Posted on: Friday, October 1, 2004

SURFING • 1978-2004
Cancer claims Hawai'i pro Bogle, 26

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Jason Bogle, one of Hawai'i's rising professional surfers, died Wednesday after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Bogle, who was 26, was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone disease, in 2003. He spent most of the past year undergoing treatment in California.

"He was this skinny little kid who blossomed into a solid professional surfer," said veteran Hawai'i surfing judge Jack Shipley. "He became an extraordinarily good surfer at Pipeline. There's no doubt in my mind that he would have been one of the top North Shore surfers."

Bogle, who was raised in Kailua, won several amateur titles, including a national championship in 1996.

As a professional surfer, he was especially effective in powerful North Shore waves. In November of 2002, he made the semifinals of the Xcel Pro at Sunset Beach. In February of 2003, he made the quarterfinals of the Hansen's Energy Pro at the Banzai Pipeline.

"He didn't necessarily win a lot of contests, but he always placed," said Rainos Hayes, one of Bogle's coaches. "He had an uncanny ability for picking the best waves at Pipeline. He was scrawny compared to the other guys, but he would always manage to find the best waves."

A memorial service in Hawai'i is tentatively planned for November.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.