Tamayo was a charger. Big barrels, you knew he would go.
A large framed human with a deep voice, dark skin, and unafraid to clock ya if push came to shove and the honor of a spot was under threat of being disturbed. Tamayo was one-of-a-kind, a powerhouse, quirky, funny, scary, serious, silly, straight up…but most of all he was real with who he was and how he treated people.
He loved people. He loved people because he knew God, and God loves people.
I first met Tamayo at desert point in Indo many years ago. There was nobody around, and me and my little crew were waiting for the tide to turn and push the swell in. Up comes walking Tamayo and his wife Emelia. He had busted all his boards, but was still at the best spot for waves, and said, “He figured everything would just work out.” That’s called faith; just believing in something you cannot see and hadn’t planned on, but having a feeling it would turn out how it was supposed to turn out. We got to talking and I said something about Jesus Christ, and Tamayo looks at me and goes, “No way!! I am a brother in the Lord too!” I tell him I have an extra board he can borrow and he proceeds to get barreled and do huge hacks down the point.
A friendship and brotherhood was forged that day that has lasted many years.
Many boards and many conversations about many many things mostly concerning life and what are the truly true treasures in this journey on earth…and about the life to come. On almost the daily we would trade intel on the latest world events and how they relate to what God is doing in this fallen world, and how to be used to bring some love and light into it.
Strategies on how to love people real and best…and how to have a laugh and have joy while mining out the treasures in life…that’s the Tamayo I know. He was an encourager. He would ride my boards at Pipe and give me feedback and videos and photos…and encourage me, a California shaper, about my guns. He didn’t need to do that. He lived on the North Shore, but he did it to encourage me in my life’s work; he did that to encourage me as a brother in the faith.
A tragedy happened yesterday, and a warrior has fallen.
But to where has he gone? Is that the end of the story?
So I wanna ask you a question: Do you think there’s life after death? I’m asking because I know that’s what Tamayo would ask you. And then he would tell you “Yes, there is!” Tamayo would tell you without blinking, without thinking…with a laugh and a smile he would tell you that Jesus is God who has a wonderful plan for your life and everyone’s life that believes in the Savior of the world. He would tell you to look around, the world is a mess and in need of a savior. A savior that has power over life and death and that knows how to sort out the mess. Find out about him. Believe in him. Let the Creator of all things dwell in your heart. Trust him with all you are, and live a joy-filled life. And one day when death comes, there will be mourning. There will be heartache for we have lost one of the greats, but, it is not the end of the story.
That’s what Tamayo has been telling people for a very long time, and that’s what he’s still telling us right now.