John Van Breemen

26.10.2026
 
John, Big John as I and all the boys down the beach here at Legian called him was simply just a good honest guy and mate.
 
I only knew John through him coming to Bali some 14 or 15years ago. Being a knee boarder I was a bit distant at first; well, stand up surfers always had this thing about guys kneeling on Esky lids rather than stand up surf. As I got to know John better, as we always bumped paths down at Jerry Bar on the beach at Legian early mornings checking the surf. We’d get chatting about today’s surf conditions and sussing out which bank will fire at what time of the tide pending the swell size.
 
I eventually got to really know John, knee boarder or not as we got on extremely well; both having the love of surfing and fishing.
 
Pretty much every time that John was in Bali with Karen and if I were in Bali too we’d see each other first thing at the beach, discuss the tides and swell and then most time be in the water at the same time together pushing each other into set waves, the bigger waves.
 
I also learnt that he was a good stand up surfer prior before an accident that almost paralysed him. Going over the falls and head butting the sandbar bottom left him the only option to keep surfing and he transitioned from a Mal to a kneeboard. This kept him in the water where he definitely felt comfortable and loved. We both also had made our own surfboards. I had Island Aclassic a surfboard manufacturing company so we both had familiar interests.
 
In saying all that we had tons of great surfs together and there was a couple of extreme large surf sessions; one in particular at Nusa Dua on one of the biggest days I had ever even seen it the 40 years at that time living here in Bali. It was a giant West swell in December, very rare but the direction links all the sections into one. Hesitant he was; No. Only 4 or 5 people out peeling from as far up the reef as good go running right through each section in one peeling freight train all the way to Chickens; a small reef at the very end some 1 1/2 km from the take-off. I was surprised he took it on as a knee boarder.
 
In the time we knew each other we related well with each other; talked about the same interests and drank a lot of Bintang; John strictly afternoons but I buckled him here and there after a good surf together.
 
I loved John’s honesty blurting out his opinion and never ever was a yes man in conversation. Some would take it the wrong way but I admired his honesty no matter if it could have been wrong or right, he told it how he saw it and he’d say it. That to me is a strong character and he was a character that’s for sure.
 
I had tried calling and messaging him last months before he left us. No answer and I knew where he was at; struggling no doubt as prior he’d always answer my messages or calls. It was an extremely sad and painful end for John losing Karen not too long prior. I got on very well with Karen as well when she’d come down to Jerry’s bar just before Sunset to sit with us on the beach.
 
John is definitely in my thoughts and heart. I still clearly picture him, his big Moe and always backing up or interrupting a conversation with, “well what about this”!
and then carry on into a conversation that I never knew would end nor I thought he would. John was John and he wasn’t changing for no one although Karen had a good handle on him. He adored Karen, I knew that, odd couple or not I acknowledged that clearly.
 
Good by ol mate from me and all the boyz at the beach, none of us will be too far behind you. Life is short anyways. I guess you got an early mark. I will miss you as you were one of a kind as well as a true and solid friend. Rest in peace ol son, your five eight Geoff Doig
 
 

Will miss you both ❤️❤️🌺🙏 great memories xx