Steve Kruger

Monday 9 September 2008

Dedicated surfer Steve Kruger (44) passed away on Sunday 8 September 2008, only a few weeks after learning he had cancer. Steve was one of a fanatical Rhodes University Kowie crew in the 1980s who embarked on numerous surf trips to Kowie and J-Bay when the Kowie was out of control in winter.

According to Spike from Wavescape, the record held by the crew for consecutive surf trips down to Port Alfred was 21, set in 1986. That's a lot of bunked lectures.Many trips were made in Kruger's red kombi, reggae blaring, and avo and cheese sarmies devoured when the munchies set in.

Epic surf sessions, the kombi parked at Point, were had along the point from Supers down to Albatross. Long winding tubes were washed down by lukewarm quarts of Black Label.

Steve maintained his surfing passion through various personal and career challenges that were tackled with a boyish and often mischevous enthusiasm and never-say-die attitude.

After a long battle with addiction, he eventually won the fight. In recent years, Steve found happiness with the lovely Luna, and a regular job that allowed him to become a familiar figure at the Strand - out on his long board every morning.

While the alpha males were competing for set waves, Steve would be catching wave after wave on the inside, in his trademark stance with hands: “flaps up”. It was a chance to start afresh, and Steve revelled in his new-found freedom.

Steve’s formal achievements included selection for Western Province longboarding, and a recently winning the longboard section of the “King of the Kowie” competition.

Steve’s bubbling enthusiasm and joy for surfing was infectious  – when he was out there, there was always more pure stoke and less aggro in the water.

This is what surfing is, or should be, all about. Steve is fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of surfing with him, and our condoloscences to Luna.