Last Saturday, a memorial service was held at Salt Creek beach to celebrate the life of a talented surfer and skater, Mike Weed. The service included a paddle out memorial where anyone that knew Weed paddled out on surfboards to his favorite surf spot in order to pay their respects. Paddle out ceremonies have been part of the surfing culture for generations, and allow people to celebrate the lives of their loved ones in their most cherished location. Although it is hard to pinpoint the exact beginning of paddle out memorials; they have been going on for decades and have become more and more popular throughout the surf culture. One of the most noteworthy paddle out ceremonies was held for was Duke Kahanamoku, a legend in the surfing, swimming, and music world, who died in 1968. Since then, paddle out ceremonies have been held to honor all heroes in the surf culture.
Another momentous paddle out service celebrated the impressive life of professional surfer Andy Irons. This ceremony included hundreds of people heavily influenced by Irons’ incredible surfing career at his favorite surf spot in Kauai. Some of the best surfers in the world, including Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, and Taj Burrow all joined in on the ceremony to celebrate their good friend and even better opponent.
One of the biggest paddle out ceremonies in surfing history, was held to celebrate the life of Israel Kamakawiow’ole, a music legend in Hawaiian culture. Thousands of people paddled out to honor the legend, and shared their favorite stories about how he influenced their lives. Even in the last few years, countless ceremonies have been held to honor heroes and legends in the surfing world. Hometown heroes have been celebrated at their favorite spots by all their friends, and people who respect them throughout their community. It has also become popular for fallen lifeguards to be honored at the beaches where they have worked all their lives. For example, Ben Carlson, a hometown hero at Newport Beach, died over the summer while saving the life of a drowning victim. Carlson gave his life by going out in ten foot surf in order to save struggling swimmer. He was the first surfer in a hundred years to die while working at Newport Beach, the entire community participated in his ceremony. The restaurants made signs, movie theaters made signs, people made shirts and even got tattoos to celebrate Carlson’s life.
Paddle out surf ceremonies are a unique thing to the surfing, swimming and beach community. They celebrate both famous legends and hometown heroes and the contributions they have made to the lives around them. They allow people to say goodbye while embracing the culture that has shaped the lives of the person they have lost.
