How much damage did LA exactly suffer because of the abysmal wildfires? Well, according to the report published by the Los Angeles Times, the number goes around $350 million. The infrastructure and the public services were on the receiving end because of the rage of the wildfires. And still, no one is sure about the revival process. When will Palisades and Los Angeles come to life? Everyone wants to know when and how. But past the material damages, some losses were simply invaluable. Among them is the loss of a passionate surfing icon.

For most Malibu has always been about the serene waves rather than the blistering flames. But in January this year, things changed. The LA wildfires changed the course of time. Now Malibu knows the smell of burnt surfboards. And the Malibu Wall knows that Crawdaddy isn’t going to come to set the banner for surfing anymore. Both the Malibu Wall and the locals feel the deafening silence of Crab Shack, once touted to be the perfect place for party lovers in Malibu. What happened and how is the surfing community catching up with the situation? 

The iconic Crab Shack pays the price because of LA wildfires 

On January 15, Heather Thomas shared a quote on X. It was about the former actor’s cousin’s words. The words claim, “Randy (Crawdaddy) was a good dude. Old school Malibu local who lived in the iconic red “Crab Shack” on PCH for 27 years. I’m told they found him (with his cat) holding a garden hose. ”

Heather also claimed that she knew Randy (Crawdaddy). So who was this individual known to big names? Well, the local Malibu surfing fans knew him by the name of Crawdaddy and his house as Crab Shack. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Randy’s remains were found outside Crab Shack on January 9. His mother, Carol A. Smith, spoke to him over the phone for the last time on January 7. 

On the phone, Carol heard her son saying, “Pray for the Palisades and pray for Malibu. I love you.” Those lines echoed the sentiment. It spoke volumes about Randy Miod, who lived surfing and gave his life for the love of Malibu. He might not have promoted the rich lifestyle, the usual show in Malibu. But he was the one who opened the gate of Crab Shack for those who wanted to enjoy the moment in Malibu.

Also, the 55-year-old had the option of choosing a white-collar job and living a life king-size, spending time in a lavish house. But he chose a red old house that he bought in 2005, spending $400,000 (a hard bargain, the locals claim!). He never thought about leaving that red house, Crab Shack, even in his last moments. 

Andy Lyon rightly remembers Randy. Dealing with the local real estate, he might have known the price of Crab Shack. But he doesn’t want to go to that discussion. Rather, he wants to remember his late surfing icon friend distinctly. How? To WSJ, he said, “The Crab Shack was Randy and Randy was the Crab Shack.” But what about the surfing community? Have they paid tribute to the fallen hero? 

Surfing enthusiasts come together to remember Crawdaddy 

On January 23, the People’s Report claimed the human casualties to be at least 24 in Malibu because of the LA wildfires. Randy Miod is one of those unfortunate individuals. But was there anyone who used to be a popular surfing figure who chose the bartender’s role only to manage time for surfing? Doubts are there.

However, an X-user came forward to pen a few lines on Randy, beneath Heather Thomas’s post. He/she wrote, “He lived across the street from our beach, so sad, our whole neighborhood was decimated and one neighbor is still missing.” The update displays the sad picture of the place that Crawdaddy loved most. Someone soon identified the locality and the surfing figure. 

In the comment box, that local user wrote, “I’m so sorry. I used to know someone directly across the street from him. Just south of Dukes, right? So sad. I’ve said it before, but so sorry for your loss.” The exact place is right on the Pacific Coast Highway, near Surfrider and the Malibu Wall, the same wall that now keeps reminding the locals about Crawdaddy’s absence. Meanwhile, in the comment box, someone from the local community entered. 

The user wrote, “Yes, Las Flores Beach, nearly all houses gone; this was old Malibu, modest old homes, people who lived there for decades. Many elderly folks. Tight-knit neighborhood.” The tight-knit neighborhood is on the pages now. It was so loved by him that when the Palisades fire approached Malibu earlier this month, he chose not to evacuate. He had faced wildfires in the past and was resolute in his decision to remain and safeguard his Crab Shack, his cat, and the life he dealt.

That ethereal love took his life along with his several neighbors. Someone in the comment box paid their tribute to that by saying, “I’m so sorry for all the loss. Praying for your neighbor.” Tom Davis, the book author, also submitted his respect for the surfing icon’s loss. In the comment box, he wrote, “I am so so sorry.” In the LA wildfires, Malibu has lost its poster boy. Isn’t it?