IN MEMORIAM: KELLY MCGARRY
One would exhaust a thesaurus searching for adjectives to describe Kelly McGarry. ‘’McGazza’’ has been the big friendly giant of freeride for the past decade and his affable presence, a staple of Crankworx and Rampage, was instantly identifiable by the golden mane sprouting from the bottom of his helmet. Kelly was a fan favourite for his
massive backflips but it was his personality which endeared him to all who knew him. He was the type of man who befriended everyone he met. Constantly smiling, quick with a joke or a laugh, he was the ultimate ambassador for New Zealand and mountain biking in general. On Monday, February 1st, 2016 Kelly McGarry passed away, he was 33. Our thoughts are with Kelly’s friends, family, and loved ones in this time. The mountain bike community lost a brother today. Kelly, we'll miss you.
 | Less typing, more biking!
Kelly McGarry (1982-2016) |
forever remembered!
Bad form.
No-one knows when their ride is going to end, but if you can manage to do what you love while surrounded by friends you've really got it made. Ride on Kelly, you'll never be forgotten.
"Fraser Gordon of the Queenstown Mountainbike Club said McGarry was riding with representatives from his YT Industries team on the Fernhill Loop Track when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
"We understand he was riding uphill and suffered cardiac arrest. He is an extreme mountain biker so everyone is presuming he fell but that is incorrect," Gordon said.
"He was out riding with some of his frame sponsors YT and I think they were going to do some filming and take some photos with him."
Goes to show you never know when your time will end.. Live every day to the fullest and never waste a chance to learn, love, explore, and be happy.
This memorial deserves more comments than any Pinkbike post before. Keep 'em coming!
OMG...he was my favorite rider because of his age almost like mine
what the f k....
33year only....
Have no words. I'm in depression from now.
Sad to see him go
Found this pic in the archives. Riding in 2010... In Deep - WBP.
www.facebook.com/events/491923964266166
www.facebook.com/events/1821269328099903
www.facebook.com/events/226452231025319
@TheMomentOfLife it's probably to remind us to think about our own lives and what we are doing with it. I won't pretend to know Kelly McGarry because I don't really follow his type of riding, but the things people say about him make me wish I did. Big guy, big hucks, big heart--I'd like to live like that
I am pretty sure I will go out and ride a few times not only for Kelly but as well for myself!
Condolences,
Danny Hart
au.yt-industries.com/world-of-yt/yt-family/rider-a/kelly-mcgarry?c=368
He looked like a very cool person and I am absolutely sure, he truly was!!!
Can't believe.... heavy and dark feeling in my head right now... don't know how to express with words.
So sad!!!!
RIP dude.... you wrote your name in MTB history for sure!!!
*sigh*
RIP Kelly may your trails be endless, you'll be very sorely missed
Ride on you magnificent fellow.
It's the same situation... same result. Family and friends are left without someone they charished. Very hard to deal with the loss of anyone but especially someone full of life and in the prime of their life. So much ahead of them.
For reference... Jay wasn't killed while surfing... what he was known for... he was pleasure diving. Craig wasn't killed because he fell off of a cliff... he was buried by an avalanche set off above him by another group... he wasn't even riding at the time.
But they were both lost doing the activity that they did that put them at risk... as was Kelly.
The fact that it was a natural medical event leaves you feeling even more at awe. Especially with a guy like Kelly. Dude was like the terminator. After walking away and often laughing at some of the biggest crashes ever we all saw him as invincible. And to go out just riding along... damn.
Any way you look at it... it sucks. I feel really bad for everyone around him.
There was a kind of rock star quality to him. But instead of acting cool or tough, he was all smiles and laughter. His positive vibe was infecting everyone around. He was quite simply, the kind of person you want to be around.
It is believed that McGarry collapsed on the Ben Lomond trail at 4pm, local time.
Two paramedics were flown to the trail by helicopter but McGarry, 33, was found dead on arrival.
Read more at www.mbr.co.uk/news/kelly-mcgarry-has-died-after-collapsing-on-a-queenstown-trail-337711#7BpXucuDG9TDuiVr.99
A man has died while mountain biking in Queenstown.
Queenstown emergency services were called to the mountain bike crash on the Ben Lomond Track above Queenstown at 4.14pm. Police said the call was to a report of a male having fallen from his bike and requiring urgent medical assistance.
Its a huge loss. I am still completely stunned by this.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=x76VEPX
A sad sad day, my thoughts go to his close friends and family.
But know this, only a true legend flips the canyon, a true pioneer of the sport and every pic and video I ever saw of Kelly he was smiling like he loved life.
Missed never forgotten!
An inspiration, RIP
Now let's ride...
Kelly, you were a great rider, an absolute pinner, undoubtly a pride for your amazing country, and you'll forever be missed.
Shred in peace dude.
You just could feel his good vibes whenever you could see /hear him.
Hero
R. I. P.
What the hell is wrong with this year? So many influential people dying
Ride in peace bro
My condolences to his family. I hope they can find some comfort in reading all the kind words and stories about Kelly.
Hopefully he was enjoying what he loved doing. Gone too soon, that's for sure.
Thoughts with his family.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t9rlWHNrIY
www.pinkbike.com/photo/3917965
we'll miss you & remember you.. you probably making Haven a HAPPIER Place....
My thoughts are with his loved ones
What a great ambassador for the mtb community he was. Thoughts go out to his family, friends and dog (always a focus of his Instagram posts).
Rest in Pease Kelly.
Keep on shredding Kelly.We (the whole mountain biking community) will miss but NEVER forget you.
You're going to be missed VERY much, BUT NEVER,EVER FORGOTTEN by ALL of us ... GODSPEED KELLY.. we all hope to ride with you on the other side..
(And what a ride that will be !!!!!! ) everyone that has met him knows how truly down to earth he was,and such a beautiful human being... my heart,thoughts,and prayers go out to his family... #forevermcgazza
This is a little something I illustrated today in his memory.
Anyone can download the print file free via the link bellow and use it however you want. It's sized at 18x24 inches but can be resized bigger smaller if need be without loosing any resolution. Just send the file to your local print shop and they will sort it! Or contact me if you have any questions.
Please share on to anyone who might be interested!
Download the file here:
dl.orangedox.com/XyedZQZxeZqCbP1yC8
If the link stops working for some reason, contact me and I can email it to you directly.
Hope you all like it!
His death has also been a stark reminder that this life is so fleeting, so temporary that we must all make our best effort to live life to its fullest each and every day. I never got the chance to meet Kelly, but as so many people have said it sounds like he was truly an amazing person. If one lesson can be learned from that it is you should always try your best to make the most meaningful,good impact on others lives that you can and that you leave the world a better place knowing you have made a difference.
Its hard to explain but even though I never had the honour of meeting Kelly I still feel so terribly sad that another ambassador of awesome has left this world too early by anyone's standards.
We all have to ride on, but must never forget those who strive to bring more greatness to this world (and the MTB community).
Ride in Peace Kelly McGarry, your loss has created a chasm in this community that I dont think anyone will ever be able to fill. Nor should they, as I truly believe you have left a unique impact on us all that could never be forgotten even if it comes from a perspective of only meeting you through the lens of a camera.
At trade shows he was the epitome of a professional rider - approachable, considerate and always included whoever he was conversing with in the point of any conversation. Celebrated life and made sure others were part of the fun.
Turning off the damn laptop and grabbing my trail rig to go "Kelly It Out" on some trails!
Kelly, you lived your life well my friend.
but i surly will remember the facts that are there... his greatefullnes didn't die... it lives on..with in all of us, and those who doesn't will be thankful one day and surly become a better person one day...
so my omen is
I forgive you, i love you, thank you.
may you rest in peace
Does anyone know how his passing happened?
He was THE ambivalent character in freeride Mountainbiking.
I will miss you.
Ride in Pace Kelly......
He gave us some amazing memories.
Ride in style McGazza
Wonderful epitaph for a beautiful person!
Back flipping in heaven = looking back down at us for a brief second...
Cheers Kelly! With much respect...
"A song for a heart so big, God wouldn't let it live... May angels lead you in, Hear you me my friends,
On sleepless roads, the sleepless go, May angels lead you in..." (Lyrics to "Hear You Me" by Jimmy Eat World)
Wherever you are, keep riding and smiling brother!
He was always fun to watch
Doesn't he have a wife and little kid? If so can't imagine what they're going through
RIDE IN PEACE ✌
R.I.P ⚰
From Stuff.co.nz "The 33-year-old, from Nelson, was biking on the Fernhill Loop Track when he suffered from a cardiac arrest while riding uphill at 4.14pm.
We need to know what happened precisely
Such a sad news...
Deepest sympathies to friends and family.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hayb9mZSZDQ
so long Kelly, may you shred forever on that great big mountain in the sky! RIP
very sad
youtu.be/2W1FphxgQFY
Such sad news. Dejected me very much.