Tribute ride remembers Kelly McGarry
Mountainbikers gathered at Silvan Forest MTB Park to commemorate one of Nelson’s local legends.
On Thursday evening after the dust had settled from ex-cyclone Fehi, more than 120 riders met at the bike park to pay tribute to international freeride mountain biker Kelly McGarry on the second anniversary of his death.
Tribute ride organiser and Kelly McGarry Foundation committee member Matt Goodall said it was ‘‘touch and go’’ whether the ride would be able to run.
‘‘We decided to go with it anyhow and it turned out awesome.’’
McGarry died suddenly from a cardiac arrest in February 2016 while biking on a Queenstown trail. He was 33.
The tribute ride started at the top of the mountainbike park where guest speaker Damian Stones reminisced about McGarry.
Goodall said Stones and McGarry worked on a lot of projects together including building Auckland Point School’s pump track.
The tribute ride had a fitting route. The crowd wheeled down the People’s Choice track, named after the award McGarry won at the United States Red Bull Rampage in 2013.
Goodall was pleased with the representation of youth.
He said about 50 children were there, aged 10 to 17-years-old.
Goodall met McGarry at intermediate school and ended up as his neighbour.
‘‘We spent a lot of time raiding each other’s pantry.’’
He said it was still hard to come to terms with his death.
McGarry’s international stardom meant he spent a lot of time in different parts of the world.
‘‘It seems like he’s away on an adventure somewhere and gonna turn up at any time.’’
Goodall described his friend as ‘‘a big man, big spirit and a heart of gold’’.
Keeping McGarry’s memory alive isn’t just contained to his home town.
Nelson’s tribute ride coincides with the McGazza Fest in Queenstown, a three day celebration of what McGarry was known best for – mountainbiking.
Goodall said he hoped to make the tribute ride an annual event.
‘‘I’m honoured to be able to do it.’’
Meanwhile work is progressing on a bike park created in Wakefield where McGarry was born.
Goodall said he was working on the park, called McGazza Land with a group of friends in conjunction with the Kelly McGarry Foundation.
‘‘It’s going to be an inspiration place we can all enjoy, and take our kids there, and have a lot of fun.’’
He didn’t have a completion date for the project but said he would ‘‘love to have it completed this year’’.