My heart sank when I saw this thread back near the top of "today's posts".

Sad news. Sad day.

Unfortunately on several occasions I was not able to meet Don!! Amazing guy... F$@* C@&%#)!! Very Sad news

Ah that's too bad. It was always good talking with Don at JIBE. He will be missed.

He can ride with AJ now...

Like B-Roc I noticed this thread bumped and suspected the worst. I know he meant a great deal to you guys over here, so I'm sad for you all and I think it is amazing that Bobby and Phreerider made great efforts to go see him in his final days.

Life is sometimes just not fair.

Quote: Originally posted by acampbell

He can ride with AJ now...

Amen to that :saint::saint:

Quote: Originally posted by acampbell

He can ride with AJ now...

Ok that one made this NSFW. I've melted down a few times already today.

So sad. We are diminished greatly, our little community.

Rest easy Don!! You are flying with the angels now.


Prayers sent for all his family and friends.

Not to take this off topic, but this thread only serves to show the beauty of PKF as well as the spirit of Tridude. How is it that people around the world who have never physically shaken his hand can feel such enormous loss. I really feel as though I lost someone close to me. Will never sell my 15m Phanny now.

Kudos to you Bobby for your big heart,... We will miss Don for sure.

God bless and Rest in Peace, Don.

I just emailed Chris (Pokite) to let him know.

Very sad news. I first met Don at JIBE and was promptly told that Angus had a wind direction switch hidden in the brush. He then asked me not to mess with it.

:duh::duh: Don I will miss you. Go find AJ and have a blast!

http://vimeo.com/24184033
This is Don and I at the end.

That is awesome to see Don at the end of that video then fades to the sunset and mellow music. Good stuff!!!

I have watched that video so many times the last two weeks!

Thanks for sharing Todd.

What is it about pkf? Such a good hearted community. Even though I've only met a couple people in person it seems we all share the same vibe.

My thoughts and prayers to friends and family.

Awesome video and it's great to hear his voice again. I bet that hanky he was wearing around his neck was to protect his trach he got on the first chemo/radiation treatments. The treatments made his neck swell and made it difficult to swallow for a period of time. Thanks for sharing Todd.

damn... RIP Don.

Although I never met Don, I feel sad that he's gone. He contributed so much to this forum and I will miss reading his posts.

I will be flying the Red Devil I brought from him a few years ago in his honor.

Rest in peace my brother!

Thank you all for the kind words of my Father, he was one hell of a husband, dad, friend and teacher! I think everyone who knew him grew from knowing him, as a son of his I was constantly given opportunities to learn and succeed under his tutelage, I would not be who I am today without him and tomorrow I strive to be half the man he was.

Everyone on this forum was one of his friends, he enjoyed talking to great lengths with you all about the trim of kites, efficiency of foils (I was always a tuber) and just basic kiting knowledge. Like all of his other endeavors in life, Dad did everything possible under the power of wind and the lines of a kite and he sure knew what the hell he was doing. He started kiting in 2003, I was 13 and an adamant surfer bound that I would never ride a wave with anything other than a surfboard. Watching him smile ear to ear whether on land or on water made me think, "hell, Dad is having a blast! I want to have some fun too!!". Needless to say from that point on we flew together, no matter what the surface or medium. We had an amazing time traveling, talking about different designs, and even building our own boards! We learned together from there on out, I will forever cherish those times spent with Dad, Bobby Muse, Chad Golden, Angus Campbell, Rich Miller, and so many others I've met because of Don Leech.

Tomorrow we will be holding the "Downy for Don" from 51st avenue Isle of Palms to Station 28.5 Sullivan's Island (A formidable downwind leg) in honor of Don at 4:30pm. I know many of you will not be able to make it, but if you have a chance to fly a kite at that time please think of the man who taught us all so much, made us laugh and smile and realize how precious life truly is.

Don Leech

Blue Skies and Strong Winds

Much love,

Nate Leech

I'm on Jekyll tomorrow at 430 p flying a phanny. Bless you Nate and family.

If there were wind tomorrow in the ATL, I would join, but the forecast is complete junk 'round here... I'll be thinking of Don tomorrow and flying in my mind.

Nation wide SOFKA flight for Tridude!!!!

Thanks Nate for getting the word out. You beat me to it. Don and I spoke a great deal about riding on Ivanpah, and he was always amazed at the speeds that came so easily out there.

I can't ride at 4:30 EDT but I'll match up with the same sun position you guys will have and I'm gonna fly it like I stole it. I'm gonna get dirty and burn some rubber on Ivanpah and do it all in honor and memory of Don. :duh::duh:......

Nate the honor was all mine, couldn't wait to meet your dad face to face, glad I did, he made a difference to so many of us.

I will do what I can to get a kite up to fly with you guys tomorrow, but here at home unfortunately.

Keep your chin up Nate, you made your Dad proud, and I know you are proud of who he was.

Very sad news. I had the honor of meeting, and sharing the wind with Don. I have never met such a great person and he inspired me to help anyone and everyone I can with kiting, or otherwise. No matter how dark the day, he always found the ray of sunshine and shared it with everyone. Heaven has gained another angel. I love you brother. Untill we meet again...

Damn. Don was one of our veteran leaders. He helped me a ton when I was getting started and when I showed up to JIBE from Colorado a few years back (without a buggy, mind you), Don was the first person to welcome me and make me feel like part of the family. Then he promptly sold me a harness

I will be thinking of him next time I go out. Wish I had been able to spend more time with him, but I'm thankful for the brief times I had. I'm sorry for your loss, Nate.

all into one, the elements bind us and deliver us. a deep saddening loss for all, the spirit persist despite the limits of our body experience and its energy is eternal and truly free beyond the fears of our human ego. being a part of Don's human experience has enriched my experience and grateful for his sharing and engaging nature. Don, a real champion at life, helped make us all stronger at living

our experience together and sharing happiness is the prize.

here we are pheasting on life! Don, Nate, Angus, and myself , this is the" back on the horse " after his first surgery. very much a celebration, just as todays session will be honoring Don.

https://vimeo.com/33264538

i fly tonight thinking of Don...bless him, his family and friends

I would like to send out my sincere condolences to Don's family and friends. He was always a knowledgeable and friendly person. Always seemed to have his heart in the right places. I had a few conversations with him on here on the forum and in messages. I bought my 12m speed 2 from him back in 2010, and to this day, it is still my favorite kite in my quiver. RIP Tridude.

Prayers to Don's family. I've been off PKF for awhile and this is the first thing I see coming back. Very sad indeed. Don sold me his 2.5 Bullet which is hands-down the most fun kite I have in my quiver. I could tell he was a class act all the way and the best possible ambassador of the kiting sport.

The wind's up here today and I will fly the Bullet in his honor. RIP Don.