RIP Franco Columbu

Law323 · Aug 31, 2019

Trdordie said: ↑

One of the great ones from the golden age of body building. Lots of steroids then so it is with some surprise any of these guys are still alive. Arnold has had more than a few heart surgeries. Frank Zane was really the only "natural" body builder of that time that I know of.

The ocean can be deadly. I was a reserve surf lifeguard in San Diego for many years. Pulled plenty of "strong" swimmers out of the water in La Jolla cove and Boomer Beach (a body surfing only spot tucked up against the bluffs with little beach). Being a strong swimmer is the least ability you need to swim in the Pacific in medium to big waves, where shorelines drop off steeply and reefs generate strong currents through the cut channels. We called them R-I-P ,versus rip, currents.

One day I was out in big surf at Boomer Beach. Only I and the #1 ranked lifeguard were out. #1 was the number given to the lifeguard whom had been on the force the longest. Both of us grew up near the coast, had served in the military in special forces, and then back to guarding. Me part time, Mark full time. We both understood the water extremely well and to not ride any wave too far inside (close to the bluffs) as the wave back wash was intense and it created an 18-24 inch thick layer of water saturated foam. If you got into that you were in trouble as it is impossible to get your head high enough to take a breath without inhaling the water saturated foam, which then causes you to gasp and choke.... and the next wave hits you out of breath coughing, sputtering, and now panicking. It's not a pretty ending for those unaware of that danger. Strong smart surf swimmers (don't read this as surfers) know their only chance to get out is to immediately turn underwater and swim as far as you can towards the sea. Hopefully you can get far enough outside that when you come up you are clear of the foam.... and there isn't another big wave about to crash on you.

Anyway, Mark and I were bodysurfing some big and epic waves. Mostly left which took us away from the bluffs and around Gator point towards the cove. People often stand up on the bluffs and watch. Mark and I saw a talk skinny guy start climbing down the bluff. He took off his clothes down to his whitey tighties, waited a few minutes so it was between sets and dove in. While he was doing this we were yelling at him to go back and get out. He ignored us and dove under a couple of big rollers and made it out to us. He was French and very arrogant.

As we tried to explain to him why he should swim north and get out in the cove,a about the foam if you get caught inside, oh, and to watch out for Popeye, a big submerged rock not far from us. Named Popeye because a lifeguard friend of ours got slammed on that rock years earlier so hard it popped his eye out. His buddies pulled him out and saved his life. The French guy just kept interrupting, telling us he was on the French national swim team, was a better swimmer than us, and other le blah, blah, blah. Mark tried one last time to change his mind by pulling out the "I'm the most senior lifeguard in San Diego County....." When Frenchy flipped us both off and dove under and away from us. A very large wave then crashed over us. We were so engrossed in our pleading we had not kept an eye on the waves. Another way to get hurt or dead.

From up on the bluff there was a lot of screaming and yelling and pointing down towards the water. We assumed the French gentleman was caught inside. We swam parallel - south - along the bluff outside the foam zone scanning for the French swimmer. Experience told us to keep watching for the people pointing. There were soon only screaming and yelling and people waving their hands in distress - no pointing. This is when you know the distressed swimmer is gone. The Frenchman was found the next morning a mile south. A helicopter spotted his body in the surf. The two guards who pulled him out later told us he had a big gash on the side of his head besides the usual abrasions and small lacerations from rolling around the surf and reefs for night. Mark and I both thought and said "Popeye" simultaneously.

So, I'm never surprised when I hear of fit people, assuming Franco still was as he went for a swim in the ocean at 78, drown. A sad loss as I was a big fan of his. I remember when he broke his leg carrying a refrigerator on his back during a World's Strongest Man competition in the mid 70s.

I live in Arizona now. Miss the ocean every damn day. I get back to Boomer Beach a couple of times a year. Sometimes young thoughtful body surfers will offer a safety lecture to an older guy. When I ask about being careful around Popeye and point in the direction of the submerged big rock they sometimes say "We thought it was called French Dip".
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I’m not convinced Zane was all natural. I know steroids were prescribed and passed out like tic tacs back then.

I’m not sure about the amount they took, but One thing I know is the quality was better back then, not to mention they didn’t have insulin, HGH, and the countless “pro hormone” stuff we have now. (Insulin gut and gyneocomastia anyone?)

But I will say the dude’s aesthetics and lines were absolutely ON POINT and completely unsurpassed even by today’s standards.

Man, some people can be absolute idiots and unfortunately, sometimes it’s a mistake they pay for with their life.
I’m a damn strong swimmer (been on swim teams from 4th grade to college) but even I know a swimming pool is a kiddie pool compared to the ocean. Not to mention, I’m wise enough to listen to locals that know their territory infinitely better than a tourist would. You’d think that would fall under common sense.

I’m not gonna lie, it’s terrible the guy went out like that, but the “French Dip” got a nice laugh out of me.

BTW, thank you for your service!

Also, this Mark you mentioned wouldn’t be Mark Divine would it?

Trdordie · Aug 31, 2019

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