Not Your Average Louie

Ernie Lynk

Louie Gomez, 72, has a voice like Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather and looks like one of the superheroes from the kids movie Kick Ass. You can find him almost every day at the new water sports rental and lesson center at Matheson Hammock operated by Adventure Sports Miami. If you thought all septuagenarians are one step away from the nursing home think again. Louie will change your idea of what senior citizens are all about. When he's not showing you how to lift kettle weights he's telling you about the joy of jumping with his kite board. That's right- Louie is a serious kite boarder.
His water sports compadre is Ken Murray, 62. "He's on a work release program from the marine industry" cracks Louie. Together they're like a great comedy team. I was waiting for the "your mama" jokes to start at any minute.
The two first met in 2008. Louie was recovering from three surgeries and Ken wanted to help so they began sharing gear. That's how it is in the kiteboarding community. Regulars develop camaraderie. "It's a kamikaze sport with a social side" says Ken.  "In kiteboarding, you should always go with someone in case you need someone to save you". "Now Louie believes in God" says Ken. "He crashed once and I heard him say 'God help me God!'. Louie replies, "He really has saved my ass many times. I tried to help save him once but he wouldn't let me. He's too hard headed. I told him I was trying to save his life but if he was going to bitch about it I was going home."
Louie had seen kite boarders for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland where he worked in the banking industry. He thought it looked exhilarating. "I'm not too old, I'm gonna do it" he told himself. And he did. No easy task for someone who had battled cancer (thus the Brando voice), double bypass surgery, and has a titanium knee among other ailments. "A titanium brain too" remarks Ken dryly. They both laugh.
Jorge Aime, another regular drops by and joined the conversation. His 15 year old son and 18 year old daughter are also into kite boarding. "It's beautiful to watch that family out on the water together" Louie says admiringly. Jorge responds, "When I first came out and saw Louie I said to myself if this guy can do it I have a chance. He's motivation for a lot of people and he doesn't even know it". Juan Pablo Aristizabal, an instructor with ASM agrees. "My students see him and think they can do it too". "He's a babe magnet" Ken chimes in. "Oh, please don't put that in. My wife wouldn't like it" Louie asks. "Your wife wouldn't care anymore" cracks Ken.
Louie had been a competitive racquet ball player for years and thought he was in good shape until he tried kite boarding. "The first time I tried it I was exhausted after an hour and a half. After a few months your body gets in shape. Everything is resistance. I am much stronger now than four years ago" Louie says proudly. "Except in the brain" quips Ken. When there's no wind the two paddle board or kayak. When it's cold they don wet suits and gloves. Juan Pablo comments that the only possible negative side effect is losing your job because when you see wind you want to head out to the water. They all nod their heads in agreement.
I stood up from the table with the Parcheesi board set up by Saulo Campos the ASM concession manager for visitors to play. As I got ready to leave Ken remembers something he'd said when the two friends first started sharing gear. "Louie, this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship". He was right. Louie reminds me, "You have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Then anything is possible." Louie's proof of that.