Sad story posted on Surfline... "We are shocked and saddened to report that Zander Venezia, a budding young pro surfer from Bridgetown, Barbados, died today after surfing a particularly heavy session at a notoriously nasty wave on Barbados' east coast. While the family waits for an official autopsy, it is believed that Zander possibly broke his neck upon hitting the shallow reef. Full story: http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/z...dos-east-coast-heavy-surf-claims-the-_149165/
Sad indeed...condolences to his family. This is a tragedy. There is so much power in the ocean and we as foolish surfers aka morons,; try to conquer that power. It really doesn't care how good you are, shat happens fast when you least expect it. I've surfed a lot of big waves in many places in my younger years, never giving much thought to the consequences that one simple mistake or slip up can end your life. I love to surf, no matter what. As I age I've found I have so much to live for and use better judgement in what I'll paddle into. It's rolling the dice. Just make sure your willing to die for the ultimate thrill and make peace before you drop.
Really sad... Ive surfed with this kid a few times and he ripped. Pleasant kid to be in the water with too. rip
Sorry to hear about this today. My thoughts are with his family and surfing community. I've learned a few things as well over the years and find that The guys charging hardly ever get hurt, it's the cautious shoulder hoppers that get busted up. Reading the story, it sounds like the kid was tossed up by a close out. An Unfortunate accident. His last heard words were that he caught the best wave of his life. We roll the dice every day when we wake up and drive down the road. I'll take my chances hunting for the best wave of my life any day, as did Zander
box by box is treacherous. the heaviest wave on barbados... a true slab with sharp rocks hidden everywhere. and it only breaks on big hurricane swells.
Tragic. Surfing Irma swell on that reef But going out doing what you love, I hope the family can find closure in that fact
My understanding is he got caught while paddling back out after a ride. Sad. Truth is contact with your head to the bottom could kill or cripple you anytime you're out there and in any size surf. I have a friend who broke his neck and nearly died just goofing off in the shorebreak with his kids. He was gone and they revived him on the beach. In my 35 years of surfing I've made hard contact with the bottom a few times and have often thought that I was lucky not to have broken my neck or back. Got pile driven into the reef at Middles in Puerto Rico on a big day and was very lucky I didn't die. Also hit a shorebreak end section and fell awkwardly on my head and back in 6" of water and got real lucky. You just never know.
For the record, he was charging and not shoulder hopping. There's plenty of "chargers" that have gotten hurt or even killed, including Mark Foo, Sion, Malik, etc.
Charging or not, it is a tragedy for his family. And to them, my deepest sympathy for their incredible loss. The world lost yet another child--he was only 16. A child still.......
this storm is gonna be a tough outing for the intermediate surfers. i'd have to bet Reef Road is gonna get huuuge if E. Barbadoes is going off, my thinkin at least
I surfed with him twice in the last year... amazing surfer. He would take off so far behind the peak at Soup Bowl, disappear, and then come flying out. I don't know the spot he was surfing though "box to box". There are so many nooks and crannies on the East coast, but they usually don't work because of the consistent onshore flow. When hurricanes pass, they create a rare offshore situation on the east coast. Anyway... super nice kid, amazing surfer.
Very sad! Looks like he left a lasting impression on the surf industry for his skills in the water and his personality out of the water. I was surfing in front of the 56th street jetty in newport about 2 months ago and got pitched with the lip into about 6" of water. Went head first and scorpioned pretty hard. I had a hard time getting out of the water, felt like i compressed two vertebrate together. still a little sore after all this time, but could have been so much worse! thanking my lucky stars I can still surf..walk..
surfing is a dangerous sport,doesnt matter how old u are,how experienced u are **** can happen what was crazy for me reading the story was Nathan fletcher was the first to him,and I'm thinking isn't there a hurricane super close to that area.not only him but I seen multiple pros from eastcoast and Hawaii were down there surfing. its a sad story but the kid died doing what he loved in pumping surf
