Paddle-Out Memorial for Jeff 'Ox' Kargola Held at the Pier

Hundreds of people came the pier to pay tribute to

Kargola, who was a professional freestyle motocross rider, was killed of internal bleeding and a head injury during the 2011 Desert Assassins' Rip to the Tip challenge. He was 27.

Before paddling out to the pier, surfers attached new decals to their boards picturing an ox in honor of Kargola.

Later, they gathered together and paddled out to the end of the pier and formed a circle. Then everyone held hands, and a prayer was recited for Kargola.

Before the boarders surfed back to shore, a helicopter floated in the air above the pier and dropped flowers into the ocean. It symbolized Kargola's life and how he loved the sports he participated in.

"The helicopter reminded me of him. He was one of my brothers," said Robbie Maddison, who holds the current world record for jumping 322 feet on a motorcycle. "I'm from Australia, and it's really difficult to find someone who you can really connect with. Jeff was shy at first, but when you knew him, he could turn a day that wasn't perfect into a perfect one."

One of Kargola's close friends, Sunny Garcia, remembers Ox.

"He was a really good friend of mine," he said. "He touched everyone here. He was truly an angel, and over the last four to five years, I spent a lot of time with him."