Hugues Oyarzabal, French Surfing Tube Savant, Has Died

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Mar 20, 2025 6:41 PM ET

French surfer, Basque Country native, pioneer with POV camera angles in the heavy, slabbing tubes, and passionate free-surfer – Hugues Oyarzabal – has passed away. He was 39 years old.

According to a report from the New York Times, Oyarzabal’s parents confirmed the death was a suicide. They added: “His physical and psychological suffering took its toll. He has chosen to leave us, to rediscover the peace and serenity he has been unable to find over the last few years.”

His passing happened back in February. And to commemorate their fallen brother, the French Surfing Association posted this remembrance:

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A post shared by Fédération Française Surf (@surfingfrance)

“Our great friend Hugues Oyarzabal has left us.

“We have learned with sadness of the death of one of the most talented French surfers, all generations combined. A pioneer of slabs reputed to be unsurfable and on-board camera videos, the surfer from Hendaye was as comfortable in a huge Parlementia as on the first beach break that came along; As technical in the air as in the tubes.

“A citizen of the world, he had ridden the most beautiful waves, making Indonesia his second home, he the goofy inevitably in love with the left.

“Hyperactive in surfing as in life, ‘Oyarzaboul’ did 10,000 things an hour, was ahead of his time.

"Honored many times, including by Kelly Slater himself, his greatest achievement was passing on his love of the ocean to his daughter Kailani. It is to her and her family that we send our most sincere condolences. How fondly we think of our friends at the Hendaye Bidassoa Surf Club.

“Today there is a new light in the sky and, for all the reasons we have mentioned, this one, in a shooting star version, probably shines even brighter than the others.”

Rest in power. To honor Hugues, check out this clip of him doing what he did best: