Some Thoughts About Risk

The sport of mountain biking was rocked last weekend by the death of 33-year-old Japanese downhiller, Haruko Fujinaka at NCS#1 in Big Bear, California. Making the news even more devastating is word she was celebrating her honeymoon after just one short week of marriage. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Haruko’s family, friends and loved ones. Speaking about the accident with friends both in and out of our sport got me to thinking; mountain biking, especially the disciplines of downhill and freeride, can be dangerous.Then again, so is living in the city. Excuse the cliché, but you could be hit by a bus the next time you cross the street. Or you could be the victim of an errant puck or ball while watching that hockey or baseball game. How about the random acts of violence we read about in the newspapers every single day.

Is rural life any better? I'd wager it’s not a whole lot safer, farming accidents happen every day. You could be struck by lightning, drown in a pond, be mauled by a bear or get mad cow disease. I won’t even begin on the dangers of war, terrorism and “peacekeeping”.

My point is, life is full of risk. Is it worth giving up any risks in life in the name of safety and longevity? Not to me it isn’t and I’m guessing if you’re a regular visitor to the site you feel the same way. Who wants to live life in a bubble watching the world around you reap the rewards that come from taking risks? I say again, not me!

Well, maybe it doesn’t have to be so cut and dry. Maybe it’s just a matter of taking up an easier, more peaceful pastime. How about canoeing? Wait, you could capsize and drown. How about hiking? Oh yeah, there are bears, cougars and the dangers of falling from the trail to your death. Road cycling? There are cars, potholes and storm sewer drains just waiting to take you down. Then there’s the danger of full contact sports like football, rugby and hockey. You just can't avoid risk.

It may be an anomaly, but in my short time in Nelson I’ve met dozens of people who fall into the “risk-taker” category. The town’s full of people who have risked much in pursuit of some tangible benefit. There’s Mike Kinrade, Joe Schwartz and Robbie Bourdon who regularly risk life and limb while riding, but risk doesn’t always have to mean bodily harm.

We’re all familiar with the risks of the stock market, but how about taking risks to pursue a dream. There’s a guy down the street who gave up a secure, high paying job in the city so he could spend more time riding his bike and his board? How about the late Craig Kelly, famed snowboarder, who gave up a very promising professional snowboard career in favor of a simpler life and starting a family? Risk comes in different forms for different people. I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the point. Do you want to spend the rest of your life in complacency asking “what if”?

Maybe it’s more about managing risk. It’s no secret each of us has a personal “comfort zone” when it comes to risk. It’s really just a matter of weighing the risks against the rewards. It all seemed so easy when I was younger. Maybe my experience has given me a broader view of risk. Maybe having a family has added to the “consequence factor”. Maybe my mind just isn’t as quick as it used to be. Whatever the reason, I seem to have to think things through just a little bit longer each time I confront risk. That doesn’t mean I’m not into risk, in fact far from it.

There’s a magnet on my fridge that reads “Do one thing every day that scares you” (anonymous) . I try my best each day to follow that mantra, sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's not. I just know I'd rather fail pursuing a dream than live a long, monotonous, miserable life on the couch. I'm certain Haruko died doing what she loved, and I can't imagine there's a much better way to go than that!

“Do one thing every day that scares you”
-anonymous

Some friends sent me their words and thoughts on Fujinaka's death and how it affected them personally. Here they are:

I think a lot of locals were quite shocked, a lot of people who weren't aware of the sport of DH, it got their attention. People just don't know a lot about DH, I think XC is still the sport that people think is going on up here. But deaths do happen, though they are rare, in a mountain community with extreme sports, the reply is "No way, doing what?" Then they reply, " Wow, it must be dangerous" So i think for Big Bear it is a shocker, that got our sport some attention.
When I try to tell people to come and watch, they just have no idea how dangerous it is, but now they do. Chances are they will come and watch more now. People love watching the death defying sports more than anything, just see how the main spots on the course where the fans are, are the 'carnage' sections. So though it was a tragedy and my friends and family will now say I must stop because I could die, it did get alot of attention for the sport, and makes some of us ride a little safer. They thought I was crazy before and now they even think we're gnarlier crazy!

Chelsea Redwood - Big Bear, California

"Her death is indeed tragic! I got to the scene as they were giving her CPR
- Sad sight! This is an indication that along with the search of victory
and adrenaline rush, comes the risks of the sport! But lets not forget all
the other bad accidents that happened at BB. A very close friend was also
seriously hurt during his practice session Saturday afternoon, immediately
after Haruko’s incident and right before my race run. It affected me for
that race, that’s for sure! Unfortunately these are the risks you accept
when participating in extreme sports such as Downhill racing. Weather you
play Hockey, race motorcycles, skydive, etc. you take the risk of getting
injured. Deaths are rare, but it’s always a possibility. People die in car
wrecks, but most of us still drive. Same for airplanes! I’m not about to
give up this wonderful sport because of what happened this weekend…I will
still ride, I will still race and I will still take risks, but perhaps more
calculated. Life isn't a given gift and it can be taken away from you in a
flash. That's why I try to live each day as if it was my last.

My most sincere sympathies and condolences goes out to Haruko’s friends and
family!"

Luc "Acadian" Albert - Milpitas, California

Thanks to Hideyuki Suzuki for the photos and www.stiksandstones.com for the collage. Stik has his own words about Fujinaka's death here.