As many of you at the event know, i was hospitalized Wednesday night with a severe arrhythmia. Basically they told me i had about another 2 minutes
to live.
I'm fine now, but they will not let me out of the hospital until i have it fixed. That is supposed to happen Tuesday, April 5th.
I felt like i let the event down, and i let my team down.
So let me tell you about our event and my team, which is our team.
Not only did the show go on, bigger, better and badder than ever, i was able to give a short speech over the phone to everyone on Saturday night from
my hospital bed.
Everyone stepped up, and threw down.
I've heard reports that the parties just kept getting better, that there was racing and freestyle, and out n back and all sorts of good stuff, that
the food was out of this world(everything tastes better on the playa!)but, in the end.
I'm still not certain what happened, and i don't have the names yet, but whomever won the buggy in the raffle, gave it back! That's right, they gave
it back, and then added $300 to it and it was auctioned off to raise money for my hospital visit! Then John Eckes (sp) won that beautiful Kieron
Ozone kite, and he gave it back and it was auctioned off.
Simply put i was speechless. Those that know me, know what that must take.
NABX is something special. It's more than an event, a gathering, or a party. It's truly a family reunion. Where we meet old friends, and new.
Where most everyone has a spare kite or a spare tube, where someone has that extra 'five minutes' to help Freeman, or there's some spare bearings to
fix a wheel. Still, this is beyond.
Never has it been more apparent to me this year how really special it is. I really wish i could have been there. Truly. I will never forget what
was done though, for me, and by the community of brothers and sisters that have become a part of my family.
To everyone who attends and supports our crazy little world, i just want to say, form the bottom of my slightly defective heart, thank you. To the
people that helped out when a brother was down, and you know what i'm talking about, i got your back.
I'm in complete awe of this thing we have. You humble me, and make me feel honored to be associated with humans of this high quality.
I apologize to anyone who didn't have something they needed, or had to wait for something. I'm truly sorry i was not there. I also apologize to all
the new people for not being able to welcome them. I hope i see you next year.
Meanwhile.
Thanks for letting me be me, thanks for coming, it will be better next year, i promise you i'll work even harder next year(and don't worry, with
doctors clearance!).
We will return!
Aoxomoxoa is found in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
So sorry to here about the trouble but happy / hoping the pacemaker isn't required ?
Your Team came through and never missed a beat. The ONLY thing missing was YOU!
Dean, you have a life of good Karma sitting on your side. I was witness to some beautiful human behavior Saturday night at the auction. If you had
been there I would have missed out on THAT!
You are right about about the community we have. I took my 14 year old son out this year and he spent the whole ride home talking about the greatest
people he had ever met this week. That is a tough one to replace for me as a Dad trying to raise kids these days.
I was sorry to not see you but understand the health/hospital thing and wish you the best.
Not to say you are not needed at the event, which you are, but you have a great team behind you to take care of things, you should be very proud. I
was very happy to help where I was needed..
Heal quick. See ya at the next one:bigok:
Appex buggy, Libre hardcore buggies.
Flexboardz. Blokarts.
PKD Century Soulflys. NPW's. Nasa Stars.
A few other less flown oddballs,
Line sets from 10" to 328" or 2m to 100m.
worlds only AQR that works.
North American distributor for PKD.
"Kite Bugging is not an addiction until you try to quit".
Originally posted by bigkid
I was sorry to not see you but understand the health/hospital thing and wish you the best.
Not to say you are not needed at the event, which you are, but you have a great team behind you to take care of things, you should be very proud. I
was very happy to help where I was needed..
The highest kudos to any organization is to be able to run it without being there. Dean's little "disappearing" act challenged the organization he
heads--yes, Dean's actually in charge (more or less--grant me some poetic licence here, dog!) of the organic, writhing, ever-evolving thing we call
NABX--put the organization to its acid test--and it came off perfectly, seamlessly, organically--without its head.
My hat is off--way off--to the many people who stepped up and threw down. Thank you Blake. Thank you Cory. Thank you Carleton, Claxton, Jim, and
dozens more, for doing what you love to do; what you do so well. Thank you for making the hundreds of little decisions--right decisions--that cause an
event like NABX to come off.
Oh, and thank you Dean, for building an organization capable of closing ranks and carrying on--without a hitch, without a glitch--one of the best
NABX's *ever* at Ivanpah--while you lay helpless and voice-less in a hospital bed 40 miles away.
Nice work, Bud.
In my kite bag:
SkyTiger Hi40
Lil Devil 3.3
Jordan Antelope, 28 meter
OutLeader, 40 meter
OutLeader 92 meter
OutLeader 280 meter
Buggies:
PL \"old skool\" long axle, long rail desert special.
Custom Alberto Soria crab buggy with bigfoot wheels and tires
\'76 GMC half-ton, with 8\" cross-bed mount and twin 100 amp flying winches. --40 kts under kite power alone; el Mirage, 2001!
thanks for the well wishes everyone! Nocando, DC, Indigo thanks for the Queen, right on time that. Bladerunner, dman, Jeff, Weldngod, i saw that
buggy bike for a second out there, didn't get to see much this year.
Rip and the gang just left. Showed me a video. Damn, so sorry that did not air Sat night.
Met with the Flexi team last night on my hall pass(many at this hospital did not know you could get one of those!)have had many visitors, the nurses
are really wondering what the hell is going on now. I've invited a few to come back with me....we'll see*wink.
Feeling it, let me tell you, feeling it much.
much aoxo now, need a whole bunch tomorrow, y'all keep me in your thoughts tomorrow, thank you some more.
Dean, this is the first i am hearing of this since I had to leave the event early. Yikes! Maybe you are on the table now so we are all praying in
our own way. It's no surprise that you team and the NABX gang stepped up like that.
Thanks again and heal well.
Hope to see you at JIBE where we will already have something of a recovery ward set up!
Angus Campbell Coastal Wind Sports
where life is better when it blows!
912-577-3920 new number
Originally posted by bigkid
I was sorry to not see you but understand the health/hospital thing and wish you the best.
Not to say you are not needed at the event, which you are, but you have a great team behind you to take care of things, you should be very proud. I
was very happy to help where I was needed..
The highest kudos to any organization is to be able to run it without being there. Dean's little "disappearing" act challenged the organization he
heads--yes, Dean's actually in charge (more or less--grant me some poetic licence here, dog!) of the organic, writhing, ever-evolving thing we call
NABX--put the organization to its acid test--and it came off perfectly, seamlessly, organically--without its head.
My hat is off--way off--to the many people who stepped up and threw down. Thank you Blake. Thank you Cory. Thank you Carleton, Claxton, Jim, and
dozens more, for doing what you love to do; what you do so well. Thank you for making the hundreds of little decisions--right decisions--that cause an
event like NABX to come off.
Oh, and thank you Dean, for building an organization capable of closing ranks and carrying on--without a hitch, without a glitch--one of the best
NABX's *ever* at Ivanpah--while you lay helpless and voice-less in a hospital bed 40 miles away.
Nice work, Bud.
I can't say it any better than this. dean you can certainly feel comfortable that the event wasn't compromised by your absence other than you were
deeply missed. I was there quite a while looking around trying to spot you before I heard you had been rushed to the hospital. Thoughts and prayers
still heading your way. I can't imagine how fantastic next year will be with you on the playa with us and having a whole year to kick it up a notch
yet again. Rock on brother!
Coastal Wind Sports Team Rider Landsegler Disc wheels
PTW Hero Buggy - XXtreme ApeXX Buggy US 88 - Libre Hardcore IvanpahBuggyExpo.com Youtube link
Bob Muse
HQ Montana X 8m, Montana IX 12m, HQ Ignition LEI 5m,
PL Phantom 12m, 15m, Big Blu 24m+, Synergy 10m, Venom 10m, 13m , Phantom II 12m Vapors 3.8, 5.4, Crosskite Sonic 7m, PKD Combat 10.3m
Uturn Butane 2.5m PKD Buster 3m Genetrix Hydra 7m Ozone Yakuza GT 14m
By the way the buggy was donated back by Mark Barton from Lafayette Louisiana.
Susan (npw goddess)
PKD Brooza\'s 2, 3, 4 and 5.5 meter
Libre Bora\'s 6 and 7 meter
Libre stainless full race with standard and big foot light wheels
Nasa wings: npw5 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.7, 2.4, 3.1, 3.9, 4.8, 5.8, 6.9 meters
npw9 3.4, 5.3, 6.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 15.0 meters
Quadrifoil xm for sale
IMHO, some of the most shining examples of humanity exist right here in our little world of the PKF. A big thank you to all! Good luck on your
recovery, Dean.
Team MEAN GREEN
Bob Lussier
OUTLAW KITER 1.4M Beamer III, 2M Beamer IV,2M
Toxic HQ , 7.5MApex III, HQ, Quadrifoil XXXL (9.66M), NPW5 2.4,4.8m,
NPW9 3.4M(HQ),NPW9 7M (RASTA\'S FURY),
NPW9 7.6M (BIGSISTAH),NPW9 12MGREENMONSTER(km4), P L Comp ST buggy,PL Bigfoot+
buggy, Atomic Alibi Snowboard, Protec Knee/Elbow Pads & Helmet, Seirus wristguards, Demon crash shorts, LaCross chest/shoulder pads.
(tryin\' to be safe!)
thank you dean, get well ,i know you will bounce back ,thanks to jose for the use of the blokart thanks to claxton for picking up my friend ,mike
ssarauw on his first try at the out and back ,thanks to carlton for the great food, thanks to team flexi for the shows,thanks to scott skinner for
selling the lucky tickets, thanks to cory your wisdom is always welcome ,thanks to grant for changing my tire ,you make it so easy.and demo your kite
, reactor 2, thanks ziggy ,mark groshen , dave aikman ,mike sarauw . for how you guys are,thanks to dave midgly for carting me along ,thanks to
tsune and miki its a long way, thanks to blake for the races ,thank to the dutch boys to show how to race and build buggys,thanks to team peter
lynn on how to jump ,thanks lenka and slawek for the videos, thanks ranger ryan for not giving any tickets and another year to play, thanks to glen
ford you are a hoot,thanks to chris shultz and flash ,kyle ,HQ for demo of the toxic,thanks to popeye for your presence and buggy and thanks to fran
for starting this whole experience and everybody else who show up this year this was, special. you guys are the best.paul....aoxo forever
Originally posted by doublespeed360
thank you dean, get well ,i know you will bounce back ,thanks to jose for the use of the blokart thanks to claxton for picking up my friend ,mike
ssarauw on his first try at the out and back ,thanks to carlton for the great food, thanks to team flexi for the shows,thanks to scott skinner for
selling the lucky tickets, thanks to cory your wisdom is always welcome ,thanks to grant for changing my tire ,you make it so easy.and demo your kite
, reactor 2, thanks ziggy ,mark groshen , dave aikman ,mike sarauw . for how you guys are,thanks to dave midgly for carting me along ,thanks to
tsune and miki its a long way, thanks to blake for the races ,thank to the dutch boys to show how to race and build buggys,thanks to team peter
lynn on how to jump ,thanks lenka and slawek for the videos, thanks ranger ryan for not giving any tickets and another year to play, thanks to glen
ford you are a hoot,thanks to chris shultz and flash ,kyle ,HQ for demo of the toxic,thanks to popeye for your presence and buggy and thanks to fran
for starting this whole experience and everybody else who show up this year this was, special. you guys are the best.paul....aoxo forever
Dito,....nothing more to add,...it was awesome, thanks to everybody ,.. Ozzy
Sponsored by Vliegerop B.V. / Peterlynnproducts www.xxtreme.nl
Skype: xxtremeozzy
Well, it didn't work. They tried the procedure on Tuesday the 5th of April, and they could not get my heart to race, or go into any arrhythmia.
Bummer.
They let me go on Weds. Corey and Phil picked me up after making me wait outside the hospital for 45 mins or so. I was flying a kite that Susan
Skinner made for me when they showed up.
That night we went to see Mystere in the light box. I kept it cool, and when we went for drinks(it was early) of course i had no alcohol.
Later, my heart went back into arrhythmia and Phil drove me back to the hospital where i was quickly admitted and later told i was not to think of
leaving until they fixed me.
That's where i am now.
I have not gotten to talk to my doctor but once.
I will try to post info here when i can, but after certain procedures i can not use my computer as i'm to wired up.
I'm sorry i'm not out, i really want to go home and make kites, but i'm going to try and work this out.
Thanks again for all the well wishes, kind thoughts, and visits.
Thanks most of course for the support for the event. I love nabx, and i hope that it shows.
Dean, we will put another wing on the convalescent ward at JIBE and nurse Ratchet will be sure to take good care of you. Godspeed to you and hope to
see you soon.
Angus Campbell Coastal Wind Sports
where life is better when it blows!
912-577-3920 new number
You know...a guy who's been all heart all his life must surely be due for a tune up. Add another prayer to the bank. (The Big Guy's gonna start to get
suspicious soon...all these kiter prayers.......he's gonna figure we have no plans of comin' up anytime soon unless carried by ripstop )