Locals and surf enthusiasts are familiar with the name Jay Moriarity. He was the dynamic local surfer whose celebrity soared after tackling Mavericks, the notorious surfing spot up the coast. The surf pro met an early fate at 22 years of age in 2001, but his legacy, especially here in Santa Cruz, lives on.

Moriarity is also the subject of the new film Chasing Mavericks, which will be released later this month and headlined by A-list celeb Gerard Butler morphing into Moriarity’s mentor Richard “Frosty” Hesson. Of course, for those rooted here, Frosty is no stranger. His soulful way of being, not to mention his inspiring insights, have made the man a legend in his own right, which is what writer Geoffrey Dunn illuminates in this week’s cover story. Learn more about the man who inspired Moriarity, the upcoming film and much more.

The only thing that is constant is change. Perhaps you’ve discovered this in your own life. Regardless, this week, perhaps we can allow ourselves to be reminded about that truth. More on that in a moment. But first ... let’s being with the most significant change of all—the one that leads us deeper into the fall season. Last week officially marked the beginning of fall, which gives GT another opportunity to present our annual Fall Home & Garden issue.

Plus Letters To The EDITOR

There’s plenty to look forward to this fall for Santa Cruzans. For starters, we are blessed with having some of the best weather this time of year and so far, Mother Nature is shining good cheer down on us. Beyond that, school is back in session—both at Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz, and beyond. On that note, be on the watch for this year’s Dilated Pupil, GT’s annual student guide publication.