Christian Jon Barton doing his thing. Pic: sorry for no direct credits – thanks everyone.Australian Christian Jon Barton, 39, from Bilgola Plateau on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, passed away on Nov 25 in Thailand while on leave from his dream job as a surf guide in the Menatawai Islands.
‘Barts’ (as he was best known) was found in his Hotel room and reportedly died of respiratory failure.
For his family and friends at home in Australia, his girlfriend and friends in Indonesia (where he has worked for the last 18 years) and all the people from around the world he’d met in his capacity as a surf guide – this is a devastating loss.
Having gone through High School with Barts through our teen years, surfing and even playing with him in our band 4Bolt, I consider him to be a lifelong friend – I’ve been unable to think of much else since his passing. It’s with a heavy heart I write these words. But his friends are many and varied and it’s for them I try tell his story – or at least touch on it.
The problem with working at sea, or at an isolated land camp, is it is often weeks or maybe months before you have time for yourself back onshore – and that’s dangerous.
What’s done is now done, and one thing anyone who surfs can appreciate about the life Barts lived is that he sure did spend a lot of time in the water. He’s collected some great surfing photos over the years and I know he’d love the thought of me posting them here at Tracksmag.com for all to see.
Thanks to his unique but selective easygoing nature, the list of people who also consider Barts a close friend and are equally devastated by his passing is long.
Guest’s of the Marcaronis Resort or the charter boats where he worked as a surf guide and perhaps only knew him for a short period of time will also be feeling the pain of his passing almost as much as those of us that have known him for decades… He was that type of person.
Bart’s has always been his own man. Even as a teenager, he’d only ever do things his way. From how he dressed, the wetsuits he wore, the music he listened to and the girlfriends he went out with – he was always beating a fresh path for himself. Never driven by or affected by fashion, trends, or fads. He was – a humble rebel.
It’s common to exaggerate a person’s skills when they’re gone, but fact is Barts was a terrific surfer. A skilled waterman who was so committed to continually improving he devoted his whole life to the pursuit of riding waves. In particular he structured his life around surfing perfect tropical waves – not the other way around. He lived the life you and I only dream of.
From very early on I recognised his thirst to surf as being next level. From sneaking out of school to surf our favourite local breaks as truant teenagers to his decision to become a chef so he’d work shifts that left him hours in the day to get pitted. There was 4am wake ups and pre-dawn paddles across to Stradbroke Island, night surfs and eight our sessions a plenty –despite him suffering from the worst lip burn I or any one has probably ever seen.
Bart’s would surf Super Suck on Lombok when the lice was so bad not a second went by without a zapping. He’d be pulling into low tide drainers while all others were on boats and land camps licking their lice bite wounds.
When most surfers felt exhausted from a three-month surfing odyssey in the tropics, they plan a return trip home… it’s at this point Barts would plan his follow on journey to Banda Ache or some other far-flung desolate destination.
One of the sparks for this hunger for tropical quality was a trip he took as 16-year-old to stay with his uncle on Kauai, Hawaii. A young Andy Irons and his friends soon got to know this blonde Aussie teenager named Christian who’d pop up surfing everywhere from big Hanalei Bay to Pine Trees. Surfing local spots comparatively easier when you’re a brave young soul without a crew of fellow blow in friends. His bravado and respectful nature in the water didn’t go unnoticed.
At a time most of us back home at Avalon and Whale Beach only had one short board, from that trip Christian brought home a second hand Rusty 8.0 pin tailed gun that used to belong to Occy. He’d pull it out when the waves got big around Whale Beach. It was a big board – but with his ‘back foot on the tail’ style of surfing he managed to throw it around like no bodies business. He loved that board. He did have to be careful carting it through his Mum Sue’s immaculately presented split level home though – the thing was huge.
As life rolled on so did Bart’s thirst for tropical perfection. After Hawaii came a trip to Lord Howe Island where he scoured the islands breaks working out the best tides and winds for each break – a knowledge he’d gladly pass on to the odd (solo) travelling surfer who’d luck upon meeting him. I guess it was here the surf guide in him was born.
Years later his creed would be simple. “To keep my guests safe and well-fed, make sure they’re having fun, and getting very barrelled!” That’s Barts. That’s a true waterman. As Robbie Page would say, “give a wave, get a wave,” that’s how Barts worked (cough, cough).
Some of us work to surf, very few of us surf for work – either way Barts respected all… And treated all equally.
He was a son, a brother, a great mate, musician, chef, lover, surf-guide, and for some reason? Always read surf mags from back to front? I’ll never get why he did that? But it’s become an idiosyncrasy I’ll never forget.
So on behalf of all those who knew you, well “Old mate”, [a term he’d use in story time often] we’ll miss you – but never forget you.
RIP Christian Jon Barton
On behalf of all that loved you – Col B
NOTE: This blog was posted to remind those on the Northern Beachs of Sydney to meet across from Whale Beach Surf Club on the grass area where the BBQ’s are for Christian Jon Barton‘s paddle out on this Sunday, 10am.
