Rider dies at Desert Storm

[Beemer]

Not good to hear, just got this police alert:

Location: Ohakune
District: Central

On 15 January 2011 the annual Dessert Storm motor bike trail ride event was held in the Karioi Forest near Ohakune.

At about 11.00am one of the riders involved in the event has fallen from his motorbike. No one witnessed the actual fall, but other riders were on the scene within seconds of the crash and located the unconscious rider.

Emergency Services attended and the rider was pronounced dead at the scene.

The deceased is a male aged in his late 20's.

Further details of the rider will not be released by Police until next of kin are notified.

(A further media release will be made once the next of kin have been advised)

[YellowDog]

A motorcyclist died after falling from his motorcycle during the annual Desert Storm motor bike trail ride event in the Karioi Forest near Ohakune today.

Constable Dylan Hovelle, of Ohakune, said no one saw the fall which happened about 11am.

"Other riders were on the scene within seconds of the crash and located the unconscious rider," he said.

Emergency services attended and the rider, a man in his late twenties, was pronounced dead at the scene.

No other details about the dead man were immediately available.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10699894&ref=rss

Condolences to friends & family.

[NordieBoy]

Oh bugger :(

[Jay GTI]

Damn... I spoke to Nick a few years ago about the events he runs, he said that he lived in constant fear of the big one happening at one of his rides. Gutted that it's happened.:weep:

Thoughts for the family and friends now dealing with the tragedy.

[cheese]

Thats terrible news. Tragic loss.

[vr4king]

Very sad indeed NO ONE needs or wants this to happen............I really feel for the family and the organizers

[buffstar]

Aww what shitty news. :no:

[D3ALN]

condolences to the family of the rider.
Also to the organisers who would be struggling to cope with this at one of their events also.

[yafeetup]

thoughts with the family and friends what a tragedy. Also to the first response people on the scene, seek the professional assistance offered, been there it does help

[cave weta]

Awful.... I feel for the family of the rider and Nick and his team . at least he got to go while enjoying his passion.

Thats how I wanna go .

[Owl]

at least he got to go while enjoying his passion.

Thats how I wanna go .

Not likely? I'd say the enjoyment ended when he parted company from his passion.

Just hope he didn't suffer while probably bent and broken.

[cave weta]

Not likely? I'd say the enjoyment ended when he parted company from his passion.

Just hope he didn't suffer while probably bent and broken.

According to eye witnesses they were just seconds behind him and he had left the planet by the time they arrived.

[scott411]

my thoughts to the family and friends of the rider, RIP,

[SpikedPunch]

Very sad, and understandable given the dust :/ Must have been hard for the organisers to know how to handle it. There was no announcement or anything, but word went around camp pretty fast. Such a shame.

[random rider]

the news did spread fast and in some ways made people a lot more cautious today.

Thoughts are with his family and friends. Taken too young.

[vazza]

Really terrible. Was quite a buzzkill.

my thoughts go out to his family.

[EXCDirt]

That's terrible to hear.

R.i.p and condolances to the family.

Was it really dusty and he was just too fast?

[motor_mayhem]

That was a tragedy. Poor family having to go through that.

I would hope it was just bad luck as the course did seem to be marked out really well, though I guess the dust made it difficult to see the obstacles sometimes. I nearly plowed into the white gate about 2km into the east loop today, was only because the previous person (ahead out of sight) had accelerated around the corner and I got the sudden shock of dust clearing and gate appearing. Not much you can do about the dust except be careful as a rider, nothing the organisers could do anyway.

[Gone Burger]

Tradgic news - thoughts and condolences are with his friends and family - and also with those who were at this event. Very chilling time for you all.

[takitimu]

RIP my thoughts to his family and friends, way to early to pass on.

[Buddy L]

Was it really dusty and he was just too fast?

Not sure on what happened to the rider in question, but it was extremely dusty, i got past buy a few people on both days, riding well beond there visabilty, and i mean not seeing anymore then 3 meters in front of them, while riding at pace, Just stupid

[GPS MAN]

These things do happen.....sadly.

I have been at several races over the years, in the states, where someone died. It always made me do a reality check.
Thoughts and Prayers with the family

[raglanash]

Nobody really knows what happened yet, it's all speculation until the coroner has made his report. Apparently there was no rocks/trees or anything really nasty where he was and it was relatively straight.

From my brief experiences with him I can say he was an exceptionally nice guy and not an idiot rider in the slightest.
He was from Hamilton.

More details will come in the next few days no doubt.

R I P bro. You will be missed.

[cave weta]

IMHO.. while well run The Desert Storm Trailride attracts large numbers of riders with vastly differing skill levels and riding agendas.
This means that riders who get little practice, especially riding with other people are constantly being overtaken by faster riders who are perhaps not used to riding with slow beginner riders, quad bikes or family groups.
At big events, dust is always a problem with many riders outriding their visibility. The easy tracks are just too easy for people to go really fast on. And speed and inexperience=potential danger. They just twist the grip on their mx 450 4 stroke and before they know it they're pulling 80k over rough ground heading into a corner.

I stay away from these events now- just too many people with too much to prove.....

[Crisis management]

While I agree with you CW, maybe this thread shouldn't go into the possible causes and speculation as it may be viewed by people that knew the rider.

[raglanash]

Valid points, we have all witnessed people riding above their level and I for one have caught myself out doing it in the past.
Though it is still pure speculation as to what happened in this case.
Only the coroner can say for sure, please wait for that before passing judgement on this ride or the rider.
Name released now but still no cause.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700201

RIP Damo.

[raglanash]

While I agree with you CW, maybe this thread shouldn't go into the possible causes and speculation as it may be viewed by people that knew the rider.

Yep, right on.

[willytheekid]

Poor Kid :(

Thoughts go out to his friends and family.

[Reckless]

yep very sad! RIP dude! Hope you went doin what you loved!!

[4stroke]

the east track was a very fast track to start with, not alot of slow sections

[Pierce]

Sad sad news indeed. Its crazy as only on the weekend I was telling my GF that deaths in our sport aren't that common (talking about the driving age and saying more deaths are caused on roads by young drivers) then this happens.

Condolences are going out to the family and friends of the rider.

Its extremely sobering when we have tradgity like this happen in our sport.

[dino3310]

FYI

A service for Damian will be held at Hamilton Gardens Pavilion, Cobham Drive, Hamilton, on Saturday, 22 January 2011at 2pm followed by private cremation. All communications to the Ansell family PO Box 5523 Frankton, Hamilton, 3242. Seddon Park Funeral Home

[warewolf]

Sad news... and not the first death at Desert Storm, which will be even harder for Nick and his team. My thoughts are with all those affected.


Its crazy as only on the weekend I was telling my GF that deaths in our sport aren't that common (talking about the driving age and saying more deaths are caused on roads by young drivers) then this happens.Yes, but you are still correct as one more death doesn't make it common.

[cave weta]

While I agree with you CW, maybe this thread shouldn't go into the possible causes and speculation as it may be viewed by people that knew the rider.


Valid points, we have all witnessed people riding above their level and I for one have caught myself out doing it in the past.
Though it is still pure speculation as to what happened in this case.
Only the coroner can say for sure, please wait for that before passing judgement on this ride or the rider.
Name released now but still no cause.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10700201

RIP Damo.


Yep, right on.

Read my post gentlemen... Im not passing judgment on the rider- I havent even mentioned the rider. I am talking about the large numbers of people, the huge variance in skill level and the low visibility due to dust. The environment of large rides is a danger is my point

[Crisis management]

Read my post gentlemen... Im not passing judgment on the rider-

I realise that, I was simply concerned that some of more feather brained on KB might take up the challenge and the thread would deteriorate into a pile of speculation. I had no intention of criticising your comments, I have every respect for your judgement in these matters.

Cheers,
Iain