10/11/2008

Richard Juryn and Denis Fontaine Die in Kayak Mishap Cam McRae

Richard Juryn and seven friends set out on an epic, season-capping adventure on Saturday morning.  Their plan was to kayak to Anvil Island from Porteau Cove, run to the top, paddle back to the mainland and then cycle to Whistler.   After their climb to the top of Anvil the weather turned foul.  Despite the increasing swell they decided to make for the mainland.  Soon after, the weather deteriorated further and amid seven foot swells and 85 km/h winds the kayak containing Denis Fontaine and Cheryl Beatty capsized.  Richard Juryn and his paddling partner, Graham Tutti, attempted to rescue Fontaine and paddle with him toward Porteau Cove while another picked up Beatty and made it safely back to Anvil Island.  Fontaine climbed into the centre hatch of the double kayak but in the rough weather it began to take on water and eventually sank.

The three men were rescued after over an hour in the water but Richard Juryn and Denis Fontaine could not be revived.

Richard was one of the most energetic and tenacious advocates for mountain biking the North Shore has ever seen.  He spearheaded countless fund raising endeavours and was instrumental in getting new people involved in the North Shore Mountain Bike Association.  Richard also dreamt up and ran the highly successful North Shore Mountain Bike Festival and Conference which was so well received that it became the World Mountain Bike Conference the following year.  If there was a mountain biking event happening on the North Shore you could bet that Richard was involved in some way to ensure success.

Richard Juryn (far left) and five of his buddies on their recent riding trip to Mongolia.

Earlier this year Richard organized a riding trip with some friends to celebrate his 50th birthday.  Rather than Moab or Colorado the group headed to Mongolia for a more unique and remote challenge.  On October 25th a slide show was scheduled as an opportunity for Richard to share images and thoughts from this once in a lifetime adventure.  It appears at this point that the event will go ahead as a tribute to Richard and Denis.

I unfortunately didn't know Denis but I can tell you that Richard Juryn was an incredible person.  Always smiling and brimming with energy, no challenge was too great for him.   He will be greatly missed by all who knew him - and the hole he leaves in the local mountain biking community cannot be filled.

Richard is survived by his wife Jill and his two teenaged children.

If you have a memory to share or you'd like to express your condolences to Richard's family and friends please do so here.

Click these links to see the mainstream press reports on the incident:
The Globe and Mail
The Vancouver Sun
CBC