Meet the real Waterman of the Year, Dirk and Natasha Ziff be damned!
What is the worst thing that has happened to you whilst surfing? A cramp? A nasty fin cut? Headache?
Maybe lots of water up the nose that uncomfortably squeezed the sinuses?
Well, Christy Davis, male surfer from the Bay Area, just had a heart attack while on a Mavericks wave, a full on heart attack, and lived to tell his story.
Amazing?
Yes. But before we read his heart-warming story, can I just say that I love his name is Christy? I do. It’s like a boy named Sue and I wonder if being named Christy made him want to surf Mavs in the first place?
Like, “I’ll show you bastards what a Christy can do!”
I want to meet him, but in the meantime, let’s curl up with some breakfast sausage and cinnamon French toast dipped in pure cream and read The San Francisco Chronicle together.
Christy Davis has been a fixture at Mavericks since the early 1990s. He’s among the few people in the world who find solace at that fearsome big-wave break, confident in his ability and prepared for the worst. The man is 66 years old and hasn’t shown his age — until Monday.
With waves pumping through in the 25-foot range — below contest-worthy size but still a formidable challenge — Davis was enjoying a productive session when he suddenly felt “serious pain” on the left side of his chest, then numbness in his left arm. He knew he had to get to a hospital as soon as possible, and a very concerned group of fellow surfers — including August Hidalgo, Frank Jimenez, Alex Martins, Manny Resano and Hide Minami — made certain he got to the beach.
It wasn’t long before Davis was rushed to a local hospital, and “they took me straight into surgery and put a stent in my heart,” he said. “My L.A.D. (left anterior descending artery) was 100 percent blocked. The doctors said it was a serious heart attack, and that if I wasn’t in such good shape, I most likely would have died.”
Christy is The Waterman of The Year, Dirk and Natasha Ziff be damned.

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Awww haha nah it was just complete bowel and sphincter trauma fortunately.
Best regards and recovery, Chirsty!
You awesome!!!
This is awesome. What a hero. All the best with the recovery!
Your wave, Christy!
comment of the decade
Getting old and still trying to get after it, This guy charging mavs at 66, LEGEND!. Shows the rest of us it is possible.
I love your prospective sponno list, you know your demographic!!
Damn right, the socks exude some serious steeze far unattainable from the shaka.
You’ve asked about surfing injuries Chas, so I thought I bring up my problem here on Oprah.
Every time I go out surfing, I get this really nasty pain in my ego.
Feels like someone is repeatedly hammering it with a,
uh… hammer.
I’ve been home-monitoring my self-esteem levels and they’re particularly low after a surf.
I’ve asked my pharmacist and he gives out this deep belly laugh, leans forward over the counter and shouts “KOOK!!!” into my face.
Do the spraying flecks of spittle contain the medicine?
Any doctors in the house who would like to advise?
I am sorry ceebee I don’t have a the answer for you but I can’t stress enough the importance of rectifying this as soon as possible. it is a very slippery slope you are on, and while your situation is most likely salvageable, please remain vigilant and be aware of any thoughts that involve stand up paddleboarding and the urge to share it on instagram. once you reach this stage my friend, I am afraid it may be too late. desperate times may require desperate measures. perhaps sharing your beach grit input with your wife would make her aware of your plight and if she really cares for you she will encourage regular visits the beach, supply kind words of encouragement and perhaps even some hand relief at the end of a long surf session with the words “you were ripping” whispered in your ear just as you ejaculate.
after reading this I realise there is a fair chance that this would backfire horribly. probably a better option to just bottle it up and settle for a longtom cry wank.
I love how we now possess these handcrafted linguistic instruments;
‘Cry Wank’ and ‘Stand Up Golf Wank’ to describe emotional response.
BG is at the cutting edge of culture for the new century.
Funny how they make the socks the most unappealing colours hoping that no one steals them. Yet …
Deus ex Machina
Sunstroke
Really fucks you up
Hey there fellow ocean lovers. I just wanted to share with you all a Thank You! Your story/comments about Christy Davis had us in tears of laughter. It was just what we both needed after experiencing one of the worst weeks of our lives. Christy said his heart was hurting from laughing too much! And yes, it IS short for Christopher. Regrettably no breakfast sausage for Christy for a while…well, perhaps just a bite.
Hiya Mrs C !
I was there on the table 5 years ago, looking at my heart on 6 screens. Unreal.
Christy just gotta readjust a little, take the meds and see how he goes.
No breakfast sausage for you for a while … well perhaps just a bite. Heh.
All the best, a
Tou-chie haha
Ahhhhh thanks Mrs. C! Your husband is my hero!
Ho brah !
Once upon returning from Indo I was feeling cocky and bailed on a non consequential wave, I took the middle surge rock completely on the arse and tail bone and could barely walk out of the water. I didn’t do a proper shit for a week.
Thank got for opioids ah, for not shitting that is 😉
Ha! I can’t even take any pain killers because of this. I do indulge in natural relief though 👌
Yep Meet the real Waterman of the year
Stickers, apparel and a tea bagged water flask to follow
Was this at Blacks by chance?
Something to do with ‘falling rocks’?
Flash forward
Cdog
has heartbreak attack while sitting in glass analysis cubicle cause ELos a no show for the poddy cause his sock drawer needed urgent reorganizing
And Dave washed his hair and all
Christy ring. Christy brown. Christy dignam. Christy Moore. They all have hair on their chest. Short for Christopher.
Bet this Christy had hair on his chest too. Good on ya Christy, back in the brine in no time.
Give that man a beer.
And get him on a podcast