Zach was to ride against the best and this time he would use my ski, a venerable Joe Kenney boat. Not to hot but solid and strong in the salt. There was a lot riding on this event. The purse was significant but it was all about stepping up and into the Ski and representing the Oregon/Washington riders, The Cali crew, the Daytona Gang, the southern Lake Wake jumpers, the Idaho Rapids rats, all of us in the states. If Joe wasn’t there to do it, it would be Waddle, and Waddle would do his best!
What ensued in the competition was a story only those in attendance can fully appreciate. With Randy Laine, one of the legendary gurus of surf Freeride as a judge for the competition and riders Like World Champion, Pierre Maxient and recent tour stop winner Gil Beurnier, Zach would need everything he had and more just to show. And show he did!
In surf that is famous in Bali and legendary amongst Freeriders, the competition began. Former rookie, Zack, rode hard, well and was very impressive. The others watched and whispering started. That’s who?Zack?! One exclaimed! The rookie from USA? Commented another. The surf would vary from 5 foot to 2 meters with the occasional 3 meter rolling curl. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, Zach in the curl, off the top and back-looping like a German! Both RL and I went crazy watching the heat.
He hit the beach, brushing off the salt, thinking it had been a fair run, “it felt good, but you know, those’ other’ guys are the best.” We all told him he rode very well if not better than ever. HE laughed, smiled and shrugged, saying,” really? I hope so. It felt pretty good.”
His teammate for the trip and drinking partner was Xan Sampaio from Brazil. Those two together, Man there is another volume just right there! But anyway, Xan would have to pull out the stops, thinking that only a few Frenchmen stood between him and the podium Xan, to his surprise and delight, now knew that Zach would be in his way as well.
In the Semi it would be Waddle/ Maxient. Small town kid against the world champ. Zack laughed at the pairing. He knew he had little chance, but he wouldn’t be stopped by that, he was a tough competitor and I suspect tough in a lot that he did. Pierre was as impressive as ever, with Super high one footer backies and BR’s this way and that. That’s normal, that’s what Pierre does. But Zack was living up to his Jetski moniker-Zack Attack.
HE was in the place many call the ‘Zone’ that place where it all becomes surreal. He had learned to ride on the Columbia River chasing shaver and tidewater tug and barge, the Rough big waves of the NW coast but here in Bali, he was Slashing it up Cali style. Emulating his idols and friends Joe Kenney, and Taylor Curtis, Zack Ripped the Indo surf into the twilight of sunset to hold his own!
Back flipping with Air Darrin had paid off, He was hitting the lip of monster waves!
HE was riding out of his mind, Out of his body! We were all stunned, All of us! In fact I have not seen him ride like that since.
Unfortunately, I didn't last. with fatigue setting in and knowing that he had to do something spectacular to match the flamboyant French rider he tried something off the top lip that failed and had a 20 foot get off that crossed himself with the ski on the down fall and he was sidelined for the rest of the event and season with a fractured wrist. However his riding had impressed everyone including RL. He was in! A Pro! Sampaio would do a 3 meter back flip in the heat just after Zach, flat landing and smashing the right leg into tiny fragments. But Xan needed to finish; he had come to make the podium and win some of the purse. He needed to show family that jetskiing can pay. He remounted his ski holding the badly fractured leg up bent at the knee and continued the finish the heat to the red flag.
Zach had one of the most hair-raising rides of his life in the ambulance in Indo. A trip with his good friend and Mechanic Shawn Maddog Moody was so life threatening that we often laughed about it over and over. The country filled with thousands of motor scooters with no apparent manner of road laws or etiquette. As the Ambulance hurried him to the hospital nearly running over countless bikers and scooters, a pack of scooteres hovered the van like bees swarming to a hive using the ambulance as a through blocker for traffic. Just as the pain med started to work in a stark somewhat primitive hospital, Zack would hear a familiar voice. It was Sampaio just arriving and swearing like a sailor! Almost in a dreamy state Zach pulled back the curtain to make eye contact with his friend and teammate. Hey Mother F-r they both yelled in unison. In that moment a personal brotherhood bond was made. The two would be virtually brothers from here on out, regardless of the miles that separate their homes.
In the spirit of Freeride, Zach and I lent the ski to another rider to compete. Knowing this would possible reduce the purse for him, Zach agreed it was the right thing to do in the end. This is what he was known for in our community. His helping nature. Although he took the lowest payout of purse for his position he split it with Sampaio to apply to his expenses which were mounting.
Sure on the web he was confrontational with a few but only out of loyalty and the entertainment value of it. He was never malicious there, or in anyway that I know of in life. Our group of riders is not unique, we have a circle of friends, some closer than others, but it has the love for the ocean as a common denomination. Much like other riding groups, there are always some many helpful people but some always tend to stand out. Not different just, seem to Always be there when you turn for a wrench or a hand , a pat on the back or a beer. Just always there for you and Zach is that kind of man, that kind of friend. I say IS because this character trait does not go from ones identity upon death; it is revered by those close continually in life.
He lent his ski to Ivo Sehn for competition and helped him throughout the event a couple
of seasons. H wanted German rider, Arkidius Schamek to be able to ride in Pismo, No problem, take my ski. For me he was always there too. Twenty years my junior, its not common to befriend someone in the way I knew him. He was not in my peer group. Lucky for me he had that Moxey! Moreover,I am blessed to have been able to travel with him several times and when I am going somewhere I almost assume he’ll be with me.
When we were in Singapore, Zach eats Buger King,Coke and Fries and gets hammered by a local restrauntuer, “Singapoe---- da bes fude, all Asia “ she’d yell at him. “you can eat Burger king your own contwee” as the woman swated at his head like a mother scolding her own son”Wat matter you?!” she continued to exclaim! Cringing from the assalt and smiling sheepishly he just looked at al all of us for protection, finally ending with Sampaio across from him eating Subway and screamed back at the woman “hey” pointing toward Xan”what about him, Why aren’t you hitting him!” of course she had chosen Zach to pick on
I am sorry to babble here and as I said there are so many many stories to tell.
So many friends, and countless others will miss him. He was so proud to be a father and to do the right thing by Libby. HE stood an inch or two taller when talking about her. And a foot taller when talking of Mason. He took all the rubbing all his male friends could dish about losing his freedom because he knew it was right and that he loved her! He loved her even more so, if possible, by the birth of their son. Its horribly sad that we only got a brief chance to share this budding life with him. We only got a glimpse of him as a father and husband. We didn’t get much of a chance to bring his wife into our world and to get to know her more personally. To learn about her life and to see all that Zach saw. But She was Zachs girl and that was all you needed to know.
Not getting to meet for dinner this week as planned will haunt me for years in this way. I had promised Libby, we would have dinner when she was not pregnant and nursing. So they could get a night out with Mason or not. I wanted a chance to get to know her better. Because as a friend to Zach I felt it important to embrace his better half. To see what kind of girl catches a good guy like Zach. I had hoped to put on my best behavior to impress her, so she’d know her husband wasn’t going on these jetski junkets with a knucklehead, or ‘ girls gone wild customer’. Alas it will never be.
In times like these it is in friends and family we find strength.
Let us Celebrate their lives! Not this horrible end. The fact that many of our lives were enriched by these two young people is worthy of that and the spirit that remains with us commands that we do so!
I have said goodbye to a friend but I take it back now.
Zach,
We all will watch your son. We will help your parents any way we can. When he is a man, we all will help him to know you as we do. Until we see each other again someday, I will carry with me our friendship, and your spirit. And when that day comes, we will see each other and smile and laugh!
With love to everyone,
Dok
