Surfer/Shaper Missing at Pipe

This is sad news for us here on the North Shore… A friend and fellow shaper/surfer Joaquin Velilla went missing yesterday evening at Pipe… Waves were solid 10’+ Story from our local paper here… http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Jan/12/br/br8746295013.html

Here he is from the other day surfing Haleiwa on his longboard…

Joaquin is a really cool guy and we were talking on Monday about him wanting to shape a SUP board for himself… We’re all crossing our fingers for him but it doesn’t look promising as they’ve called off the search again till tomorrow… Prayers out to his family and his girlfriend who came to Haleiwa this morning and told the crew what was going on with Joaquin…

Terrible news. Don’t know the man, but my prayers are with him. We should never forget the dangers we face in larger waves. Keep us posted please.

Quote:

This is sad news for us here on the North Shore… A friend and fellow shaper/surfer Joaquin Velilla went missing yesterday evening at Pipe… Waves were solid 10’+ Story from our local paper here… http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/…br/br8746295013.html

Here he is from the other day surfing Haleiwa on his longboard…

Joaquin is a really cool guy and we were talking on Monday about him wanting to shape a SUP board for himself… We’re all crossing our fingers for him but it doesn’t look promising as they’ve called off the search again till tomorrow… Prayers out to his family and his girlfriend who came to Haleiwa this morning and told the crew what was going on with Joaquin…

I was waay out there surfing Himis this morning, didn’t know who they were looking for at the time, but had a bad feeling as I watched the USCG cutter, the big search plane doing circles and the chopper buzzing the shoreline.

Positive thoughts, hope that somehow he turns up ok!

Just saw on the news that they found his board.

I know the feeling… I’ve seen Joaquin around a lot then on Monday he introduced himself to me and we talked at length about SUP stuff and materials etc… He is very knowledgeable… The day he went missing we were working and talking about how he rips on a longboard. He usually rips on a shortboard…

Right before I paddled out yesterday the crew at Haleiwa told me what was going on after Joaquin’s girlfriend came by and was asking if anyone saw him… I was outside P. Point and that big Coast Guard boat was cruising right outside… I felt sick looking at it. This kinda thing reminds us anything can happen out there… Pipe increases the chances…

Joaquins website… http://www.velillasurfboards.com/index.html

kaumaha au nou

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070113/NEWS01/701130339/1001

My mistake to a couple people I mentioned Joaquin was originally from Brazil… Joaquin is originally from Puerto Rico… This article from today…

After 3 days of looking the search was just called off.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family.

Stay safe. OJSHJS

i cant stop thinking of this guy.

This is so sad.

The photos show some serious style borne out of long experience. I recently shaped a pintail with this exact drop in style, up the front of the board in mind and its really sad to see someone doing it so well and know they will be missed.

This guy has grace, may he be surfing amoungst the stars.

riff.

The worst part is they haven’t found him so his poor girlfriend and family are in limbo wondering… So sad… As far as Joaquins skills, he ripped hard with style for sure.

IIRC, this is the 3rd year in a row where a surfer has disappeared without a trace surfing country. Wasn’t it two years ago a young surfer disappeared at Pipe, then last year that girl disappeared surfing V-Land?

Last winter I worked with “Joaqo” at Laminations Hawaii. He was a gracious person and a great surfer and boardbuilder. He loved those waves at Pipeline. I am sad that we will not be able to surf with him again…Keep his fiance and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Joaco was a great surfer and a great friend. I knew him since we were young punks in Miami and encouraged him to move out here where we always dreamed of surfing hawaiian waves. At least he died doing what he loved…and will forever surf his favorite spot. Think of him when you drop in at pipe…he will be right there with you in spirit.

Pray for Mariela and his family…she is a strong woman and an awesome surfer herself and I am sure she could use the support of the surfing community. Joaco will always be in our hearts and his spirit surfing…just as he wanted it!!!

We miss you Joaco

will be praying for him . . . its sad . . . but he’s in a place . . . where the waves are never ending, its always offshore, and you don’t have hold downs or extreme paddles or long plane flights . . .