Last night our friend and longtime Nolte? supporter Zak Kaercher, of zAKs Boardroom in Anchorage, passed away. It’s a tragedy. I’m still in a state of shock and disbelief. My thoughts are with his family and friends. I met him when we were coworkers at a dingy basement shop in NYC. To see what he was able to do in few short years was nothing short of spectacular. His store is not only a beautiful establishment, but by all accounts is deeply ingrained in, and involved with Anchorage’s skate/snow community. Most places take years to establish that sort of bond with the community, if at all. He loved what he did and it showed., He meant a lot to a lot of people. There will be a big void in your absence. I wish I could have made it out there to see it. Rip in peace buddy.
7 Responses to “zAK”
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June 3rd, 2010 - 9:31 am
The world is a lesser place without Zak, My love and prayers go out to him and his loved ones.
Shred in peace Bro!
You will be missed.
June 3rd, 2010 - 5:01 pm
Zak lived life. He pushed harder, rode faster, and realized that every day was important. He was truely like a little brother to me. He was good natured, humorous, and wanted everyone to join in the fun he always liked to stir up. I hurt from his loss and extend my love to anyone that is hurting from this tragedy as well. I am soo sorry for Caroline, his family and all his friends. Words cannot express how wrong this is. He was and is one of my best friends, and always will be. It kills me i didnt make it to AK. I’ll never forget the good times we had.
On the other side of this. He was a monster! He could ride faster, go bigger, hit it harder than about anyone. Not just on the mountain either. He could drink you under the table, the table he just beat you at arm wrestling on. He stayed out the latest, so he wouldn’t miss anything with his friends. The ladies loved him! I hope for your sake that you knew him. He was a giant standing 5 foot 9′ ! Like Jesse said…..
‘Rip’ in peace! Endless pow days for you,Zak…. U deserve it.
June 3rd, 2010 - 11:43 pm
I met Zak in NYC when i met Tom.He was one of the NYC crew that talk about riding and did not olny talk about it but what i loved about him was that he would ride! The good time that i had with Zak was some of the geat and funniest times that i had, always a humorous guy. In life its hard to find a person that he was.It was so cool to have had a friend that loved snowboarding and skating like i do,and to share that.AK will not be as fun with out you!
REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND SHED IT UP FORM US!
June 6th, 2010 - 4:38 am
Thanks so much for taking the time to write about my buddy Zak on your blog. He was a really great guy, and it’s almost impossible to wrap my head around the fact that he’s gone. Zak and I both moved to NYC at the same time to go to the same school. When you don’t have family here in the city, and have no one looking out for you, you start to build your own family. Zak became part of that for me. We spent many holidays together, chased girls together, got wasted together, and traveled all over the place to ride. So many amazing memories of crazy shit…from us getting pulled out of a bar on the UWS and nearly arrested after some undercover cops saw us drunkenly tipping over newspaper stands, to him in a school girl uniform riding a little pink bike down 10th ave, to the horrible sunburns we got while visiting Tom in Florida, to the Springer episode. He was a dude who lived in the moment and always wanted to have fun. I’ve never met someone that was as down as Zak Kaercher. We caused a lot of trouble together over the last 10 years, and laughed our asses off about it the whole time. I wouldn’t sell one second of it for all the money in the world. Rest in peace, brother. I’m gonna miss you.
June 6th, 2010 - 7:21 pm
It still really hasn’t hit me yet, but it keeps popping in my head and when I think about it I can’t grasp the fact that I won’t see him anymore! Zak and I together with NYC crew had many great moments together, lots of great adventures traveling around the globe to catch the best pow and experiences. Not only as a dear friend but as a rider buddy it’s hard to imagine not being able to conquer more mountains together. Zak is one of the few people that really just wanted to live life the way life should be lived. He managed to come visit me while I was in my home town Hamburg, before I could even ask him and after all these years I still haven’t managed to visit him in his home town which me and a few other where looking forward too so much, it was going to be the big frontier. It’s not going to be same without you Zak no matter what we do. I know you hear us and feel us and we all be there with you and you will never be forgotten even the slightest bit.
My heart goes out to the Kaercher family Caroline his big love, you will always be a part of him therefore a part of us. ONE LOVE ZAK we will be riding with you side by side for ever!
June 7th, 2010 - 1:57 am
Heeeeyyyy Poopie!!!
I’ll never forget your 1piecepoopiesoot- lookin’ so damn chewy for all those Argentine caballeros- you crushed ‘em and i know you are doing the same right now- (i’m STILL jealous) out there where the fluff is bottomless and the heli waits to take you back and do it all over again.
The smile lasts forever- where else than Anchorage could i walk into THEE happening shop and know that in less than an hour the Pope of ANC and The Lovely Caroline would have me 3 Deep in Whiskey, 2 Gone in Alaska Amber, and 1 Mourning later- me wondering what the hell happened…
No. None of this makes sense. It never does. When a friend drops that unridden line into the unknown, we have to rest knowing that it’s SOOOO damn good over there, you didn’t even have time to stop and send a post card. No worries, Zak- we get it. Ride it out, keep your foot on that gas pedal, and take notes, god damn it. Someday, we’ll be there with you- on hands and knees begging you to point out your secret stash.
Until then, my friend- fair winds, following seas and blue bird days after purple nights. jh
June 10th, 2010 - 3:04 pm
I only new Zach briefly, for a few years in NYC! Even in the short time I knew him he was always full of life, and a great person to hang with. This world has few people of his character, and now it has one less. He was a great person and will be missed. RIP in Peace!