We received some very sad news last week that Lee Sheaff passed away last Sunday due to complications with his cancer. Below are words from friends and fellow surfers and some great pics of Sheaffy in action.
Paul Blackley
I didn’t know Lee well but would bump into him at the beach all the time. Lee was always smiling and would always give you the time of day to discuss the waves. I managed to surf Freshwater Bay many times this winter and would always find Lee already in the line up. I would usually check to see who was in first and if Lee was one of the names in the water it would always tempt me into taking some pics first as he was great surfer.
Mark Painter
Shocked. Words can’t describe how I’m feeling this morning.
Alan Reed
So sorry to hear the news. All we can do is send our sincere condolences, love and blessings, rest in peace bro.
James Cave
Always smiling/ripping. ….Sheaffy as I’ll remember
Ian Pacey
So sad! Devastating news! I will miss him in the line up, Fucking Cancer!
Jason Swain
So sorry to hear that news, I didn’t know him well but he was always a really friendly face in the line-up and a very good surfer who loved being out there.
Luke Young
I’m proud to say I was Sheaffys’ mate- I started shaping for him on recommendation by Matt hardwood and immediately became pretty damn fond of the bloke. To say ‘what a waste’ is an understatement- I have discs full of surf shots of him in Samoa- and to look at them now leaves me in disbelief. He is definitely one if the best ‘all rounders ‘I’ve had the pleasure to shape for and definitely one of the best gigglers I’ve shaped for. Your team position will always be open for you Sheaffy, love from Luke and family and everyone at LY Surfboards
Martin Drake-Knight
will be hard to imagine not seeing that van driven by that big white dog…. with sheaffy operating the pedals and trying to see the road. A legend of island surfing that could show up and instantly make the line up feel bright, less cold and more fun
Oliver Harvey
I always recollect with fondness the grin on his face as he dropped in late on a solid ledgy one at freshwater … if he made it or not ..it didn’t matter! .. as mart said … he was the one person who you’d always be happy to see when you paddled out…
Chris Mannion
It is not until they are not around that you understand how much you miss. Sheaffy was one of the nicest guys I have ever met with his smile infectious and when there is so many horrible people out there this truly is unfair. I know we only had our surfing lives where we were mates but to be honest that is our passion so it is an extremely important part of our lives and spend many hours together, something I will always remember him by. Such a sad moment in all our lives.
Leahpar Ffar
An absolute gentleman …. I will always remember a big smile and a ripping style … The Last surf I had with him he was stylish as usual and whilst we sat a little wide he sat opposite the suck rock and took off on whatever set came to him !! Won’t be the same not seeing him in the sea with us…he will remembered as a true gent of the island surf scene.
Mark New
Out of all the surfers I’ve met home an away, Sheaffy’s stoke was unmatched. I ll never forget driving with a good friend all night to Scotland chasing a swell to find him crashing in the back of a cab van after arriving the day before. He surfed 2 days of epic swell with us broke a board, then drove back all on his own. Whenever it was on he would be there, always smiling. He was a good soul, a great surfer and I’m gonna bloody miss you mate!! The Island is not going to be the same without you.
James Ranson
Sheaffy you represent everything thing in life that I respect and aspire to you. You are irreplaceable and I feel privileged to have known you. It seems so apt that the last surf we shared was Freshy as good as it gets and you were fucking ripping. Where ever you are I’m sure you’ll be on the biggest set I the day. See you in the waves Sheaf…
Edd Thompson
The last time I surfed with lee was near Niton, we sat together waiting for a set to come, I asked him how he was, he said good think I’m getting over it. A wave came he caught it, came back out and sat next to me again. We started talking about Samoa for a while then a set came and he paddled past me, I said what you doing? He said let me I’ve got cancer, and started paddling for the wave, of course I dropped in on him, we both trimmed down the wave and kicked out together. I said fuck mate you need a better excuse than that, he cracked up and we paddled out for some more. True legend, gone but never forgotten. R.I.P lee.
Chris Mannion
Last year when he found out that he had cancer Sheaffy, Newy and myself took of to Thurso as the surf looked like it would pump, we had a rad time with rad waves. So last week I said to Sheaffy when he gets better I was going to take him away for a trip as it was almost a yr ago. He came back with this response which in Sheaffy world is priceless (sorry Newy !)
Sheaffy said ‘I will be doing my best to also keep eyes peeled on east coast and don’t want to get through all this then die in Newy’s van because he is texting at 100 miles an hour!’ This was the Thursday before he died and his sense of humour was always amazing ! Made me chuckle and something to remind me of him !
Jamie Currie
RIP fella! Always a sad thing to see and so young! I never knew him like the lads did but he was always as you say he was in the line up with a smile, always! A sad lose for the island surfing community! Thoughts are with your family and friends! Rest easy mate!
Jamie Whittle
Shocked and saddened I was by the news. Le Sheaf was a legend. Always smiling, down to earth and had an amazing outlook on life. Makes me want to punch myself in the face for ever being a wingeing or agro bastard. I’ll really miss seeing him in the line up, as all the boys have said he was one of those guys that would always brighten up the line up with his infectious laugh. RIP Le Sheaf. You will be sadly missed x
Eddie Cole
Lee was the coolest, calmest and collected guy in the lineup for sure! With the utmost of patience he would always be on the biggest and best wave of the set. I have felt really cut up all day thinking about the sessions I’ve had with Lee and how we swapped stories about barreling right handers while waiting for the bombs. The last time I surfed with Lee was at pumping Freshy and I hadn’t had a wave for about twenty minutes due, to not knowing where best to sit, Lee waved me over to sit next to him we talked until the next set came and he gave me the first one. Needless to say I found my rhythm and had one of the best surfs I’ve had on the Island. The Island lineup will not be the same for me without screaming yeeew Sheaffy yeeew!!! All my condolences to those that had the pleasure of knowing him!!! XXX
Richard Payne
Lee was without doubt the happiest smiliest person in the water whatever the wave conditions, and never a bad word came from him. One of my first recollections of Lee was at the first Critical Section / Wight Air event in Yaverland car park – Lee won the Junior event for wave sailing. And that smile and passion for adventure sports continued relentlessly and gave so much to everyone around him. He was a legend and put in time for Bembridge Lifeboat and always gave to others- whether it be his smile or his time!
He will be sadly missed, my love, thoughts and prayers go with his family.
Rest in peace brother.
James Ranson
‘Surfing creates a special bond between people which is formed over years of frosty dawn runs and gale force onshores. Lee was there for all of it! We’ve lost a brother in arms, a true legend of our sport and an irreplaceable friend.’
Mark Painter
Why does it always happen to great people. ???
Big love from a land down under. xxx