San Luis Obispo Senior High
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Devon Christensen

The following was read by John French at a gathering to remember Devon Christensen on Saturday, March 25, 2006 , at the Christensen family home in See Canyon :

It was mid to late January, 1971.  I was up on the Indian burial grounds watching Devon Christensen, Mark Lepley and Devon’s brother Kelly surf—actually tube ride—waves from the end of the Avila pier to the bottom of the burial grounds.  I was hooked, had to be part of this Avila Beach underground surfer boy situation.  I was 11.

We surfed, and then surfed some more, and more and more.  Devon with his no-paddle take offs and unbelievable tube riding was far and away the best of the best.  In his prime he was the best surfer I ever saw, or ever will see.  No one, and I mean no one will ever surf with the class “A” determination and concentration as Devon .  He was untouchable.  Just cut the longboard in half, and shape it into a 5’ 11” short board.  Put new fins in and practice, practice, practice makes perfect.

Tarantulas, February 3-6, 1976 --Giant tube rides.  Oh, almost forgot.  Hooters 1973--Perfect 6 foot.  My first taste of real pit jobs.  Devon had it down to perfection.  Take off behind him yelling, “Hey, I’ve got it—comin’ down!”  He’d answer with a snicker and then a razor blade-like shower across your eyeballs.  Lesson one: Watch out for the spray from Devon ’s bottom turn.  It will blind you.

But by far the most unbelievable thing I ever witnessed in my entire life was at Guta Point February, 1977.  Trying to get my wetsuit on while Devon gets seven tube rides all the way down the point before I could even touch the water.  You could see his silhouette through the lip behind this blue curtain, and he always made it out the other end. 

“You’re only as good as the waves you surf,” he’d say.  Well, I was in the same waves and I didn’t get seven tube rides in a row.  Never have seen anything like it before or since then.

I’ve been remembering Devon since Friday.  I remember a party right here in 1974 or 1975.  Savoy Brown—total boogie down.  I’ve been remembering Devon the way we always said we wanted to be remembered.  End of story.