THUNDER BAY -- There was no other way for Taylor Rankin’s family and friends to honour his memory than to start a memorial snowboard fund.
“We couldn’t think of a more fitting way than to award a deserving kid with a snowboard, membership and lessons because it was so important to Taylor. It was such a big part of his life – snowboarding,” said Nelson Poole, a family friend.
In May 2014, 26-year-old Rankin tragically died in a cliff-jumping incident while vacationing in Jamaica for a friend’s wedding.
On Wednesday, his sister Alanna Rankin and Poole congratulated the first recipient of the Taylor Rankin Memorial Snowboard Fund.
The lucky individual was 13-year-old Nathan Webb.
Nathan was chosen by the teachers at his school, Agnew H. Johnston Public School, which is the school the Rankins and Poole attended.
“It feels kind of unexplainable I guess. It feels really good,” said Nathan, who was also nervous as he was about to take his first shot at snowboarding at the Loch Lomond Ski Area.
“I know I’m going to fall but other than that it’s pretty exciting,” he said.
Loch Lomond and Fresh Air Experience helped offset the cost of the membership and equipment, which Nathan picked out himself.
Alanna Rankin said it felt good to offer the award during the Christmas season and Poole said they hope to make it a yearly event.
“We have a huge group of friends out here that are really committed to Taylor and to see another younger generation that is going to start to keep his memory alive out there…it’s a really great feeling,” he said.
