Garry Point has a history that goes WAY back. Too far back for me to know it's origins.

Long before I got there the park had gone through the 1st wave of traction kiters.

I know that people like Cal' Ricky and Luke Stanic + ??? were going at it hard back then. Luke even held the Speed title until just the last few years.

How about it Eli, Morrie, Jon, Jim, Kent, Mark, Ricky, Ken #1 ..... + ??????? I know you weren't all riding at GP but suspect you can educate me on what was going on there during the 1st wave and what years that was?

I have been suggesting that traction kiting has been going on for about 20 years at GP but can't refer to who and when it was all starting up confidently. I'd like to know!

Who can tell us about the beginnings of Garry Points proud history?

hey Ken
Talk to Cal and make contact with the BCKA - they still hold some of their events there and when bugging started i'm sure the first riders would have been with the local kite club to start before bugging info became more widespread.
I've stopped by GP on a visit to Van but never got a chance to buggy out your way .... yet. I did a CBC radio interview in the studio in T.O. many years ago and there was a woman from Vancouver also linked in on the discussion and I remember we talked a bit about buggies - not sure if she was the owner of the kite shop at that time (probably mid 90's) on Granville Island or in Gastown?

Thanks Mark,

I think you are referring to the lady who had the kite shop on Granville Island. If I am right, She employed and supported Ricky's early kite adventures.

I am glad you agree we are talking mid. 90's . I have a feeling it may be 1995 and this would be our 20th anniversary at the park? :cool2:

I saw Cal the other weekend but don't have contact info. We are having a group meeting this weekend and I'll try to get connected with him but I doubt he'll attend?

I think some of those guys started bugging a few years later but you are definitely somewhere between 95 to 98.
I think Gary Mark keeps in contact with Cal (Gary and Michelle moved to this area from Vancouver around late 90's and were active in BCKA) if you want me to try and get his contact info

I will try and work things out at the meeting tomorrow on this.

Still, I am really interested in what folks who were around in " the days " have to say about the parks beginnings. + those who put Vancouver on the map back then. How Luke got so fast?

I've been going thru a membership list for NorthWest Buggy Pilots Association as of 12/31/2000 and here are the BC members I've found:

Steve De Rooy, Gary Diamond, Jose Garcia, Alan & Cindi Hart, Nathan Kew, Julian Laffin, Ritchi Lui, Bob Soo, David Stanek, Neil Trelenberg, Gordon Wensley, Nick Wilson, Cal Yuen, Morgan Zimmerman.

Seemed to me there were more, like Nigel Spaxman, Nat (?) Tuttle (bcka pres way back when?). I can remember some faces from the early days, but not the names.