A paddle-out honoring Carlsbad native Mike Sarain will take place at Terramar reef on Saturday, Oct. 10. Sarain, a lifelong surfer who grew up in the Terramar neighborhood, died Aug. 9 at his home in Kiama, Australia. He was 65.
The paddle-out begins at 2 p.m. at the reef break south of the Carlsbad power plant, according to an obituary published by the North County Daily Star. Attendees should enter from the north or south end of the beach and walk to the surf spot.
A celebration of life follows at the home of Jim Watson, 3287 Lincoln St. in Carlsbad. Those not joining the paddle-out are asked to arrive at 4 p.m.
Sarain, born Michael Paul Sarain on Jan. 1, 1961, in San Diego, grew up in Terramar and attended Carlsbad schools from elementary through high school. His mother, Edith Sarain, was a teacher in the Carlsbad school system and raised him as a single parent.
After graduation, Sarain worked in floral delivery, surf and ski retail, and as a cook at the Quails Inn and The Charthouse in Carlsbad. In 1985, he and two friends launched a surfing and watersports cable TV show, steering him toward a career in television production.
His family wrote in the obituary that his years directing productions for the international dance fitness program Jazzercise were some of his most memorable work, "both for the relationships he made and the fun he had."
Sarain and his partner, Nina Brathletson, moved to Australia in 2001. He earned dual U.S.-Australian citizenship and, in 2011, landed a full-time teaching position at Australia's Technical and Further Education institution, known as TAFE, where he taught television production.
Even from Kiama, Sarain traveled roughly 15,000 miles round trip to Carlsbad nearly every year to visit friends. The obituary described him as happiest "when surfing or spending time 'talking story' … with a legion of friends."
In 2015, Sarain discovered three previously unknown half-siblings: Anthony from La Jolla, Alex from the San Francisco Bay Area and Guadalupe. He and his brother Anthony, along with partners, opened WildWood Crossing and Cantina in Vista in 2019. The restaurant operated for five years before being sold.
Most recently, Sarain was involved with film projects centered on the surf community. He is survived by Brathletson, stepson Bjorn Brathletson, brothers Anthony and Alex, and sister Guadalupe.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the California Surf Museum, 312 Pier View Way in Oceanside, or the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center in Laguna Beach.
Upcoming Carlsbad events
- Saturday, Oct. 10, 2 p.m.: Mike Sarain paddle-out, Terramar reef; celebration of life to follow at 3287 Lincoln St.
- Monday, Oct. 5: Carlsbad Playreaders stages a Brontë comedy at the Carlsbad City Library.
- Ongoing: Beach stairway construction on Carlsbad Boulevard has reduced the road to one lane near the south end.
