Kalistan

[Doc]

Heidi Richards, reigning Queen of Surf, has died
Fatal Car Crash near Xanadu ends brief but spectacular life
Xanadu, Grand Duchy of Ananto
September 30, 5741


Heidi Richards, with fellow surfer Megan Weiss at Luxon Beach in late August, catching the last waves of this year's Luxon Swell

The reigning Queen of Surf, Heidi Richards, 25 of Luxon Ananto has died.  Details are still limited regarding the tragic events that led to the demise of the world famous surfer and swimsuit model, but what is known is that a fatal car crash in the mountains north of Xanadu in northern Luxon County was the ultimate cause of death.  County police were called to the scene of the crash shortly after 1:30 am on the morning of September 24 to investigate what witnesses called a roll over.  When the car was searched, its driver was not found.  The car, registered to Ms. Richards, was laying on its side, and Ms. Richards had been thrown from the vehicle.  Police do not believe she was wearing a seatbelt.  EMS personnel arrived on the scene, but were unable to revive Ms. Richards, and she was declared dead on the site.

Richards had a meteoric rise to fame over the last couple years.  In her first year as a professional surfer, she had a flawless season, and claimed the coveted Triple Crown of Surfing.  Her fellow competitors all gave her high marks for pushing the sport forward with her daring, devil may care attitude.  Regular surfing partner and friendly rival, Megan Weiss said in the short time Richards had been surfing, she had inspired so many other surfers to adapt to her, to the point that many people changed their style.  "I think after watching her the first year and actually surfing with her this year, my style is changed.  She always surfs sh-- other people would say was either crazy or a waste of time, but for her no wave is a waste, except the ones you don't go after.  And when the swells hit, man, she is on the top of every one of them, no matter where they are breaking.  She's fearless-- She's what everyone should be out there on the water."

This year, Richards almost completed the Triple Crown for the second time in as many years, but missed the top spot at Luxon by less than a point.  Her fellow surfers celebrated her excellence any way.  "Yeah, she's the best there is," said invitational's Champion Collin Apton.  "I had a good day, she's just consistently great, like all the time."  Next year, she will be featured in Dah Surfboard Company's 5742 Calendar, the first model to claim every month of the year in the annual publication.

Richards grew up in Luxon, and was the daughter of a fisherman and a teacher.  She started surfing late in her life, taking it up during her enlistment in the NSP.  "I didn't really even know how to swim until after I joined the NSP," said Richards last year.  But as soon as she learned how to swim she instantly took to the board, encouraged by her fellow conscripts.  She showed off her natural aptitude for finding the best water to surf in, and her late start means she didn't come into surfing cautiously.  "In a lot of ways, she is very raw and undisciplined," said her coach Margot Xavier Swain last year.  "That's a double edged sword.  It makes her kind of fearless, on one hand, which is a skill that has paid off for her, but on the other hand it kind of makes her reckless because she never learned that healthy fear that tells her to wait a second and make sure she's not going to kill herself, and makes her take chances she doesn't need to.  I have a heart attack at least once a day with that girl..."

Police do not believe that that recklessness contributed to her death this week in Xanadu.  "There was no signs that she was doing anything particularly dangerous, according to eye witnesses who saw her go off the road into the canyon," said Rural Police Captain Carl Whitford, of the Luxon County Sherriff's Department.  "We still need to do a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash, but toxicology reports all came back negative: She was not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol at the time of her death:  We are pretty sure Ms. Richards was killed by being thrown from the car when it went off the road and went into the canyon."

The news hit Kalistan's surf community particularly hard.  Many of her friends gathered to hold a private vigil for their friend, and remember her contribution to their community.  "Heidi was family," said fellow Luxon surfer Tama King.  "We grew up together, and when she started surfing and could join us on the waves, we had the greatest time.  I have so many memories, and this just breaks my heart."  Her family has received a massive outpouring of love and condolences from not only the surf community but also from the people of Ananto and Suldanor, the two duchies where she had the biggest impact. 

Dah, her primary corporate sponsor, said they intend to still run the calendar featuring her next year, and will donate all profits to surfing education and safety related charities.  "We want her legacy to live on in the surfing community," said head of marketing for Dah Surf Co., Britney Ritter.  "In Heidi's short and brilliant career, she left her indelible mark on this sport that we all love and her legacy should be one which continues to move our sport forward, both in Kalistan and in the world.”  House Ananto, who had planned to award her the Order of the Anantonese Empire, for her accomplishments in sport and culture, will present the award to her mother and father posthumously on October 3rd, in honor of her earning the Triple Crown in 5740.

"Heidi's spirit is with me," said Weiss, who attended a community vigil in Luxon after word got out about Richards' death.  "We just saw each other in late August.  She was so happy, and she was really just shredding out there on the last couple runs of the season.  A little crowd gathered on the beach to watch us out on the water, and a bunch of these kids joined us and surfed the same waves she did.  The Swell was almost out by then, so the waves were inside the reef, and were small but still rideable, and we just had a lot of fun.  I said goodbye, told her I loved her and headed back to Dana..."  At this point Weiss began tearing up.  "It was all love with her.  She's gonna be with me next year, and I am going to just imagine she's there with me when I compete."  Weiss said she and several other surfers plan to wear black arm bands in memory of the fallen Queen of Surf.

"She's with us still," said a teary Weiss.  "She'll always be with those of us who remember her.  And her legend will never die."

Ms. Richards is survived by her father and mother, her brother, a niece, and dozens of fellow surfers, and thousands of her fans.  Her family plan to bury her mortal remains at sea off Crusher Bank, a place she loved in life, where the largest sea waves of the Luxon Swell grow as tall as 12 story buildings.  A formal memorial for friends, family, and the public will be held in early October in Luxon.  Rest in peace to Heidi Richards, the Reigning Queen of Surf.

@TheRepublic