Richard Juryn Trail Day
Words by Dan Gronross. Photos by Dan Barham.
It was not even a year ago that the mountain biking community lost a husband/father/friend and one of the most prized advocates for mountain biking that we will ever know. Richard Juryn left this world in the same fashion as he lived it - in a flash. If you were lucky enough to meet him, his zest for life and mountain biking was easily apparent and instantly infectious.
Richard Juryn, during his Mongolia trip. Richard personified a life well lived.
With all the work that he put into the biking community, there was something that Richard wanted more. Richard wanted a place where families, much like his own, could all enjoy the benefits mountain biking has to offer here in his home of the District of North Vancouver.
Trail sign EPS.
On Saturday July 19, 2008 Richard’s dream came to fruition with the construction of the Richard Juryn Trail in the Lower Seymour Region Conservation.
Unknown volunteer lugging bags of concrete for the trail signs.
The North Shore Mountain Biking Association, with the assistance of the District of North Vancouver, the Lower Seymour Conservation Region, the city of North Vancouver, and Metro Vancouver all worked together and laid out the plans for a trail in his honour. Land in the Lower Seymour Conservation Region was set aside for the first stage of his trail in the popular Camp Brick riding area in the District of North Vancouver. Online donations from family, friends and the community, along with the funds raised at “A night to remember Richard Juryn”, aided in the birth of his trail.
Over 250 volunteers came out on a Saturday morning late in July to lend a hand in construction of Richard’s Trail. From spreading of the crushed gravel to intricate rock work, a trail was constructed over the course of a day.
Volunteers spreading gravel to mark where the trail is.
Volunteers digging the ditches to aid in the drainage of the new trail. Richard Walton (blue cap), the mayor of the District of North Vancouver and driving force behind the trail, helped with the work.
Jeremy Powers, the master “rocker,” was out to help with the construction of a technical portion of the trail.
The Wilsons - James, Amber and their son were out digging for gold.
Bruce Spicer coated in dirt after lugging rocks for a portion of the trail. This orange shirt was supposed to be his clean shirt.
Dan doing what he does best, cooking up a storm of burgers and hot dogs for all the people that came out and lent a hand in the construction of the trail.
Many of the local shops and companies on the North Shore came out to lend a hand. In no particular order, they are:
Mountain Equipment Co-op
North Shore News
Wedgewood Ventures
BSP and the Muddbunnies
Contact Printing
Kintec Footlabs
Adventure Smart
Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition
Endless Biking
Steed Cycles
On Top Bikes
NS Ride
Shore Bike Camps
Whistler Mountain Bike Park
Mountain Interactive
Deep Cove Kayak
Ryders Eyewear
Obsession Bikes
Jill Warland, Tahnee, Parker and Richard’s mother Pam Juryn remove the covering from the sign announcing the Richard Juryn Trail.
Special thanks go out to those who volunteered for the event. It is in the generosity of your time that Richard memory lives among us.
Robin Harvey, the woman with a plan. A close friend of Richard’s, she is one of the individuals that spearheaded the event.
Get out there and ride the Richard Juryn Memorial Trail. As you pedal along, remember the man that stood taller than the mountains while still being the most humble person I ever met!
We miss you Richard, but with this trail, your legacy will live on with the community that you loved so much.
- Dan Gronross
