Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: Former Victoria man killed in 'speed-flying' accident on Squamish mountain

  1. #1

    Former Victoria man killed in 'speed-flying' accident on Squamish mountain

    Former Victoria man killed in 'speed-flying' accident on Squamish mountain

    Sandra McCulloch / Times Colonist
    September 10, 2013


    Jeff Bertoia, 36, was killed in a "speed-flying" accident in Squamish on Saturday. Photograph by: VIA FACEBOOK

    Friends of a former Victoria man are mourning his death after a flying accident in Squamish.
    Jeff Bertoia, 36, who lived in Squamish, died Saturday while “speed-flying” — using an 11-metre parachute-like wing similar to a paraglider — off the Stawamus Chief, a popular spot for hikers, climbers and paragliders.
    Friend Andrew Barry, who grew up in Victoria, was part of a group that gathered Sunday in Squamish on Sunday to cry and laugh about Bertoia’s life.
    “He was just that kind of guy,” Barry said. “He was a small man but was born with a six pack, both ways, in his stomach and his hand. He had a massive heart and no filter.”
    Bertoia and three others hiked the Stawamus Chief, where he planned to try out a new “wing,” Barry said. The right edge of Bertoia’s wing caught a tree and slammed him into a rock face, he said, “and then it was about a 600-foot fall.”
    The two friends yet to jump started to rappell down but realized it was too risky.
    Even with the risks of the sport, his friends still hoped Bertoia would be waiting for them at the bottom with a big grin and talk of his “amazing” flight, Barry said.
    His body was located in a remote area near the Stawamus Chief and it took close to three hours to retrieve the body.
    Genevieve Lowe of Sooke attended the University of Victoria with Bertoia.
    “He was one of the most vibrant, enthusiastic people that I’ve ever met,” Lowe said Tuesday.
    Bertoia, who has a sister in Port Alberni and other family in Summerland, wasn’t married and didn’t have family of his own but cherished his nieces and talked about them a lot, Lowe said.
    “He had so many, thousands, of friends — a real social butterfly,” she said.
    It was a shock and surprise to her Bertoia had died speed-flying, one of many adventurous persuits he loved to take part in, said Lowe.
    “He just did everything,” Lowe said “I’ve never met anybody into so many extreme sports.”
    A Facebook page called RIP Jeff Bertoia had 946 likes by Wednesday afternoon.
    A celebration of life will be held 4 p.m. Friday at the Executive Suites Hotel in Squamish, and in Summerland on Sept. 21.
    smcculloch@timescolonist.com
    © Copyright 2013
    Last edited by airdog07; December 31st, 2013 at 04:44 PM.

Similar Threads

  1. Speed Flying Video: Speed Flying from the Mont Blanc with beautiful Mountain Scenerie
    By blinc in forum Speed Flying, Speed Riding, Paragliding News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: June 3rd, 2012, 09:50 AM
  2. Table Mountain Speed Flying
    By blinc in forum Speed Flying, Speed Riding, Paragliding News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: May 31st, 2012, 01:20 PM
  3. Speed Riding Video: Table Mountain Speed Flying
    By blinc in forum Speed Flying, Speed Riding, Paragliding News
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: May 31st, 2012, 01:20 PM
  4. Sean Kerridge Speed Flying Accident
    By mknutson in forum Incidents
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: February 20th, 2012, 10:19 AM
  5. Video: Glencoe Mountain, Speed Flying
    By mknutson in forum Video BASE
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: July 8th, 2010, 06:55 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •