Where are they now - Josh Stone

16/05/2022

Freestyle World Champion in 1999 and 2000, the Hawaiian Josh Stone has marked a whole generation of windsurfers with his commitment, generosity, and talent. Now 51 years old and still as enthusiastic as ever, he answers the questions of Windsurfjournal.com in the "Where are they now" section.

Windsurfjournal.com: In a few lines, can you tell us about your life since you stopped your professional windsurfing career?
Josh Stone: Well it’s been a long time since I wrapped up my professional windsurfing career. Almost seems like a lifetime or two ago. My wife Amy and I had our two kids by then, Harley and Savanna, and we were lucky enough that my professional career was successful financially, so we have been very much enjoying life on Maui since my retirement. We spend a lot of time travelling and exploring the world. Our kids have grown and moved on. Harley is a Marine officer in flight school gunning to fly jets, Savanna has already had a career in surfing, competing on the WSL challenger series, and Amy and I have been living the dream and enjoying life. We’ve always been involved in real estate and through those ventures lucked l into a number of restaurant operations throughout the US and Canada, but in general we appreciate our time as a true gift and enjoy life to the fullest. It’s not hard to do when you live in the paradise that is Maui.

WJ: What memories do you have of all those years?
JS: The memories I cherish the most are all the amazing experiences I shared with my lady and my close friends like Brian Talma and Francisco Goya. It really does seem like a dream looking back on it, and there was so much action going on all the time, it blends together. There are a few super precious memories that really stick with me, like the aerial in Fiji, drinking beers after windsurfing Lake Garda for the first time at Hotel Pier, snowboarding for the first time in St. Moritz, being in the finals at my first travelling comp in South Africa, standing on the podium in Sylt with tens of thousands of spectators, windsurfing the finals with Fran in Gran Canaria, meeting my lady in Barbados at an event with Brian, raising my son on tour…endless, endless memories that we look back on with love and happiness and amazement. It often feels like watching a favorite movie that was of someone else’s life.

WJ: Are you still interested in professional windsurfing, and how do you look at the sport today?
JS: I absolutley am totally into professional windsurfing still! I am so blown away at the progression of the next generation and the generation after them. I dreamed of moves that they pull off with no effort now days. It is insanity, and I love all of the kids crucshing it. I’m lucky enough to windsurf Hookipa everyday it’s good so I get to see most of the pro boys and girls ripping it up on the daily. I can’t believe the shit they can do, but it doesn’t make me frustrated, it actually makes me really proud. My hope is that the industry gets their act together and the pro tour recovers so the pros can continue to thrive and progress. I can’t wait to see where the level of the sport is in ten years!