Josh Sleigh, Aerial Surfing boosts its possibilities with new technique called “Grinching”

Aerial surfing is the future of surfing.  But what is the future of aerial surfing?  The answer is Josh Sleigh and the introduction of “grinching” into waves.  
“I first saw it on Fuel TV, and the light just clicked, I realized I could tow spots that were off limits to jet skis,” Sleigh said.  “I was basically skateboarding in the surf.  The design originated from wake skate, and I’ve realized how much all of the board sports have influenced each other.”  
To the lehman, the Grinch looks like a lawnmower with a rope, but to progressive free surfers, it’s a vehicle for creativity. Basically just an engine with 200 yards of rope on a spool, a throttle and a bicycle disc break, the operator has to be in tune with the surfer at the end of the rope while being precise with the throttle and brake. Just like tow surfing, it’s a team effort. Grinching was created so guys could do tricks in small bodies of water where there was no room to tow behind a boat. Using the grinch, Sleigh and his comrades can surf consecutive waves in a set and push the limits of conventional aerial surfing. He  
“I’ve always had a dream to innovate.  It started with the Airshows, and then with Goose and the floating rail in Maui, on to wake surfing behind boats, and just kept evolving from all of the different athletes I came into contact with, picking things up along the way,” Sleigh said.  “I just want to keep evolving as an athlete.”
His excitement was contagious and caught the interest of some of the Santa Cruz crew, no strangers to progressive surfing.  “AR (Adam Replogle) checked it out, and he was just so passionate about surfing, he carried that enthusiasm into this approach and was thriving,” Sleigh said. “I’m stoked the SC boys have seen what I’ve done and they are taking it to their own level.  How are the back flips Henards is doing?!”
Santa Cruz’s Homer Henard has been winching with AR and really sees the potential of this new mix.  “What Sleigh has brought us is allowing us to raise the level,” Henard said.  “It’s a training tool.  We are able to do tricks now that before were never even possible.”  
“Progression needs to be rewarded to help our sport grow,” Sleigh said. “My dream is to have a demo at the X Games and show people the possibilities. I just feel so lucky and blessed to learn from all of these athletes from different sports.  It really opens your eyes.”
Check out www.mobgroup.tv and click Grinch Mobile to see footage from the west coast tour Josh did from San Francisco to San Diego.