Sam Brown R.I.P.
Source: Cam McRae
I met Sam Brown once - by chance - back in 1999. I was with a few buddies and we had just ridden The Monster in Kaslo B.C. It was mid summer and we were sitting by the truck drinking a beer and revelling in the glory when he pedalled up to say hi. We soon learned that Sam had built much of The Monster himself - a truly world class marvel of a trail. He was just a kid and he was riding around on flat pedals with no shoes on - and he really looked like a forest elf. He was soft spoken and he seemed a kind, gentle spirit.![photo]()
The next time I saw Sam was at the premiere of NWD III Freewheel Burning - on the screen. He had built one of the most amazing contraptions you could ever ride a bike on. He called it the 'The Disconstructed Wheel' but everyone else called it the hamster wheel. He rode on and his rear wheel stopped on the latching mechanism, releasing the wheel. Then he got on the pedals and the wheel began to turn until it finally hit the opposite lock and he rode off onto a skinny. The next move was a wheelie off from a standstill. It was an imaginative engineering marvel that he somehow managed to put together high on a mountain top. Or at least that's what I heard at the time.
![photo]()
Sam put together a pretty decent segment after that. His most impressive move was a high speed manual on a long skinny. He put the front wheel down just in time to launch off the end. I have no idea what life held for Sam after that but it's clear that at some point things got interesting.
![photo]()
Recently Sam was contacted to transport 350 lbs of marijuana across the B.C. border into northern Washington State. The deal was set up by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Apparently it was a rainy, foggy night and the DEA assumed the helicopter delivery would be canceled. News reports suggest that when the DEA arrived at the meeting point Sam was already unloading the crop from the machine. He had apparently flown the helicopter through the mountains on a very dirty night, landing in the Colville National Forest north of Spokane. The helicopter was reported stolen by the owner from Malakwa B.C. I haven't been able to discern whether Sam held a fixed or rotary wing license at this point but I think a rotary license is unlikely.
![photo]()
That was February 23rd. On Friday February 27th Sam was found dead in his jail cell in Spokane. It's unlikely that we'll ever know much about what happened on the four days after Sam's arrest.
Without knowing all the details it's tough to know how Sam found himself in this predicament. While his actions were clearly risky, dangerous and against international law, Sam can also be considered a casualty of the misguided, expensive and - worst of all - fruitless, 'War On Drugs.'
We'd like to express our sincerest condolences to Sam's friends and family.
-Cam McRae
I met Sam Brown once - by chance - back in 1999. I was with a few buddies and we had just ridden The Monster in Kaslo B.C. It was mid summer and we were sitting by the truck drinking a beer and revelling in the glory when he pedalled up to say hi. We soon learned that Sam had built much of The Monster himself - a truly world class marvel of a trail. He was just a kid and he was riding around on flat pedals with no shoes on - and he really looked like a forest elf. He was soft spoken and he seemed a kind, gentle spirit.
I remember hearing that the hub for the Disconstructed Wheel was machined by Sam's dad as a high school grad present. Screen cap from NWDIII.
The next time I saw Sam was at the premiere of NWD III Freewheel Burning - on the screen. He had built one of the most amazing contraptions you could ever ride a bike on. He called it the 'The Disconstructed Wheel' but everyone else called it the hamster wheel. He rode on and his rear wheel stopped on the latching mechanism, releasing the wheel. Then he got on the pedals and the wheel began to turn until it finally hit the opposite lock and he rode off onto a skinny. The next move was a wheelie off from a standstill. It was an imaginative engineering marvel that he somehow managed to put together high on a mountain top. Or at least that's what I heard at the time.
Sam riding his creation back in 2002.
Sam put together a pretty decent segment after that. His most impressive move was a high speed manual on a long skinny. He put the front wheel down just in time to launch off the end. I have no idea what life held for Sam after that but it's clear that at some point things got interesting.
Samuel Jackson Lindsay-Brown could ride a bike. Screen cap from NWD III.
Recently Sam was contacted to transport 350 lbs of marijuana across the B.C. border into northern Washington State. The deal was set up by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Apparently it was a rainy, foggy night and the DEA assumed the helicopter delivery would be canceled. News reports suggest that when the DEA arrived at the meeting point Sam was already unloading the crop from the machine. He had apparently flown the helicopter through the mountains on a very dirty night, landing in the Colville National Forest north of Spokane. The helicopter was reported stolen by the owner from Malakwa B.C. I haven't been able to discern whether Sam held a fixed or rotary wing license at this point but I think a rotary license is unlikely.
That was February 23rd. On Friday February 27th Sam was found dead in his jail cell in Spokane. It's unlikely that we'll ever know much about what happened on the four days after Sam's arrest.
Without knowing all the details it's tough to know how Sam found himself in this predicament. While his actions were clearly risky, dangerous and against international law, Sam can also be considered a casualty of the misguided, expensive and - worst of all - fruitless, 'War On Drugs.'
We'd like to express our sincerest condolences to Sam's friends and family.
-Cam McRae
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it says how he died.............R I P Sam
something tells me if there is 350lbs of pot on a heli this wasn't a small time deal; apparently he hung himself after 4 days prison. there is something that doesn't line up with that.
and i agree the war on drugs is a joke, just like the war on terrorism. if you have attainable goals that is different buy how can you beat something that exist everywhere
manifest destiny i guess.
RIP Sam
either way RIP
I blame the DEA for this.
I also wish i had 350lbs of marijuana for personal use, but hey: thats a different story altogether!
RIP Sam - I never knew who you were before this as Im not that oldschool - but this is a major blow for biking AND the current state of world affairs (what a f*cking time we live in eh?).
Peace man.
R.I.P. sam
Such bullshit that some refer could land you in a situation like that... I hope the DEA feels good about this one, 350lbs of ganja off the street and one young man dead... How does that balance?
Thanks for you contribution to the sport Sam!
My thoughts go out to your Family and Friends.
was he still riding his bike when he got into all this?
if someone hasnt seen the video. theres the link. rip man
Well, whatever the story was on the weed, RIP dude, sounds like the world has lost a fantastic rider and generaly nice bloke. Best wishes to all friends and family.
This story gives me the chills. The above quotation could not be more accurate. The US War on Drugs is the figure head of the prison industrial complex ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison-industrial_complex ) and it makes me absolutly sick, enraged and disappointed that Canada, as a sovreign nation, can't form it's own drug policy because of our close proximity to the USA, fear of trade embargos and political bullying.
Marijuana SHOULD be legal, controlled and taxed. It would reduce gang profits, criminal offences for otherwise "good" people and for f*ck's sake it comes from the earth, naturally. How anyone can think that making it illegal is a positive thing is completely beyond me.
That's my rant. RIP Sam.
Since then we have told this story a few times when that trim comes to mind. Then we see this story. Sucks to know we were right with our suspicions all along.
RIP MAN
For all those who were close to him and spent time with him riding, building, drinking, and what not, he was a great friend, and a great person.
We always used to refer to him as smiles, as thats all he would do, just smile and love life everyday as much as he could.
He showed us all how to really appreciate life and not take anything for granted. He was so selfless and thought of everyone around him, before himself; spending so much time on trails and maintenance so that we could have a great ride and see what a talented person and trail builder he was.
From the beginning of when we first rode together, to our last ride on the monster, he stepped it up huge and was pulling things that no one else would even dare to.
I had the great pleasure to meet Sam about 9 years ago when he stepped foot into small town Kaslo. I'd always see his trucked parked at random places where he would spend the night camped in the back or stay at a buddies place, always with his bike close at hand.
He blew me away with his passion and desire to ride his bike everyday, riding on logs close to the beach or at the loggers sports area, or finding gaps or hucks that were close at hand to ride. Before long, everyone in town who rode, or had the desire to, knew who Sam was.
Sam began to build a trail i beleive was known as the "never ending bridge", which for all of us that knows of it or has seen this trail, it definatly ends...quickly.. Large huck into trees that I wouldn't dare to touch then, nor now, but Sam would bust it out huge just to show it can be done.
From there, the monster was secretive to some, but very well known to those that helped clear with sam and too, had the dream to build an amazing trail.
The monster, which still to me is an epic, crazy, and probably the best trail i've ever ridden, and to the many many riders out there that have ridden it before can testify to that.
To all those kids in the koots who ever saw Sam ride, i can bet just because of him, they picked up their bikes and wanted to ride just like him.
To all those people that have been impacted by Sams life and the greatness of having him as a friend, they all know he lived a life of sheer happiness and never let anything bring him down.
To all, lets remember Sam for what he was, a great person, a great friend, a ripper, and someone we will never forget.
So the next time you roll into Kaslo to ride the monster, or really any trail in the koots; just think that Sam had a big contribution in the riding community there and lets appreciate all his hard work and effort that he put in.
For those close by, lets pay tribute to Sam if you are in the area May long weekend, and meet between mr skinny and monster, or at the "never ending bridge".
Send any emails to [email]surfnsteve13@yahoo.com[/email] and we can arrange a time and day.
Lets never forget - Sam Brown - We'll miss you dude.
Shred them trails up there for us!!
I'm not going to make excuses for anything that Sam chose to do for they were his decisions. However, what this shows is that no matter how badly somebody screws up, they are still cared about by many people; both families and friends, and they are all affected by the choices that their loved ones choose to make. The sad thing here is that Sam will not have the opportunity to make amends for his bad decisions. Things happen in peoples lives that can lead to them making all sorts of decisions; some good and some bad. Sometimes the bad decisions don't go too far and you are able to come out of the other side with some more knowledge, more experience and the realisation that you made a bad decision but not suffer any ill effects. Sam hasn't been so lucky. Yes, he was a drug trafficker who was bringing in a large quantity of an illegal substance, was caught, and needed to face up to the music. On the other side he was a talented rider, somebody who pushed himself, and somebody who was obviously well respected in our community and cared for by many. RIP.
I was a good friend of Sam's and can tell you, we are all reeling in disbelief. we all want to know what happened. All the details are sketchy at best. Please feel free to be a little more empathetic to this situation. HE WAS LOVED and HE made a bad choice. After all - he was only 24!!!! I have ridden dH bikes with Sam, Skied down mt peaks with Sam. he was a True Kootenay kid who loved his family, friends and community. anybody who he met always had great things to say about Sam and that bashful smile. We will miss you SAMMY & I will miss those great times playing with you
What a load of BS. You trash talkers got some nerve trashing a dead man. I guess that's the only way y'all have enough balls, kick him when he's down.
As for the drug trafficking, how do y'all think your Alcohol, Tobacco, Viagra, lithium and Coffee get around, Faeries? Look at your own lives before trashing what someone else did. And before you scream "but we mean illegal drugs..." try to understand that there was a time when Sugar, yes SUGAR was illegal.
But the real point is that the only thing needed is heart felt R.I.P. Sam or hold your tongue. If you haven't got that much respect where do you get off preaching moral authority? And as likely as it seems he killed himself someone else could have hung him just as likely. Who actually thinks your R.I.P. matters when it is preceded by "He made his bed now he sleeps in it."
This is a Tragedy for our community, both the Kootenay community and the Mountain bike community. It is a tragedy for all those very close to Sam. I hope he is remembered as the innovator he was and the inspiration he provided to most of the current huckers. Without Sam no on would have the rat wheel and likely it would have been a long time before someone tried riding a tight wire.
R.I.P. Sam. You made the world a better place.
Poor guy just got caught up in the wrong situation.
"In a phone interview, Martin confirmed the helicopter was stolen from Gorge Timber Corp., and that he knew Lindsay-Brown personally.
"As I said to the RCMP officer, Sam's truck was in the lot where the helicopter was, and I said, 'If Sam does have something to do with this, it's very out of character from the Sam that I know,'" said Martin."
Personally, I really don't know what to think. Stealing a helicopter and transporting that much pot deserves consequence of law, regardless if it was a sting or not. It's illegal and until that changes (which im not really for at all), thats the bottom line. However, as Martin said in the quote, it was out of character for him. Maybe he was hiding something, I don't know and most likely we will never know. I'm sorry that it had to go down like it did.
Almost every person I know who has used drugs or using drugs has a story about something bad that has happened to them or a friend....including weed.
Should pot be made legal? In small amounts, YES...in large amounts....NO (unless they start to give a business lic out for selling it).
Also if your the person who LOVES pot, and smokes it non-stop.....grow up.
RIP Sam
Think about how hard BC has been hit with the United States flagrant disregard for the NAFTA treaty and how many communities have seen multi-digit drops in employment over the soft-wood embargo... If you don't know even this much, which is *pre* 2008/2009 economic recession you might consider doing some research.
Ponder this. When you have no viable source of income, and you need to feed your family, what do you do? Ponder this outside of the situation described with Sam, I'm not pretending to know his mindset, this is just a lead in...
But perhaps, as many of you will knee-jerk react... oh! You don't need to sell drugs. Fair. But when you have no local product that can be viable to sell on market, for example because the United States in *contradiction* of their NAFTA agreements as confirmed by the WTO and World Bank (both have condemned the US for these actions against Canada's softwood lumber industry), you might find the noose around your neck even before you slip out of bed in the morning.
Unless of course you are ready to abandon your beautiful British Columbia and move elsewhere to find your wage...
Now this isn't meant to be dismissive of any of the actions taken by Sam or thousands of other smugglers in BC... but the fact remains that good people suffer over what? (you can lead into now why the War on Drugs has been an epic failure since Nixon initiated it if you want).
What is it exactly? The War on drugs is a start, but the world is much bigger and complex than that, there are multitudes of strong undertows and currents that this story touches on and all of your minds have now found a focus point.
Take this energetic impulse and focus it into your own research and quest for answers and don't make your assumptions from the start!
Drugs are not the answer nor are they the root of all of this... Think of this situation as merely symptomatic and look for the sources.
Please don't assume I sit here pretending to have answers, I don't at all, but I know there is more than meets the eye.
Peace
Heres a link to a small preview:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/2009-2010/over_the_edge/
And yes, I agree:
"...the misguided, expensive and - worst of all - fruitless, 'War On Drugs."
It's weird, I was just thinking about him the other day...I was like 'what ever happened to that Sam Brown guy?'. His segment in NWD3 is one I will never forget.
«That is the most inovative/best/suprising thing in the Shore history !»
RIP man...
And dont forget to build another one in heaven!
If this were just a story in your local newspaper about some random guy who got busted for smuggling weed and then offed himself, you would probably move right on to reading Family Circus without a second thought.
Since he's what you would consider a "bro" due to a single segment in a mountain bike video from years ago, many people here are blindly trying to rationalize what he did.
Even if he wasn't transporting marijuana (for the sake of argument, let's say it was lollipops), what he did was still illegal. And over international borders nonetheless.
It's a shame he's dead now. But it's not a tragedy.
build a staircase down or better yet huck it down from your tower, bro...I think the majority of us are good and bad...
The big dogs do not play with small loads.
Here in argentina a regular marijuana bust is about 4000pounds.
So anyway Rest In Peace S.B.
Sounds like a bad movie plot. I'm flabbergasted.
There has to be so much more to this story.
I'm in two minds over this, one says "It sucks, he was an amazingly talented rider and the DEA should to go hell, legalize weed!" the other says "This sucks, he was an amazingly talented rider and got into something he shouldn't have been involved in and it cost him badly" I dunno.
I wonder if the DEA feels like this is a victory in the "war".
You can't blame drugs for this tragedy, prohibition is the motivating factor. if it were legal he wouldn't have been doing it (it would just be a regular delivery job at that point).
also, I would doubt the charges that the helicopter was stolen. If you loaned your helicopter to make an international drug run and it resulted in an arrest you would say the helicopter was______.
R.I.P. Sam!
RIP Sam
or riding pictures?or did he quit riding in last years??
thanks
basti
i would really be interested in that...
www.cannabisculture.com/articles/1932.html
pro-webpage.com/kathy/SamBrown.php
Not that this wasn't a stupid decision on his part, but come on, for a guy to lose his life over marijuana, what a joke. Nice going DEA, how about enforcing our countries drug laws on people that are life time criminals, and on ACTUAL drugs that pose a REAL threat to people.
Some more info