Revered surfboard designer and intersex advocate dies in house fire

Kyra Jonsun, a celebrated figure in the surfing world and a passionate advocate for gender-diverse people, has died at the age of 71 following a house fire in Coniston, Wollongong. The blaze, which engulfed her home around 5:30 pm on Sunday, is currently under investigation, though police have stated it is not being treated as suspicious. Jonsun's death marks the sixth fatality from structure fires in New South Wales this winter.

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always ahead of the curve

Born intersex and later transitioning to womanhood, Jonsun, who was known earlier in her life as Richard "Nat" Palmer, is credited with importing the first snowboard to Australia in the early 1970s. Within the surfing community, she was revered as an innovative board designer, kneeboarder, and photographer. Surf historian Stu Nettle highlighted her forward-thinking approach, noting her work with flexible materials, unique fin shapes, and the creation of kneeboards during a time when wave riding was rapidly evolving. She also glassed Australia's first channel-bottom surfboard.

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There's lots of different threads of her life that come together and they all generally meet in surfing.

Photographer Mick McCormack described Jonsun as humble despite her "brilliance," noting her intelligence and passion for surf photography. He recalled her willingness to travel to Hawaii with her own shaped boards and ride challenging waves like Pipeline, treating such accomplishments with understated grace. McCormack suggested she possessed the intellect for professions like dentistry or law but chose the path of surf photography.

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She was revered in that community with what she created, like working with flexible materials, different fin shapes, creating kneeboards at a time where they were right out on the bleeding edge of wave riding.

Jonsun was also a significant figure in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for transgender individuals. Claire Murphy, president of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Gender Alliance, stated that Jonsun often spoke at pride events and volunteered her time, sharing her life story as a highlight. Murphy described Jonsun as a "cornerstone of the elderly trans community," whose absence will be deeply felt. Jonsun had recently undergone chemotherapy after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

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She glassed the first channel-bottom surf board in Australia.