing for Ferreira on his run. He had to make a board change after his preferred choice broke on the first wave he hit.
"I broke my good board on my first wave. That board gives me good speed, the other one is more slow," Ferreira said after his win. "It's super hard out there, but I knew that there was a lot of opportunities around."
Despite not being able to have the board he wanted for the entire run, Ferreira made his backup work with spectacular results.
The host nation was given plenty of reasons to celebrate surfing's Olympic debut. Amuro Tsuzuki beat out Caroline Marks for bronze on the women's side.
Igarashi came up short in his run against Ferreira, but the 23-year-old still walked away from the Games with a silver medal around his neck.
Surfer Katherine Diaz Dies at 22 from Lightning Strike During Olympics Training
Mar 22, 2021
A surfer rides a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte or North Beach in Nazare, Portugal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. A big swell generated earlier in the week by Hurricane Epsilon in the North Atlantic, reached the Portuguese west coast drawing big wave surfers to Nazare. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha)
Katherine Diaz, a 22-year-old Olympic surfing hopeful, died while training at the El Tunco beach in El Salvador after being struck by lightning while training, per Matias Grez of CNN.com.
"Katherine came over to hug her [friend], as soon as she finished hugging her, the noise was heard," her uncle Beto Diaz, who said he was with her in the water, told an El Salvadoran newspaper (h/t Grez). "She, the friend, was thrown by the force of the lightning strike too, the board threw me back. Katherine died instantly."
According toAS, "the sky was clear and it was an unforeseen storm that did not seem to carry much electrical intensity either" before Diaz was struck by the lightning (h/tSven Buschof the Olympic Channel).
The La Bocana and El Sunzal beaches in El Salvador are set to host the International Surfing Association's Surf City El Salvador World Surfing Games between May 29 to June 6, which will also be the final qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Games. Surfing will make its Olympic debut at this summer's Games.
According toChris BumbacaofUSA Today, Diaz was also a chef and had her own business in El Tunco alongside being an Olympic hopeful in surfing.
It is with a heavy heart that the ISA has learned about the passing of El Salvador’s Katherine Diaz. pic.twitter.com/7SQCEHPpu3
— International Surfing Association (@ISAsurfing) March 21, 2021
We send our heartfelt condolences to Katherine’s family, the surfers of El Salvador, and to all those in the international surfing community whose lives she touched.
— International Surfing Association (@ISAsurfing) March 21, 2021
"Katherine was a girl very passionate about sports, she was very motivated and happy for the event that was approaching," El Salvador's surfing association, FESASURF, said in a statement (h/t Grez). "'The Paddle Out'—a ceremony in her honor—will be held next Tuesday."
A funeral was held for Diaz on Friday.
Maui Pro Surfing Competition on Hold After Shark Attack Injures Rec Surfer
Dec 9, 2020
A surfer vaults over a wave during a tow surfing session at Praia do Norte or North Beach in Nazare, Portugal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. A big swell, generated earlier in the week by Hurricane Epsilon in the North Atlantic, reached the Portuguese west coast drawing big wave surfers to Nazare. (AP Photo/Pedro Rocha)
The Maui Pro surf competition in Honolua Bay, Hawaii, which features many of the top female surfers in the world, was put on indefinite hold after a 56-year-old manwas attacked by a shark on Tuesday, three hours prior to the second day of the event, per Scott Gleeson of USA Today.
The man reportedly suffered injuries to his leg and required both CPR at the scene and surgery, according to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Looking back on an unexpected day and sending thoughts and prayers to the victim and all involved with the attack today in the Bay💙🙏The #MauiPro is on hold @wslpic.twitter.com/NbjlpcJvJQ
The World Surf League released the following statement:
There will be no competition at the Maui Pro today following a shark incident involving a recreational surfer this morning at Honolua Bay. The WSL is working with authorities and our thoughts are with the victim of this incident. The Maui Pro is on hold until further notice. pic.twitter.com/AGZSkF7wKZ
