Joshua Loya
Hometown: Santa Cruz, CA
Years para surfing: 5 years
Division: Para Surfing Vision Impairment 1
Quiver: King's Paddle Sports Custom 9 foot
Things I love: Surfing, martial arts, heavy metal, my wife, my dogs, my friends, laughter,
Star Wars
Instagram: @joshuathejedi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshualoya
Favorite quote: "Make friends with change, so you can enjoy the gift of the present." - Source Unknown
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Joshua “The Jedi” Loya started surfing much later in life, at the age of 37. A life-long martial artist, Joshua had always been
intrigued by anything which tested the full human, mind, body, and soul. A year before the dawn of his surfing journey,
Joshua left his career as a computer instructor and accessibility consultant to pursue martial arts and adventure living full-
time. Joshua intended surfing to be a momentary diversion from his grueling training schedule. He fell in love with it, and he
hasn’t stopped since.
Joshua grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He used to love to watch surfers when he was younger, but surfing was one of
many activities deemed too dangerous. Almost everything Joshua wanted to do put him at risk of losing his eyesight. By the
time of his sophomore year, Joshua was not allowed to run, swim, or lift weights. The stuff he especially wanted to do,
martial arts, skateboarding, and surfing, were out of the question. Joshua could only hold out for so long.
Joshua became restless, taking more and more risks. He started dabbling in martial arts and more intensely joining mosh
pits at concerts. In January of 1996, Joshua got to a breaking point. He cranked up Pantera’s Far Beyond Driven album as
loud as he could possibly get it, grabbed a pair of nunchucks, and promptly hit himself in his sole functioning eye. Joshua
had several unsuccessful surgeries to restore his eyesight, but, before all options had been exhausted, Joshua chose to stop
pursuing treatment. “I knew life was going to be difficult. I also knew that the quality of my life would be better, once I no
longer had to worry about losing vision I did not have.”
Once the bow string was released, Joshua moved forward with his adventuring. Rock climbing, water skiing, and the martial
arts training he had dreamt of since he was a boy. Joshua threw himself into his martial arts practice, eventually
earning five separate black belts and rank across seven distinct styles. Then, Joshua started surfing. His life was never the same.
Joshua’s confident and intuitive approach to surfing continues to make an impression with all those who witness him in the
water. In Joshua’s short time competing, he has amassed three USA Surfing National Adaptive Surfing Championship wins, one
US Open Adaptive Surfing Championships win, and a spot on the podium at the 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing
Championships. Joshua is also the first ever Western Surfing Association (WSA) West Coast Visually Impaired Champion,
doing so in the organization’s 60th anniversary year. The following year, in 2022, he eclipsed his previous performance, and
also one the West Coast Championships. He was the first ever 100% blind surfer to ride Kelly Slater’s wave pool at the WSL
Surf Ranch, having less than a year of surf experience at the time. His unique way of movement makes those who watch
him wonder if he really does use The Force.
Joshua is affiliated with Waves 4 All Surf and Sail, and he is coached by John White. He is a member of Surfight Jiu Jitsu in
Del Mar, California. He is a direct student of Joel Tudor.
Years para surfing: 5 years
Division: Para Surfing Vision Impairment 1
Quiver: King's Paddle Sports Custom 9 foot
Things I love: Surfing, martial arts, heavy metal, my wife, my dogs, my friends, laughter,
Star Wars
Instagram: @joshuathejedi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joshualoya
Favorite quote: "Make friends with change, so you can enjoy the gift of the present." - Source Unknown
=
Joshua “The Jedi” Loya started surfing much later in life, at the age of 37. A life-long martial artist, Joshua had always been
intrigued by anything which tested the full human, mind, body, and soul. A year before the dawn of his surfing journey,
Joshua left his career as a computer instructor and accessibility consultant to pursue martial arts and adventure living full-
time. Joshua intended surfing to be a momentary diversion from his grueling training schedule. He fell in love with it, and he
hasn’t stopped since.
Joshua grew up in Santa Cruz, California. He used to love to watch surfers when he was younger, but surfing was one of
many activities deemed too dangerous. Almost everything Joshua wanted to do put him at risk of losing his eyesight. By the
time of his sophomore year, Joshua was not allowed to run, swim, or lift weights. The stuff he especially wanted to do,
martial arts, skateboarding, and surfing, were out of the question. Joshua could only hold out for so long.
Joshua became restless, taking more and more risks. He started dabbling in martial arts and more intensely joining mosh
pits at concerts. In January of 1996, Joshua got to a breaking point. He cranked up Pantera’s Far Beyond Driven album as
loud as he could possibly get it, grabbed a pair of nunchucks, and promptly hit himself in his sole functioning eye. Joshua
had several unsuccessful surgeries to restore his eyesight, but, before all options had been exhausted, Joshua chose to stop
pursuing treatment. “I knew life was going to be difficult. I also knew that the quality of my life would be better, once I no
longer had to worry about losing vision I did not have.”
Once the bow string was released, Joshua moved forward with his adventuring. Rock climbing, water skiing, and the martial
arts training he had dreamt of since he was a boy. Joshua threw himself into his martial arts practice, eventually
earning five separate black belts and rank across seven distinct styles. Then, Joshua started surfing. His life was never the same.
Joshua’s confident and intuitive approach to surfing continues to make an impression with all those who witness him in the
water. In Joshua’s short time competing, he has amassed three USA Surfing National Adaptive Surfing Championship wins, one
US Open Adaptive Surfing Championships win, and a spot on the podium at the 2020 AmpSurf ISA World Para Surfing
Championships. Joshua is also the first ever Western Surfing Association (WSA) West Coast Visually Impaired Champion,
doing so in the organization’s 60th anniversary year. The following year, in 2022, he eclipsed his previous performance, and
also one the West Coast Championships. He was the first ever 100% blind surfer to ride Kelly Slater’s wave pool at the WSL
Surf Ranch, having less than a year of surf experience at the time. His unique way of movement makes those who watch
him wonder if he really does use The Force.
Joshua is affiliated with Waves 4 All Surf and Sail, and he is coached by John White. He is a member of Surfight Jiu Jitsu in
Del Mar, California. He is a direct student of Joel Tudor.
