I met Kyle Anderson two years ago, when he and his brother Chris showed up for a Skills for the Hills clinic at Sugarbush. They were among the first bike lessons that we taught and despite being only 14 and 12, these two were already better jumpers than me. More than anything though, I noticed how nice and respectful the boys were. I don't often describe teen-age boys as gentle true spirits, but Kyle was certainly one.
They kept coming back and we got to know the whole family, in fact they became part of our family and us a part of theirs. When winter rolled around, I hired Kyle as an assistant coach, as he was already a competent leader of kids young and old.
Seeing how good he was with guests, I asked him to stay for the next summer. So in spring of 2009, in preparation for a summer of bike camps, we took a Gravity Logic freeride bike coach certification together. Sam Von Trapp was also in the course, as was the head of the Sunday River bike program, but the instructor, Sarah Leishman, singled out Kyle for her most effusive praise.
Kyle was jumping in his backyard park a week or so after the course and hurt his knee. They had it checked out, and the first doctor said it was just a sprain. When it didn't get better in a few more weeks, the next doctor found a break in a bone, which led to more tests.
The results indicated osteosarcoma, bone cancer. His family started immediate treatment and we all remained hopeful and supportive throughout the last year, but last night Kyle passed.
Almost all of our summer coaches are direct recruits from Kyle and his brother Chris. This is a huge blow to the team, but especially to his family. I've had friends die before, even too young, but this has been an altogether different experience.
I know Kyle would want us to go out and ride to celebrate his life. We are dedicating this weekend's Gravity East race in his honor and there will be a memorial service at Allyn's Lodge after the race on Sunday.
Roll on brother ...
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John
They kept coming back and we got to know the whole family, in fact they became part of our family and us a part of theirs. When winter rolled around, I hired Kyle as an assistant coach, as he was already a competent leader of kids young and old.
Seeing how good he was with guests, I asked him to stay for the next summer. So in spring of 2009, in preparation for a summer of bike camps, we took a Gravity Logic freeride bike coach certification together. Sam Von Trapp was also in the course, as was the head of the Sunday River bike program, but the instructor, Sarah Leishman, singled out Kyle for her most effusive praise.
Kyle was jumping in his backyard park a week or so after the course and hurt his knee. They had it checked out, and the first doctor said it was just a sprain. When it didn't get better in a few more weeks, the next doctor found a break in a bone, which led to more tests.
The results indicated osteosarcoma, bone cancer. His family started immediate treatment and we all remained hopeful and supportive throughout the last year, but last night Kyle passed.
Almost all of our summer coaches are direct recruits from Kyle and his brother Chris. This is a huge blow to the team, but especially to his family. I've had friends die before, even too young, but this has been an altogether different experience.
I know Kyle would want us to go out and ride to celebrate his life. We are dedicating this weekend's Gravity East race in his honor and there will be a memorial service at Allyn's Lodge after the race on Sunday.
Roll on brother ...
John
