California surfing legend Kurt Van Dyke, 66, was killed Saturday during a violent home invasion at his residence in Costa Rica’s Limón province, authorities confirmed.
According to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency, Van Dyke was found dead beneath a bed in his home in Hone Creek, Cahuita, with a sheet over his head and a knife beside him. The preliminary examination indicated he died from asphyxiation and suffered multiple stab wounds, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Investigators reported that at least two armed men entered the home Van Dyke shared with his 31-year-old girlfriend. The intruders allegedly bound the couple with zip ties, held them in a room for several minutes, and stole valuables before killing Van Dyke. Security footage showed the suspects fleeing in two vehicles, including the couple’s 2013 Hyundai Elantra. Van Dyke’s girlfriend survived the attack.
“My brother was a very benevolent, giving person who would help just about anybody,” Peter Van Dyke told the Chronicle. “Kurt would never hurt anybody, and he was always there when you needed him.”
Kurt Van Dyke was a Santa Cruz native from a prominent surfing family. His father, Gene, was among Northern California’s most famous surfing pioneers, while his mother, Betty, helped break barriers for women in the sport during the 1950s and ’60s. The Van Dyke family is also well-known in Bay Area farming circles, operating Van Dyke Ranch in Gilroy for about six decades.
After establishing himself as a renowned surfer on California’s Central Coast, Van Dyke relocated to Costa Rica in 1983, drawn to the region’s Hawaiian-style barrel swells known as Salsa Brava, or “Wild Sauce.” He became a respected figure in the local surfing community, earning the nickname “King” for his mastery of big waves, and owned Hotel Puerto Viejo in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca for four decades.
The killing has shocked the typically peaceful beach community. Roger Sams, president of Costa Rica’s Southern Caribbean Chamber of Tourism and Commerce, expressed concern about the impact on the region’s image but noted the case appeared to be isolated.
“We’ve had a long period of calm and tranquility… This shocks and saddens us because the Caribbean has been so peaceful,” Sams told Costa Rican newspaper La Nación.
No arrests have been announced as the investigation continues. Van Dyke is survived by three children. His family in Gilroy has not yet announced memorial plans.
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