Freeride Entertainment's Carey Bokser perishes in backcountry

The well-known and well-liked Carey Bokser (pictured here with infant daughter, Noa) is mourned by the bike industry. We extend our sympathies to Carey's family and to everyone at Freeride Entertainment.

Family, friends and business associates are mourning the tragic loss of a man well known in the international cycling and adventure sport industries, following an accident high above Nelson B.C.¹s Whitewater Resort, in late February.

Carey Bokser, senior production manager for Freeride Entertainment, perished after a fall during a ski touring accident. The accident happened shortly before 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, on a day marked by mostly blue skies and great backcountry skiing following three days of snowfall.

According to a Whitewater spokesperson, Carey and another skier were beginning their descent on an expert out-of-bounds slope known as the Hummer Face, above the resort¹s boundaries. Carey¹s ski caught on a rock. He fell and tumbled down a cliff face. He died at the scene.

"It¹s an extreme area," says Whitewater¹s Anne Pigeon. "There¹s no room for error up there."

The fall was witnessed by a number of people, including Whitewater staff. The second skier, Freeride¹s Eric Crosland, was able to descend safely.

"Two of our patrols were in Ymir Bowl doing a snow study, so they were on the scene within about 12 minutes," Pigeon says. "They started to administer first aid and CPR." The two patrols were joined by three other patrollers shortly after. Nelson Search and Rescue were also called, along with RCMP and a rescue helicopter.

Pigeon says due to the steep, difficult terrain, rescuers needed to secure the site for the safety of patrollers who¹d gone up to help. It took almost three hours to fly Carey from the scene of the crash to an ambulance waiting at Whitewater¹s base. He was then transported to Nelson¹s Kootenay Lake Hospital.

"They did everything they could, everything possible," says Pigeon. "We¹re very, very sad," she adds. "Carey and his family are great community members and well liked. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife and daughter." "This touches home so closely when it¹s somebody we all know," Pigeon says.

Carey, 33, was a husband and father.

"Carey was the true center of the Freeride universe and will be missed by all," says Freeride owner and founder Derek Westerlund. "None more then his beautiful wife, Anne, and his 10 month-old baby girl, Noa."

"This has certainly changed a lot of things at our company and in the action sports community," Westerlund says. "These are difficult times and we hope that everybody can stick with us in the coming weeks while we get on top of things and adjust to life without Carey."

Nelson artist and Freeride associate Scott Dickson, who knew Carey for 14 years, says his close friend was a true character.

"A colourful character," Dickson adds, chuckling. "He brought a lot of personality to his business dealings, and I¹m sure he made a lasting impression on every guy that talked with him or worked with him."

Originally from Toronto, Carey moved to Nelson from Vancouver in the summer of 1995. He was a skilled, experienced backcountry skier and mountain biker, with a renowned penchant for grueling uphills and hair-raising, no-stop descents.

Carey worked in a number of Nelson¹s outdoor gear shops including Gericks and The Sacred Ride, before moving to mountain biking wholesale distributors NRG Enterprises, where he became a fixture in the Western Canadian adventure-sport retail sector as an NRG sales rep.

Carey started his new career with Freeride four years ago, where he¹d excelled as production manager and producer on the company¹s numerous national and international events, films and TV projects.

"A guy who¹s that much of a man will leave a big space behind. But you¹ll never forget him because of the guy he was," Dickson says. "He had a very sweet heart. He loved his wife. And he loved his daughter."

Carey was laid to rest Wednesday, Mar. 1. He was eulogized by long time friends Mitchell Scott and Mike Seniuk.

For those wanting to make donations in Carey¹s name, there are two places to forward funds: Donations for his daughter Noa Bokser can be dropped of or mailed to the CIBC, 459 Baker Street, Nelson, B.C, V1L-4H7. Donations can also be made to the Lion¹s Spray Park by contacting Rick Crozier at 1-250-352-9771.

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