“The master of life is the person that still smiles through the bad, and that’s what I try to practice…Out of the bad, there always comes a good. You just gotta trust in it.” – Alex Gray

While Alex Gray is best known for his big-wave exploits and relentless positivity, his greatest achievements transcend deadly surf and two-wave hold downs. As a teenager, Alex lost his older brother and mentor, Chris, to a heroin overdose. The loss devastated the family – and for a period caused Alex to drop surfing altogether. But, in a turn that only life’s unpredictability can inspire, Alex and the Gray family channeled loss into a constructive outlet that honors a family legacy and enables an unflinching pursuit of greatness. ICON: Alex Gray paints an earnest portrait of the resilience of the human spirit in chasing the ocean’s outer limits.

This piece was produced in loving memory of Christopher Gray with the generous hospitality and candor of the Gray family. Thank you so much for sharing your story and to Mike Nulty, Body Glove, and Volcom for your help in making this happen.

ICON is The Inertia’s new profile series that highlights inspiring individuals making meaningful contributions to the ocean and outdoor culture.