Tributes to legendary surfer and board-shaper who has died aged 72
THE family and friends of Chris ‘CJ’ Jones have paid tribute to one of Cornwall’s legendary surfers and board shapers who gave so much to the surfing community.
A formidable surfer, CJ was one of the pioneers of early British surfing and won many titles, including the English, British and European titles all in the same year – 1971. He passed away on August 28, aged 72.
His surfing career began in the 1960s on Tolcarne beach in Newquay, where he befriended the lifeguards who gave him his first taste of surfing. The experience turned into a lifelong passion that took him around the world.
Bryony Jones, CJ’s eldest daughter, said: “There are few people more humble than our father and without knowing his name you’d be forgiven for having an entire conversation with him without knowing his extensive accolades and the high regard to which he is held amongst the surfing and Cornish community.
“He had time and patience for everybody and his sad passing has brought about a flood of grief across the world for those who knew and loved him.”
CJ was born in 1949 and started surfing in 1963 in Newquay.
In an interview with Real Surfing Magazine Cornwall, CJ remembered having to clean beach huts at Tolcarne beach all summer long to save up to buy his first board for £25.
Bryony said her father would be best remembered as a visionary surfboard shaper – among the best in Europe
“Crafting surfboards was dad’s art form. There are countless boards, always handmade with incredible intricate detail... still carving waves the world over.”