Photos and observations by Bruce Chrisner.

  "... last week happened to be a very sad day. Drew Kane local Spring Lake/Sea Girt Surfer passed away at the young age of 19.

  T.R. of 3rd Ave.  contacted me and asked me if I could make it over to shoot some photos for the family.

  A particularly touching shot is the Shot of the four boys  with a Retro Fish (upper right) with some pretty cool art work on it. That board was shaped by all 5 of those boys, Drew being the 5th and missing from the Shot. They just happened to pull up next to me at the Memorial Paddle out which was at Washington in Spring Lake. I saw the board and commented that I thought the Art was really cool and then they told me that Drew and his best friends shaped that board.

Those were the guys standing in front of me in their wetsuits ready to paddle out for a friend, their best friend, Drew Kane.

  Drew Kane, Charlie Sweeny, David Hyde, put most of the work into it and their other two friends in this photo were assistants in the whole process, Ryan Schobel, and Pat Grady, all pictured in the shot from left to right, all really good friends. They all spent a lot of time shaping this board and then they all rode it. Pretty cool thing to do at their ages. I was so touched as I am at everyone of these paddle outs, which it seems like I've been to way too many of these things in the last few years. The young people that are honored at these Surfer exclusive Memorial Paddle Outs are the hardest ones to understand.

  It seems to me as though the younger generation in this area need to get tight amongst themselves and help each other out ... if you can't talk to your parents, talk to your close Guy or Girl friends.

  I just hope that everyone attending Drews Paddle Out realizes that life is too precious to let go of at such a young age. At 19 you have so much more to do with your life, experience the things that make us who we are, love, laugh, cry, surf, skate, snowboard, have friends, build surfboards, utilize your education, and just love life for what it is and don't ever let it get you down, if it does tell a friend what it is, and tell them why.  Even if it's just for the opportuntiy to vent about problems that would otherwise get you down. I can't stress enough how precious life is, and having close friends you can talk to in a time of need is part of it.

  Much love to the Kane Family and it was my pleasure to be asked to shot Drew's Paddle Out. " -Bruce Chrisner

Drew Kane Paddle Out

Gus Kane says goodbye to his son

Washington in Spring Lake

Memorial circle

... send off

best friends of Drew with a board they shaped together