Attack won’t deter determined surfers

June Casagrande

Local surfers have mixed feelings on international surf travel

after the terrorist attack in Bali that took the life of West Newport

resident Steve Webster.

Some say the tragic attack that killed at least 188 people

Saturday will be a factor in their future travel plans. Others refuse

to give in to fear.

“Everyone knows Indonesia is one of the best travel destinations

in the world,” said Ryan Harris, a San Clemente resident who was

surfing on his lunch break in West Newport on Wednesday.

“The incident definitely does have an impact,” said Jeff Spencer,

also of San Clemente. “It makes you re-evaluate where you’re willing

to go.”

Both men said they have gone on surf trips to Mexico and other

countries, but Harris and Spencer, both fathers, said that carefree

trips are a thing of the past.

“Ever since 9-11 there’s been that hesitation, said Jason

Carrougher, a West Newport resident and veteran surfer. “But this is

like a more specific, more targeted kind of danger.”

Carrougher was surfing West Newport on Wednesday with friend David

Rheingans, a Hawaii resident who has been on surf trips to Bali.

Rheingans said that he would not let the incident dictate his future

travel plans, but that it will be on his mind.

“Bali is such a beautiful place, the people there are beautiful,”

Rheingans said, reciting a Balinese farmer’s prayer he learned on a

trip to the Indonesian surf spot. But the bombing is not a reason to

give in to fear, he and Carrougher agreed.

“It’s how surfers are: They work all year to take just a couple of

trips a year,” he added. “It’s what they live for.”

T.K. Brimer, owner of the Frog House surf shop in West Newport,

said he will keep surfing international waters, but the destinations

he chooses will be chosen with safety in mind.

“It’s a different world, and I suspect that this is the world

we’re going to live in for the rest of our lives,” said Brimer, who

recently returned from a surf trip to Samoa and who plans to surf

Fiji in March. “I still intend to travel, but I will have my eyes

open more.”

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.