Allan Weisbecker is a novelist, screenwriter, and award winning photojournalist, as well as a life long surfer. He caught his first wave off Long Island, NY in 1966, when he was 17 years old. In Search of Captain Zero is available now.
The following interview is by Anne Beasley and the photos are compliments of Allan Weisbecker's outrageous website, www.aweisbecker.com
I believe that my search for Christopher was more or less an excuse to have an adventure -- adventure was something that my life was sorely lacking at the time. I was disillusioned with everything -- my career, my friends, my relationships with women, the surf scene (lawyers in the line up kind of a thing), you name it. It was time for a shake up.
Did you think you would really find him?
I never doubted that I'd find him, if he was still among the living. The wave riding world is a small one.
How much of the journey was really for yourself?
The whole shebang. But this is a more complex question. Maybe more later about that.
How did you prepare for the journey?
It was easier than you might think. I just dumped everything that might impede swift, economical movement and left. The most important practical consideration was the rig. Beefy, comfortable but not complex. It was very similar to outfitting for a sea voyage, which I had a lot of experience with. I made sure that I had everything with me that was nesessary for survival. Anything not necessary for this tended to be chucked or stored. I could go on about this if you like... the practical aspects of an open-ended surf trip to primitive places. You got to make sure you have certain things.
Did you have to find stash spots in your camper? I heard at the borders crossings, even the guards will take anything can reach for.
Yes, I had some ingenious stash places, some of which were so ingenious that I had major problems finding my own stuff. I like the Hide in Plain Sight Theory -- one of those phony Aerosol cans with the screw bottom sitting right on the counter. This for my cash. Firearms would have been nice but you absolutely can't bring them south of the border. I carried canisters of jalapena spray, which are legal everywhere (I think), which I stashed in easy reach in various places -- the cab, the galley, by the camper door, by my bed, plus on my key chain. (If they're not easily reachable at all times, they're useless --you have to assume a bandit will appear without any warning.) I also had a couple machetes within reach by the door and in the cab, plus fish billies -- basically a small baseball bat. I put lock lugs on my tires and through bolted steel bars over my camper window, which I recommend, mostly for when your surfing and the rig is vulnerable. The best protection was my dog. She saved me twice that I know of from nocturnal raiders. Probably more than that -- bad guys usually leave you alone, don't even try, if you have a fair sized pooch. Luckily, though, I didn't run into any dead serious bandits. Nothing will stop those types. They come armed and ready to shoot you and your dog. At least one guy I heard about was murdered in Mexico this way -- he and his dog found parked on the roadside, both shot up. You hear a lot of horror stories down there. I'm afraid I can't recommend women traveling by private vehicle alone Down South, except Costa Rica, but don't get complacent there either. It's still Central America -- the Switzerland of the America's rife is pretty much bullshit. The Latin male view of women is what it is -- an embarrassment to me as a guy. Women should definitely not camp out alone except in well protected camp grounds. If your going to go, travel by bus and stay in hosterias or guest houses and you'll be okay.
Did you have any idea how long you would be gone?
I had no plans to return. But did after two years.
Did you ever think perhaps you might disappear like Christopher did?
That was the point of it.
Did you know the journey would turn into a book?
No, I was disgusted with the writing life. This changed a few months into the trip, when I realized I had a story to tell and I found my narrative voice. This happened at a particular time and place, which I remember clearly.
Obviously you're a talented writer, but how much is editorial intervention to piece the story together in such a way it entices the reader?
Very interesting question. Do you really want to know how a magician does
his tricks?
Were you ever scared surfing a place all alone or not knowing what was on the bottom?
Once or twice. But I also knew that that sort of fear is counterproductive. You get on with things.
How about the culture shock upon returning to the US after so long in Central America?
It was difficult, for other reasons. My second year down south, at Pavones, CR., is really the reason for that. I'd found another paradise, and it turned out to have some serious flaws also. My next book is about that. The first little bit is on my Web site -- Under Eden.
Visit Allan's website, it's an eyeful!
