"Miss you brother. Rest in paradise."
In a perfect world, the story of Kalani David, son of American David David and Costa Rican Maureen Rojas, would’ve ended in a world title or some sorta equivalent triumph.
As it is, was, Kalani’s life, living with a chronic health condition that would eventually kill him, demonstrates, as if any demonstration was necessary, the chaos and randomness of our existence.
His biological mama Maureen was sixteen when she had Kalani, seeded when Daddy David was living in Central America.
Flooded with sponsor cash by RVCA as a kid, Kalani was touted as the world’s first genuine crossover surfer, skater.
When he was eighteen, Kalani’s heart stopped while skating in Oceanside, California, tests determining the kid was suffering from Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, where an extra muscle forms on the heart causing its wild revving
Doctors told him he was living on a knife’s edge, that he could die anytime. And if it happened in the surf, ain’t nothing he could do. He’d drown.
In January 2017, doctors opened the kid up to try and fix the prob.
Before the op, Kalani wrote,
“Getting my surgery done today, but I have one thing to say before his happens… The doctor said I’m lucky to even be alive after seizing for more than 6 hours. Which I was dead for 2 days. I’m going into heart surgery right now to get this extra piece of muscle burned. I gotta move on with my life and focus on my career. I love you Keoni just know that, I’m always here for you, love you boo boo your big brother Kalani.”
Although wildly under appreciated in the larger surf world, Kalani’s fans were legion.
Two weeks ago, he posted a skate clip on Instagram that has now become a place where friends are leaving their tributes following his death in Costa Rica yesterday.
View this post on Instagram
Once I was afraid of dying. Terrified of ever-lying. Petrified of leaving family, home and friends. Thoughts of absence from my dear ones, Drew a melancholy tear once. And a lonely, dreadful fear of when life ends. But those days are long behind me; Fear of leaving does not bind me. And departure does not host a single care. Peace does comfort as I ponder, A reunion in the Yonder, With my dearest who is waiting for me there.
Written by Swen Nater, former pro player, on the legacy of John and Nellie Wooden.
there are more dangerous jobs in the world…living within oneself is the other. courage is a virtue. “Dave’s not here!”
Brutally tragic… KD was an all-around class act.
Tell you what, the kid ripped