Rip Dfj

[philfell]

I hate to bring such bad news this time of year, just as everyone is gearing up for the start of another season. Yesterday the world of alpine snowboarding lost a great friend and long time supporter. Chuck Bolden (known by most here at Dragon Fly Jones or "The Carve") has been battling cancer for more than a year. He finally was able to receive a bone marrow transplant about a month ago and soon after was labeled "cancer free" from his doctors. We all thought he was out of the woods and we would see him on the hill this winter. At this time details are sparce, but from what I can gather he came down with an infection that was too much for his body to fight.

Chuck was a mentor and inspiration to many riders, from weekend-only hardboot shredders to world cup veterns. He was loved and respected by everyone who was fortunate enough to cross his path. During his struggles over the past year he always made the best of it. There is a story that kinds of sums up the type of person he was:

Chuck was scheduled to receive his transplant one weekend, but complications came up with the transportation of it from the doner hospital. So instead of sitting around the house sulking he goes out and enters a road bike race (Chuck also races and coaches road and mtn bikes in Colorado). For obvious reasons he was not able to finish the race, but he still went for it while cancer ridden and days after a chemo treatment. When he told me this, I was like what the hell were you thinking.....He just said these no need for him to stop doing what he loved while he was still able to do it.

Sorry my writing skills are so poor that this won't do you your true justice. Chuck we'll miss you. You will always be a brother to me.

[big mario]

Very sorry to hear this. I have heard many stories about Chuck, and was hoping to ride/meet him when he got better :(
mario

[D-Sub]

damn. had no idea he was sick. lymphoma? leukemia?

seems like everywhere we look these days someone has cancer.

damn.

RIP, man. didnt know him but he seemed really cool. ****.

[tex1230]

damn. that sucks. so sorry to hear - just lost someone else that way. condolences to his family and friends.

[oldkey]

....but found him to be a great ambassador for the sport. He was always friendly, someone to look for when you needed a hand. Always, always loved reading his posts.....loved his willingness to debate. Great guy.

He will be missed.

[bobdea]

he was a good cat.

[D.T.]

Sad, absolutely sad... I did not know Chuck directly, but heard absolutely wonderful things about him from his fellow racers, fellow coaches, and former students.

RIP DFJ, may your slopes always be covered in snow and groomed to perfection!

[D-Sub]

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/search.php?searchid=480683

not sure if searches are timed. Threads he started.

[nekdut]

Searches are timed.

Try this one:

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/search.php?do=process&showposts=0&starteronly=1&exactname=1&searchuser=dragon+fly+jones


Sad news Phil. Thanks for letting us know. :(

[LeeW]

Aw, no no no no. Im gonna miss shaking hands with him, when I see him at races at Copper. That guy's a real sweet guy. Chuck Bolden, you'll be missed. Wish I had the opportunity to train with you, bro, at the time when you were a coach at Team Summit. Thanks for being a "true" bro.

[carverchick]

Even though I never got a chance to meet or write him, it's always sad when you loose a fellow carver to any illness. My heartfelf prayers go out to his family and may God keep his angel right where he belongs, standing next to him.


RIP DFJ

[willywhit]

always enjoyed dfj's posts here.
huge loss to the carving community :(
enjoy every day out there people
it sounds like dfj did
wiping a tear........RIP Dragon Fly Jones

[Neil Gendzwill]

My thoughts are with his family and real-world friends. Those of us who knew him only on-line will still miss him for his sense of humour and depth of knowledge.

[RJ-PS]

Also enjoyed DFJ's posts and his depth of knowledge. BOL is less for having lost a brother. Prayers for those who knew him personally.
Maybe one of your could hand out some black armbands on his home race course this year?

May God bless his family and friends in a tough time.

[neil sunday]

Chuck was a man of character... a story about him was when I had one of my kids on the roundtop team go to college out in boulder. chuck took jon under his wing and got him set up with matt drinker at eldora.

throughout the whole time of jon's relocation chuck and i would email from time to time, and always had the best interest of the new kid-- whom he had not met yet.

this news strikes me, and a simple tribute is all i can do right now.
--------------------
may the sun and wind be at your back. may the snow pile high, and enjoy eternal first tracks DFJ.

[ncermak]

When I opened this thread, I was expecting to read funny stories about Chuck (as in...lets rip on DFJ to get this season kicked off....), not to recieve such sad news.

I first met Chuck at the USASA Nationals at Angelfire. He was setting course with Phil and Anton. They were the first people I had met from BOL, and the first professional coaches I got to know off of the east coast. Each year I heard him say this was it and he was retiring, and each subsequent season, I was psyched to see him back at the top of training course at Nationals.

Over the past 4 years, I have learned about coaching, both on the snow, and off the snow from Chuck. Mostly, I learned that as serious as we all take racing, it still has to be fun. The athletes he coached, and all of the racers who knew him, never wore a frown for long. I am priveleged to have been able to call Chuck my friend, and will be forever grateful for the lessons I have learned from him.

Rest In Peace, Dragonfly Jones...

[wavechaser]

wow...RIP DFJ indeed...we're gonna miss you Chuck. Happy trails in the afterlife brother...wow.

:(

[Savidge]

Hey My name is Walker Savidge, Chuck was my coach for several years and a deep friend who always new how to brighten up each and every day. If anybody knows anything about a memorial service or funeral and could let me know that would be awesome. thanks.

Walker
walkersavidge@hotmail.com

[DiveBomber]

Damn, thats too bad, though I never met him in person seemed like a nice guy, there should be more people like him.

[bsp]

I really don't what to say as I am really having a hard time dealing with this news.I believe chuck had told me what he had was myo dysplasia (i am sure i am spelling that wrong) He described it as a pre-lukemia.
I am thankful to phil for posting this as i tried to inform as many people as i could that knew chuck.
He was a wonderful person and just wanted to help people out in every way. Always put others first. He was one of my best friends of all time. I loved how everytime he got out of he hospital he was on his bike and even had his bike trainer set up in his hospital room at one point to keep him from the boredom of the hospital. if anyone needs info on services for chuck please feel free to email me at tgroo@aol.com.... My thoughts and prayers go out to his family...I will truly miss this guy!!!

[Fat Old Bastard]

I never met Chuck Bolden. I only knew him as Dragon Fly Jones right here on BOL. In his posts he always gave good advice and had a good word to say about people. He was a class act. Vale Chuck Bolden. Ride on ride on !

Mick

[willywhit]

Phil,
It would be great to have a tribute to Chuck to celebrate his life. Many of us never met him but wished we had. He had so much great info to contribute here. Maybe just a few pics. He really seemed like an outstanding human being. :(

[casanovaracing]

No words will ever truly express what a great man Chuck was, as everyone who has met him (in person or on-line) will attest he really is one of the finest people our sport will ever know! Phil's story, although typical of Chuck, only scratches the surface of his uncommon approach to adversity, we are all lucky to have had such a roll model.
Rest In Peace Friend!
Adam Casanova

[Kirk]

Never had the opportunity to meet Chuck, but I sure enjoyed his contribution here! Always a positive vibe from him - he will be missed.

Thoughts and prayers with him and his family.

[MR. JOHN DEERE !]

i had the pleasure of being one of chucks athletes w/ team summit. and i'm still amazed at the sacrifices that he would make for us and our sport. even though he was being paid for his services, he always went above and beyond. he treated coaching like a 24hr around the clock job. he never quit and would have done anything for any one of us. whether it was taking our boards to colorado ski deals and tuning them well into the night or picking up parts for our boots at bomber. the examples are endless.

the ones who knew him, are all blessed to have met chuck because he considered so many of us to be his friend.

joe culgin

walker savidge has some info on the dates and time for the wake. you can contact him thru bomber.

[Jack Michaud]

Always liked his posts here, they were a cut above. Was hoping to meet him at a session someday. My condolences to his family and friends.

[Sinecure]

Wow. What a sad day. Between his entertaining posts, and great personality on and off the hill, I'm so sorry to hear this. What a loss for the Alpine Community.

RIP Chuck. I hope the carving is good wherever you are.

[D-Sub]

I believe chuck had told me what he had was myo dysplasia (i am sure i am spelling that wrong) He described it as a pre-lukemia.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelodysplastic_syndrome

Im sorry for the loss of someone you knew personally. Cancer is a scary thing...seems that the treatment sometimes is worse than the syndrome.

[casanovaracing]

In chuck's Obituary it is stated that he and his family would prefer donations to any of the following in lieu of flowers. This is a painful reminder of the importance of this sort of generosity, so please, anyone who can make a donation in Chuck's name send it to your choice of these organizations.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Rocky Mountain Chapter
5353 W. Dartmouth Ave., Suite 400
Denver, CO. 80227

The American Lung Association of Colorado
5600 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 100
Greenwood Village, CO. 80111

The American Heart Association
710 2nd Ave., Suite 900
Seattle, WA. 98104

The Kidney Foundation of Colorado
3151 S. Vaughn Way, Suite 505
Aurora, CO. 80014

I know each one of these groups played a part in the struggle to help our friend.
Adam

[Dan]

I'm so sorry to hear about DFJ. Like many others here, I never had the chance to meet him in person, but I always appreciated reading his thoughtful posts. My condolences to his friends, family and riders.

[fin]

I first met Chuck over ten years ago at one of the original Copper Race Series. Extremely nice and talkative guy. Since then Bomber always saw and heard from Chuck several times a season and when he became involved in coaching even more. Chuck had what you would call a "Day Job" that paid his bills but you could always tell his passion was snowboard racing and coaching. He will be missed in the scene and the responses here show this.

From all of us here at Bomber we wish Chuck perpetual groomed runs and peace for your family.

[inkaholic]

As someone who has probably known Chuck the longest I have to agree with everything that is being said about him. Chuck could brighten up a room full of chemo patients, would help anyone in need at the top of a race course, lend a hand to someone on an mtb trail or road ride. He will be missed by the many people he helped and touched along the good ride he rode.

Thanks bro, I will never forget you,

Derek Runes

[Gleb]

Its always a shame when, someone that has offered this sport and community so much, leaves us. RIP DFJ. I wish you infinite steeps, grooms and gates.

[Derf]

I didn't know him, but I knew he gave great advice. My condoleances to his family and friends.

[D.T.]

As someone who has probably known Chuck the longest I have to agree with everything that is being said about him. Chuck could brighten up a room full of chemo patients, would help anyone in need at the top of a race course, lend a hand to someone on an mtb trail or road ride. He will be missed by the many people he helped and touched along the good ride he rode.

Thanks bro, I will never forget you,

Derek Runes I knew you would participate in this post when the time was right. ;)

[SpeedracerJVB]

Chuck, my mentor, my coach, my friend, I will miss you more than I can possibly put into words, thank you for sharing just a brief portion of your life w. me, I am a better person for having known you. No matter what you had going on in your life you always made the time, always, thank you. I am so sorry I couldn't be there for you in the end, I didn't know man, i'd give my life to have had the opportunity to say goodbye and to let you know one last time how much you were loved and how much you meant to all of us, I pray that you knew and that you took that love with you. You deserved better than this last ****ing hand you were dealt and I know that I am one of many who would have gladly taken that god forsaken disease on your behalf but you took it on the chin and just kept fighting like the champion you were, like the champion you taught your athletes to be and i'll forever admire you for your strength, your courage and your undying perseverence. I will think of you everyday out on the hill and come race day i'm gonna be lookin up at you for those last words before I pull so don't go hangin up your drill and your walkie talkie just yet coach cause i'm gonna need you lookin down on me helping me settle, helping me focus, like always, the only difference is it's probably gonna be freezing ass cold where i'm at and 40 degrees and blue bird where your at. I love you brother, I will carry your friendship w. me through this crazy life and I will do my best to honor you and share the kindness that you showed me w. others. May peace be with you dawg.

Love,

JVB

[Chris Karol]

What a sad thing to hear.. I met Chuck racing years ago and continued to see him throughout the years coaching. Chuck was always so friendly and enthusiastic. Chuck genuinely cared about others. He carried a huge smile with him wherever he went.. a great individual. He always expressed a true love of snowboarding and racing, and of life and the people he knew. I considered Chuck to be part of the landscape, a fixture in the world of alpine snowboarding.

Chuck told me a while ago that he was sick, yet he appeared outwardly healthy and very much the same character I've always known him to be. His illness showed no signs of slowing him down. He continued to carry on his life so to the point where I just assumed I'd see him again on the hill someday. He will always be a champion in my heart. I hope that he had his family and loved ones around him and went peacefully with the grace that he carried throughout his life. My condolences to his family, Chuck was a great individual and friend.

[scotts.Scheinman]

This Sucks. Thaks for being here . You'll be missed a lot

Scott

[Rick and Pam MacCutcheon]

The MacCutcheon family just got the news. We are deeply saddened that Chuck Bolden has passed away. We just did not know that Chuck was dealing with a serious illness. He touched each of our lives in such a profound way .... just so many great memories .... from coaching Team Summit at Copper and travels to Waterville, Sunday River (and all over Maine), and local and Colorado events. Remember at Nationals when the loudspeaker system fell from the sky onto his head and he didn't complain about it - happy to be at the event! He was extremely supportive and inspirational to Stevie (Michael and Joanna, too). I can see him carving, setting courses, tuning boards, driving the bug, hanging out whether the locker room or cafeteria and in a high spirited way and always with a big smile/happy demeanor. Hey, I got his boots, he shared them with me, as a gift - a giving person and he wanted me to take up "hardbooting." Chuck was such a strong communicator, always staying in touch, getting us psyched up for the next season. Our hearts ache now but we are assured that we will see him someday in Heaven. Seeing this blog with so many of you that we know so well is meaningful to us - hello to everyone and God bless you all.
Rick, Pam, Stevie, Michael and Joanna

[Coloradoking]

For everyone that knew chuck, there is nothing more to say about him than that he was an incredible coach, rider, son, and friend. i trained under him for several years and i followed his struggle closely. I know that all of us that knew him would gladly take the disease from him. Chuck fought as hard as he could, he will be missed extremely dearly by everyone who knew him. I can't stand the thought that i will never see him again, even now, months after i sat at his funeral and listened to his friends and family speak about him, an incredible person in all aspects; i don't see how our community of racers and riders and friends will ever recover from a loss as great as the loss of our Chuck Bolden. the next time all of you go riding, or go to a race, dedicate it to Chuck, he deserves our complete respect and admiration. Never forget our friend.

[Phil]

For those of you who do not check out BOL in the summer, you may want to visit

THIS THREAD. (http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=21353)