Remembering Kit
Kit Horn’s memorial paddle out Saturday afternoon at Beacon’s Beach, Leucadia California. Photo by Ed Lewis of The Leucadia Project.
Kit Horn’s memorial paddle out Saturday afternoon at Beacon’s Beach, Leucadia California. Photo by Ed Lewis of The Leucadia Project.
Anonymous
April 20, 2010endless peelers on the other side, kit!
Anonymous
May 4, 2010I was married to one of the beautiful Horn daughters in the 70s. At the time, I was a surfer, college student, and lifeguard in San Clemente. I feel compelled to give some story after being part of this wonderful family and getting to know Kit and family so well.
Kit was a giant of a man, both in surfing and in humanity. Gwen, his loving wife is a beautiful, smart, wonderful woman and an outstanding gourmet cook (I still remember those weekend lamb dinners).
It is with great sadness to write this, but with jubilation in remembering Kit.
A couple of Kit Horn stories: (continued in consecutive blogs due to limited character space)
The Ranch Episodes: In the 70s, Kit put together the classic ranch boat, a 13’ oil derrick run-a-bout skiff with a fast outboard motor. After surfing perfect ten foot waves all day at the Ranch, it was time to head back to the Gaviota Pier lifting wench. Upon arrival we found the coin slot had been filled with resin by the locals, and boats with enough fuel headed to SB Harbor. Those without enough fuel, faced ten foot shore break. Kit, Kirk, Britt, and I watched boat after boat capsize or get crushed in the shore break. Kit decided it was our turn and hit the throttle and put us between two huge waves, riding the back of the monster in front right up the beach to safety. There was carnage all around us; Kit’s feat was done with flawless precision; as we stepped safely out of the boat and kissed the sand.
Anonymous
May 4, 2010Kit Horn story continued:
Hawaii early 70s: Kit and Gwen treated the family to a classic surf trip. We stayed at Haleiwa but Peter Cole invited us to his house for a party. I was impressionable and stoked to meet some of the Hawaiian legends. Kit made an effort to seat me next to Jose Angel. Because Kit introduced me, Jose starts conversing with me as if I was his best friend. Jose predicted huge surf for the next couple of days. Kit kept introducing me to legend after legend, Gregg, Trent, Martinson etc. etc. That was Kit… always making you feel welcome.
The next day the surf was building as Jose predicted. During the night, the surf huts we were staying in at Haleiwa began to wash away. Kit loaded the car with surfboards, and we evacuated. Kit stopped at the Haleiwa Harbor to watch the waves go over the breakwater, a rare occasion. During a lull, a woman drove up, parked her car and proceeded to walk her child down to the water line. Kit jumped out of the car and yelled but it was too late as a huge set wave was building outside; by the time Kit got to the women, a wall of water similar to a Tsunami rolled up the beach and the three of them tumbled past the restrooms into the parking lot, with Kit holding on to them so they wouldn’t wash back out. Kit saved their lives, but humbly denied it. I was in awe…only a guy like Kit Horn could have predicted that and taken such quick action. Kit was the ultimate lifeguard and waterman.
Soon the Kam Highway closed down. Kit knew of a cane road that led to the top of Waimea. Standing overlooking the Bay, sets of waves broke solid from V-land all the way across the Bay. Kit and Kirk estimated the waves to be 40-60 feet! While I was peeing my pants, the Horns were anxious for the Kam to open so they could get to the surf breaks! I was way out of my league and wondered what I got myself into.
Kit knew I did not have the experience to surf huge waves, so he noticed a small cut on my knee. He said I better stay out of the water till that cut heals up or it might really get infected. I did everything I could to make sure that cut didn’t heal up for a few days! Later, Kit took me to the Pipe and showed me how to catch a few “smaller” six to eight foot waves, which of course pounded the shit out of me.
Kit was like that; he would help you save face, help you catch a few waves to redeem yourself, and always kind of took people under his wing.
Kit also backed me up at San Onfre one day when some parole’s hit my freshly painted car with a rock that they threw at the restrooms…but that’s another story about how fearsome Kit could be. The great tales of the real Kit Horn are endless and remarkable. …diving at Kasanelli’s Reef, great times surfing Mexico, backpacking barefoot in the Sierras etc. etc.
No wonder I couldn’t help sobbing uncontrollably at the paddle out. We all lost a surfing legend; I lost a second father and great friend.
Ken Casper
PS Please disregard the Lunada Bay story, as it is very offensive to everyone who knew Kit, because it was partially made up to make a good story for the author’s book, at the expense of Kit’s good nature.
Anonymous
May 4, 2010Kit Horn story continued:
Hawaii early 70s: Kit and Gwen treated the family to a classic surf trip. We stayed at Haleiwa but Peter Cole invited us to his house for a party. I was impressionable and stoked to meet some of the Hawaiian legends. Kit made an effort to seat me next to Jose Angel. Because Kit introduced me, Jose starts conversing with me as if I was his best friend. Jose predicted huge surf for the next couple of days. Kit kept introducing me to legend after legend, Gregg, Trent, Martinson etc. etc. That was Kit… always making you feel welcome.
The next day the surf was building as Jose predicted. During the night, the surf huts we were staying in at Haleiwa began to wash away. Kit loaded the car with surfboards, and we evacuated. Kit stopped at the Haleiwa Harbor to watch the waves go over the breakwater, a rare occasion. During a lull, a woman drove up, parked her car and proceeded to walk her child down to the water line. Kit jumped out of the car and yelled but it was too late as a huge set wave was building outside; by the time Kit got to the women, a wall of water similar to a Tsunami rolled up the beach and the three of them tumbled past the restrooms into the parking lot, with Kit holding on to them so they wouldn’t wash back out. Kit saved their lives, but humbly denied it. I was in awe…only a guy like Kit Horn could have predicted that and taken such quick action. Kit was the ultimate lifeguard and waterman.
Soon the Kam Highway closed down. Kit knew of a cane road that led to the top of Waimea. Standing overlooking the Bay, sets of waves broke solid from V-land all the way across the Bay. Kit and Kirk estimated the waves to be 40-60 feet! While I was peeing my pants, the Horns were anxious for the Kam to open so they could get to the surf breaks! I was way out of my league and wondered what I got myself into.
Kit knew I did not have the experience to surf huge waves, so he noticed a small cut on my knee. He said I better stay out of the water till that cut heals up or it might really get infected. I did everything I could to make sure that cut didn’t heal up for a few days! Later, Kit took me to the Pipe and showed me how to catch a few “smaller” six to eight foot waves, which of course pounded the shit out of me.
Kit was like that; he would help you save face, help you catch a few waves to redeem yourself, and always kind of took people under his wing.
Kit also backed me up at San Onfre one day when some parole’s hit my freshly painted car with a rock that they threw at the restrooms…but that’s another story about how fearsome Kit could be. The great tales of the real Kit Horn are endless and remarkable. …diving at Kasanelli’s Reef, great times surfing Mexico, backpacking barefoot in the Sierras etc. etc.
No wonder I couldn’t help sobbing uncontrollably at the paddle out. We all lost a surfing legend; I lost a second father and great friend.
Ken Casper
PS Please disregard the Lunada Bay story, as it is very offensive to everyone who knew Kit, because it was partially made up to make a good story for the author’s book, at the expense of Kit’s good nature.