Friends, family pay respects to surf legend

The partner of one of the South West’s much-loved surf legends has described a paddle out in his memory as simply beautiful.

Les Somers, 66, died on June 2 as he was training for the Avon Descent on his surf ski at Gnaraloo Station in Carnarvon.

A group of friends and family gathered at Jetty Baths on Thursday afternoon and as the sun set over Bunbury’s glassy waters, they paddled out to pay their respects to Mr Somers.

“It was just beautiful,” Mr Somers’ partner of 15 years, Carolyn Nankervis said.

“We got Black Betty out (Mr Somers’ ski) ... and I sat up the front where Les usually sits and we paddled out.

“It was beautiful silence, then someone would talk about Les, then it was a moment of silence again.

“Everyone there spoke about how he was such an inspiration to all of them.”

Ms Nankervis said the duo “lived the life”.