This OC surf punk was a terror on the waves and on the stage. Then the bomb exploded.

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After reading about Steve “Cabler” Crabtree’s incredible journey, I find myself profoundly moved and inspired by his resilience, courage, and unyielding spirit. This man has not only survived against all odds but thrived, reclaiming his life with a vigor that is truly awe-inspiring.

Steve Cabler was living it up in Bali: surfing all day and partying all night.

Originating from Newport Beach, he embarked on a surf adventure to Indonesia alongside his close companion, Steve Webster. These two wave riders were virtually inseparable, and due to their identical first names and similar-sounding last names, they were renowned across the global surf community as “Crabby” and “Webby.

On October 12, 2002, Cabler and Webster set out with a local surf shop owner they knew, heading to Sari Club on Kuta Beach for Webster’s birthday celebration. By this point in their stay in Bali, Cabler was well-acquainted with many of the club’s patrons – from the staff members who worked there, to fellow tourists hailing from various parts of the globe.

At that moment, he was chatting with a buddy, suddenly he heard a blast. On the opposite side of the road, an individual had raced into a pub named Paddy’s and triggered an explosive device. Before anyone could respond, another explosion occurred. This one was from a car bomb parked on the street in front of Sari’s, shredding the club to pieces.

In a heart-pounding moment, I found myself gripped by an explosion that seemed to tear my very breath away. It was as if the force of it was attempting to dislodge my lungs entirely! To put it mildly, we were all catapulted towards oblivion.

In an instant, Cabler’s friend perished. The sight left Cabler and Webster with expressions of horror. Shortly after, a catastrophic event occurred as the roof caved in on Webster. Trying to save him, Cabler attempted to move the aluminum support beneath the thatched roof, but it had ignited into flames. In the process, Cabler ended up suffering burns on his hands.

“I can still hear the voices in the fire,” Cabler said.

In the midst of the patio, sandwiched between a fire and an explosion, Cabler found himself with no exit in sight as the entire area was enclosed by a fence. However, using sheer strength, he managed to force his way through the fence dividing the club from the street. This act was soon followed by other survivors who fled through the breach he created, thus escaping the confined space.

On the debris-filled roadway, the man named Cabler struggled to his feet amidst the scattered corpses and wreckage of vehicles, shards of glass in every direction.

“It was like walking through hell,” he said.

Following his collapse on the street, a man in white hastily hailed a cab for Cabler and drove him towards a hospital – its windows shattered from some past explosion – yet they denied entry due to fear of potential retaliation, as another attack had occurred at the American consulate in Denpasar just nearby.

In my perspective as a cinephile, I found myself accompanying the protagonist, Cabler, into an enigmatic hotel, orchestrated by the mysterious figure in white. The following morning, I awoke, or so it seemed, to discover that my companion had survived the night, though barely hanging onto life.

In an overwhelming state of dizziness, Cabler found it difficult to keep his feet, yet he persisted in his quest to locate his cherished friend, Webster. He scoured the city, checking hospitals and temporary mortuaries, even peering into body bags and examining the disfigured remains in search of him.

He never found him.

The situation didn’t turn out as they had planned. They went to Bali for surfing and fun, but once more, the tumult and bewilderment that Cabler had long been evading returned to haunt him.

Grew up in a humble abode, nestled behind the iconic Cuckoo’s Nest in Costa Mesa – a venue that echoed with the raw energy of Henry Rollins as Black Flag’s frontman in 1981. The ’80s found me immersed in this punk-rock hotspot, which served as a hub for touring bands across America, despite occasional altercations with patrons from the neighboring cowboy bar.

“Where I grew up, you had to fight every night,” Cabler said.

In his younger years, Cabler experienced a troubled upbringth. His biological father abandoned him when he was merely 3 months old and never returned. To make matters worse, Cabler’s stepfather turned out to be cruel and abusive, often venting his frustration on Cabler’s beloved pets. Tragically, another family member subjected Cabler to sexual abuse as well. From a tender age, he learned the skill of detaching himself emotionally from his painful experiences.

In my youth, I developed a unique ability to detach myself from my physical form during periods of distress. By closing my eyes and counting up to seven, it felt as though the events transpiring weren’t happening to me personally.

Instead of finding solace in organized settings, Cabler preferred turbulent environments – from thrashing within the crowd at punk concerts to riding waves across California, Mexico, and further afield.

Skip Snead, who edited Surfing Magazine from 1992 to 2000 and has accompanied Cabler on dozens of surf trips around the world, said his friend and mentor was “a naturally talented surfer. He was one of the best tube riders in Newport Beach, and a legendary local surfer.”

When there weren’t any waves to surf or shows to go to, Cabler often turned to drugs.

“There was no drug I wouldn’t take,” Cabler said, “and I learned I could make money dealing weed.”

In the ’90s, I juggled multiple jobs while chasing my passions for surfing and music. During this time, I founded my very own punk band, El Centro. We rocked out at gigs across Southern California and even made it to the Vans Warped Tour.

Casey Royer, a renowned punk musician from Orange County who’s performed with Social Distortion, the Adolescents, and D.I., reminisced about Cabler as an engaging vocalist who had a knack for captivating the audience.

Royer stated that his primary objective is clearly defined, with the music serving somewhat as a secondary aspect. Instead, he places great importance on being a noble soul and a virtuous spirit.

But everything changed during that fateful trip to Bali in 2002.

The violent actions were orchestrated by Jemaah Islamiyah, a militant organization linked to Al Qaeda. These explosions resulted in the tragic deaths of 202 individuals from 21 different countries. Australia experienced the highest number of casualties, with Indonesia coming in second. On that fateful night at Kuta Beach, there were eight Americans; however, only one survived and returned home.

Cabler’s healing process was tough and challenging due to the intense damage sustained in the incident. The shockwave that swept through him fractured his sternum, separated every rib, and shattered both eardrums. He was drenched in blood, had burns across his entire body including his hands, and had broken his scapula in two while escaping from the club.

As a cinephile, I can’t help but recall an incident that took me back to the club the previous evening, just before the unfortunate bombing. It was then that I came face-to-face with one of the individuals shown in the photographs provided by the State Department. A strange encounter it was indeed, and it left an indelible mark on my memory.

At three in the morning, I found myself socializing with a woman from Germany over Jack and Cokes. Suddenly, a group approached us, and one of them spat in my direction while shouting, “You’re disgusting. I hate America. I hate George Bush.

“That’s Umar Patek,” the agent told him.

“Who’s that?” Cabler asked.

The agent explained they believed he was one of the bombmakers. “Would you be willing to testify?”

The situation unfolded such that the government’s probe into a global terrorist incident became contingent upon a drug-peddling surf enthusiast hailing from Orange County, known as Cabler.

In a court trial, Cabler played a crucial role in bringing justice for his friend and imprisoning Patek. Remarkably, he was among the rare Americans who testified against an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist in a judicial setting. Despite this significant act, Cabler consistently refused to be labeled as a hero.

I’m quite resourceful. I managed to escape and even contributed to saving others, as I refused to be passive and wait for rescue. I took matters into my own hands when necessary.

What Cabler really wanted to do was get back in the water and up onstage again. Incredibly, he was able to do both.

“I wanted to take my life back,” he said.

Snead noted that Cabler quickly recovered his surfing prowess, showing it was as if he had never lost any of his abilities,” or more informally, “According to Snead, Cabler got right back on track with his surfing, like he’d never missed a beat.

On the surface, things might have seemed normal, but beneath it all, life was quite challenging for Cabler. He was struggling with intense vertigo, a brain injury, and PTSD that made even simple tasks difficult. In his quest for relief, he discovered EMDR therapy – a method used to help individuals recover from traumatic experiences and emotional distress. This treatment, according to him, was instrumental in bringing about positive changes.

Cabler stated, ‘This experience has significantly transformed my life.’ In chaotic situations, I’m the one who keeps a cool head. However, it’s handling everything else that sometimes drives me a bit mad,” he added.

Whenever things get overwhelming, Cabler shuts his eyes and counts up to seven – a method he believes saved his life during his time in Bali.

Twenty-two years later, Cabler is still dealing with the scars of that fateful night.

He has memory lapses, permanent hearing loss in both ears and tinnitus that “feels like a bug marching through my eardrums.”

Because his recurring spells of dizziness prevent him from surfing regularly, these days he usually visits the beach to instruct local children on wave-riding instead.

However, he’s resumed his musical endeavors. Not too long ago, he reunited El Centro, and they shared a stage with the iconic Dead Boys at the Tiki Lounge in Costa Mesa. Additionally, Cabler performs with Royer in a punk rock cover band named Anton Shadows and the Impalers. The duo is also embarking on a podcast journey together.

Regarding whatever task Cabler undertakes, Royer has faith that his friend will discover a pathway to triumph. He’s consistently shown resilience in the face of any hardship he’s encountered.

Jim Ruland penned both “Corporate Rock Sucks: The Rise & Fall of SST Records,” a L.A. Times bestseller, and the novel “Make It Stop.

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2024-12-06 02:46