In Search of Captain Zero

Surf writers have always had it tough in the “real world.” The real literary world, that is. Somewhere between “Dude, that wave was awesome!” and the extolling of the metaphysical implications of harnessing natural energy, many readers have been railroaded into thinking that surf writers are too far “out there” to be taken seriously.

That is not to say that being “out there” is such bad place to be. Heck, most surf writers prefer to be out there in the water or out there on the hunt for waves. And that’s where Allan Weisbecker’s classic surf adventure memoir In Search of Captain Zero ventures: Out there. But among all the searching, exploring, and intrepid stomping into the heart of darkness, Weisbecker also turns his salt encrusted literary lens inward.

Equal parts introspective travelogue and retrospective confessional, Weisbecker’s oft poetic meanderings not only illuminate the exhilaration and danger of solo surf trippin’ through Central America but also, for me, truly capture the elusive nature of what it means to be a surfer. His threading of the surfer’s perspective through every aspect of this journey brings to the surface the truly wonderful and sometimes tragic consequences of dedicating one’s life to the pursuit of waves.

The journey begins as Weisbecker sheds the dead weight of his life in Montauk, New York and loads what’s left into a four-wheel drive to search for his old partner-in-crime and cohort in all things radical, Christopher. Christopher (Captain Zero) is missing somewhere in Central America, and Allan is intent on finding and possibly saving his old friend while finding and quite possibly saving himself along the way.

While this surf drenched mission down south has all the possibilities of a mad Kerouacian jaunt fraught with high energy cross-country hi jinks, Weisbecker instead takes it slow and heavy with stops in every dead end dust bowl that may or may not be sitting in front of a world class wave, peppering the narrative with memories of his younger days with Christopher. Shades of On the Road abound though with the Neal Cassidy-esque Christopher, bouts of fireside drinking, menacing banditos, and rich local characters that populate this journey to the “end of the road.”

Beyond its powerful forward momentum and rich texture, this is a book that above all else gets surfing right. As Weisbecker navigates memories of international drug smuggling and big digit high rolling, he never strays away from what drives him most: the simple act of riding waves. Surfing is both a blessing and curse to those who accept it completely. Notice the phrasing of that last sentence, and see that it’s akin to religious fervor. No doubt! In …Captain Zero, Weisbecker constantly weighs surfing against love, friends, and success.

These are decisions that all dedicated surfers struggle with daily. And surfing almost always wins. We make commitments and schedules and promises all the while repeating inwardly, “All this may change depending on the surf.” His description of wave riding’s weightless and mindless state of being, the powerful position a good surfer holds in the beach culture’s hierarchy, and even the tribal rituals set forth in the surf lineup are spot on.

Bottom Line: If you like adventure, read In Search of Captain Zero. If you like the intrigue of international crime, read In Search of Captain Zero. But above all else, if you are a surfer, read In Search of Captain Zero. You’ll be glad that you did.

If you want to venture further "out there" and into Weisbecker's mind, check out his free E-zine.