Messages of affection, sadness and respect for Carlos di Pace flooded messaging services and social networks after it was revealed that he had lost his life yesterday while surfing in Mexico.

His humility, his low profile, his friendliness, his courage, his talent, and that very important thing: he let his surfing speak for itself, without needing anything else, are some of the characteristics that are repeated over and over again in the different memories.

Below are some memories, acknowledgements and anecdotes from people contacted by DUKE and also some posts on social media that remembered the legendary Argentine surfer.

“Passionate and inspiring seaman, always pushing boundaries”

“Countless experiences, hours of travel, hours and hours of surfing. It is hard to believe that Carlitos has left us. A passionate and inspiring man of the sea, always breaking the limits that we knew. A companion of many good times is leaving. He is leaving in his own way. Our way. May you rest in peace, Carlitos. My deepest condolences to Zulema, Josefina and Santiago.”

Sebastian Galindo, friend, legendary Argentine surfer

“A big guy left”

We are very sad here in Mar del Plata. All the surfers who knew him both in Argentina and around the world… The truth is that a great man has passed away, a passionate fan of good surfing, of good waves, known throughout the world.

Carlitos visited many places, many wave points, always with the best and with many friends everywhere.

We are very, very sad, but we have Carlitos in our hearts and we will have him forever. So, a big hello to his family, to all his friends, to all those who remember him and we will try to spend this day in the best possible way. Thank you Carlitos for everything.

Freddy Tórtora, president of the Argentine Surf Association

“Carlitos was a tremendous person and a tremendous waterman”

Wow, we're shocked here! Carlitos was a tremendous person and a tremendous waterman, that was super important. When we were in Arica, he was the one who rode the most tremendous waves, he always supported the photographers a lot.

I mean, he was never one to come and ask for a free photo, he always considered all of our work with great respect, and it was a tremendous luxury to film him, a tremendous shame, very sorry for his family and for his brother.

Rodrigo Farías Moreno, Chilean photographer and filmmaker

“He is at peace now”

“This is a nightmare. I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it and I won’t be for a long time. We are devastated. The good thing is that he didn’t suffer anything and is at peace now. But this is the hardest blow I ever expected to have.”

Santiago “Needle” Di Pace, brother 

“Charly never let a big swell pass, no matter where or who he was with”

 

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“Carlitos was a pioneer in everything related to the sea”

 

See this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Argentine Surf Association (@asociacion_de_surf_argentina)

“He didn’t talk too much, he let his surfing do the talking”

"He was a cool person, I knew him when he was very young, we met at world championships, Pan American games, always a good guy, a good person, quiet, he didn't talk too much, he let his surfing do the talking.

He was respected everywhere in the world where he surfed. A very nice anecdote of mine with him was last year he found me when I was still walking on crutches and he told me not to worry, after accidents you come back and end up surfing better. And last year, already out of quarantine, one day I ran into him and he said: 'See, I told you that you were going to surf better! It was a big day of waves, what a shame, poor Carlitos.'

Fernando Aguerre, President of the International Surfing Association