Jones, James (1952 – )

Aloof, balls-to-the-wall big-wave charger from Honolulu, Hawaii; winner of the Duke Kahanamoku Classic in 1972 and 1976, and a key figure in the '80s-launched big-wave surfing renaissance.

Jones was born (1952) and raised in Honolulu, the son of a construction equipment operator and bar owner, and began surfing in Waikiki at age nine. He first came to the attention of the surf world as an 18-year-old semifinalist in the 1970 World Surfing Championships, held in Australia; in 1970 and 1971 he...