Sad News: 120 Kiteboarding death Bodies Found Near Island 9 Weeks After Died During……

Tragic death on Canada Day prompts investigation by municipality, with the assistance of the Windsports Society, to review incident and safety protocols at Sp’akw’us Feather Park watersports beach.

Sign at the watersports beach at Sp’akw’us Feather Park, which explains that it is an advanced launching area. (The beach is currently closed to kiters while the investigation is underway.)

 

The watersports beach area at Sp’akw’us Feather Park.

1 / 4 The watersports beach at Sp’akw’us Feather Park.Jennifer Thuncher

There has been much talk in the two weeks since North Vancouver’s Gray Taylor died while kiteboarding in front of Sp’akw’us Feather Park, on Canada Day afternoon.

 

While there may be different perspectives on what went wrong, there is no debate that this was a tragic accident that took the life of a beloved father, husband, friend and community member.

 

Though nothing compares to the pain his loved ones are feeling, the death of Taylor has also been traumatic for those who stepped in to try and help him, those who watched the tragedy unfold in real-time, and those who were there that day.

 

There is also a collective wish now to learn from what happened and hopefully prevent it from happening again.

 

What all those The Squamish Chief spoke to agreed on, too, is that kiteboarding is not a risk-free sport and that the wind conditions at the time of the incident were challenging, even for veteran local kiters, some of whom said they chose not to go out dueand establishing best practices for the windsports beach. We have been collaborating closely with all involved parties and anticipate sharing more information in the coming weeks. We wish to express our gratitude to our Squamish Windsports Society team, the Good Samaritan bystanders, and emergency services for their efforts in the July 1st rescue,” he added. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.”

 

Two veteran kiters’ perspectives

While not representative of all kiteboarders’ opinions, two locals shared with The Squamish Chief their perspectives as veteran kiters.

 

Christopher Rollett, who has been involved in the sport locally for a decade, including previously managing the Pepahím̓ (Spit), said that the same spot on the oceanfront was a very advanced place to launch, even before it was redeveloped,