Tributes pour in for popular tour surfer, manager…
The diminutive former world number nineteen and jiujitsu black-belt, John Shimooka, whose motto was “life is too short to be serious” has reportedly been found dead at his Sydney home.
Shimooka, a suave motherfucker with excellent hair who had just turned fifty-one, quit the tour in 1999 to move from Hawaii to Cronulla, in Sydney’s southern suburbs, and raise his son Brandon with his Australian wife Lisa.
“When I looked at my baby boy I knew it was all over… I finally found out what we’re really put on earth for, to reproduce beautiful little human beings like Brandon. I have loved children all my life, and to have one of my own is the ultimate. He’s my jewel,” Shmoo told Hawaii’s Star Bulletin.
Shmoo won a tour event in Japan and was runner-up to his best pal Sunny Garcia at Bells in 1995, riding an ultra-fast Greg Webber. He circled the tour for a dozen seasons, finishing nineteenth in 1995.
A gaming card from 1992 said Shmoo “dances to the beat of a different drummer. His reputation as a party animal may overshadow his abilities in the water, whether tearing the tops off Ulu barrels or going airborne at a California beach break, but does he care? Of course not, as long as he has a chance to speak his mind. In which case he would probably say life is too short to be serious. Shmoo lives the classic surfer’s lifestyle: surf the best you can and have fun while doing it.”
After leaving the tour, Shmoo got deep into jiujitsu and became a manager for popular surfers Craig Anderson and Jordy Smith.
Last year, Shmoo spoke at a surfing contest organised by another former pro, Kurt Nyholm, to raise money for Head Space, an Australian charity that provides mental health support for 12-25-year-olds.
“Shmoo spoke of his struggles and the dark places they’ve taken him,” another tour surfer Toby Martin said. “Now we have Sunny(Garcia). So it has to stop, and we need to find ways to help. This event offered a passive way for surfers to reach out. It was a platform so surfers could let their guard down. That helps stop guys from becoming isolated, which I know from my own personal experience is where the problems start.”
crap. why why why wtf. 🙁
We had some crazy fun. A great human.
Man. I wish I could upvote this more.
I’m about 10 years back from you in age but feel a lot of the rest (bar the kids) rings so true.
What is relevant, and very much so is the ability to share what we see or are feeling. I’m glad you did mate.
Read this today on the Twitter. You’ll appreciate it:
The same people willing to trade all their liberties for the illusion of safety from COVID will not have the fortitude to make it through middle age, much less old age. As Waugh predicted in “Love Among the Ruins,” the Ministry of Euthanasia will be the most beloved govt. branch.
My thoughts with you LGR
from looking around regarding his wife’s death, it doesn’t look like there’s any real info so I’m left to wonder if she may have killed herself as well a year prior.
Mate you do not sound like a pussy , in fact to be able to communicate your personal reality having lost friends and now you reflect on what was…..” better to have loved than never loved at all” comes to mind….when we lose loved ones who we dearly cherished……Most of the people who are not with us anymore , I was good friends with…and I miss them dearly , and cry for how they went , I cry for all the youth suicide….I cry for myself and the dark voices that bring me down into rabbit hole that is depression/PTSD……and the sense of hopelessness that washes over you…..fighting the demons in your mind needs to be put out there as cry for help and the need of fellowship , which can be mates supporting each other , or the fellowship of Christ which gives a foundation of hope.
So once again we face the “meaning of life” , and what hopes do we have for our future……we age, our surfing and surfing experiences decline with age , so how do we compensate ?
What replaces you surfing experiences on older age?
Where do we get our Hope to continue and be joyful/happy with our families helas it can’t be surfing!
This is seriously sad – only met him once out at Bronte, he dropped in on me on a set wave, he was such a nice guy I didn’t mind!
You know I don’t agree with you Nik but that doesn’t mean you’re wrong … fuck the down votes
LGR, I sat here trying to figure out what to say in response to your heartfelt words, but I did not feel that a short, non-poignant thought was appropriate. So all I want you to know is that someone, somewhere needs you to be there, so be there. You don’t need to be strong for everyone at all times. Sounds pretty lame as i read it back, but it’s all I have for now. No need to quit surfing, maybe it just needs to be enough to be out there. Sat with a few guys at a spot here in Carlsbad this past Saturday. I did not know them, but knew them from surfing this spot enough times to say “hey”. We sat there surfing king high-tide 2 footers and shivering in the recently colder water. Bullshitting each other, calling each other (most of the time) into waves and giving the “that was a good one”, when warranted. “Surfers are the Worst” mostly still applies as waves are a scarce resource with very high demand, that no money can buy. But not this past day, and hopefully more into the future. Keep surfing… it will not save us on its own, but it will lend us its faithful hand to help us up when we are down.
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You’re both right. There’s a million reasons to get depressed. Sure, some men get depressed because they can’t be ‘men’ the way they used to be. And others are gonna get depressed because they can’t be feminine enough without society freaking the fuck out. And like Negs said, some are ‘depressed’ now simply because it’s okay to say they’re depressed nowadays.
The highlight of schmoos life was when he got smoked by Kelly at huge pipe. He then knew Kelly was a God. – kelly
I feel your loss, there doesn’t need to be a reason for surfing apart from enjoying it, lets just enjoy stuff that is enjoyable and not feel guilty about it. easy to say but harder to practice. But when you succeed life gets a whole lot easier,,,
We are all capable of terrible acts; the monster lurks deep inside everyone of us.
I suspect that what destroys most guys in war – more than seeing the cruelty all around them – is the glimpse of what’s inside oneself.
You being a good father will enable your children to face their own demons. I hope that surfing continues to bring you both strength, solace and enjoyment.
You don’t sound like a ‘sad little pussy’ to me. To me you sound like a ‘true man’ that has the balls to confront their emotions.
We all miss our fiends, and one day, very shortly in the scheme of things, we will join them. I think times like you describe out in the water can help us confront that often uncomfortable but inevitable reality. That can be a lot for humans to unpack, male or female. So surfing is more than just a 7 second ride for many of us – it helps us push forward.
Holding on to the memories of the good times is all we have when our loved ones pass. These moment existed, and they are real.
Hit me up on a past thread for personal info if you want to make non-anonymous. No pressures. Give your kids an extra hug today, and enjoy being in the water catching a few in his honor. Tobacco down, prayers up.
This is very sad news. To hear about how he lost his wife a year ago, and how much he loved his son makes it even more tragic. RIP Shmoo.
The “Bible” is a compilation of Historical events, of a time when Civilization was being shaped. There are many stories of Jesus Christ, Son of God. These stories actually record the, “first known recording of Surfing”. Jesus was the original Surfer, I don’t think it could be more clear. Shmoo’s in good hands. Celebrate the life, don’t wallow in your own pity.
I wanna send best wishes to his son Brandon, your old man was & remains an amazing guy.
A horrific year for you, losing both your parents. Hang in there Brandon.
Rest In Peace Shmoo
Once your gone it’s over.
It’s the people left behind that suffer.
Love and prayers for U Brandon