I've been asked by fellow friend of Brent's, Nootka, to share the tribute to Brent I put on Facebook a while back. It's also posted on our local paddling club page which is open to the public and includes many photos:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/crpaddlersclub/
Last week I lost my kayaking partner and my best friend on the island, Brent Arnold. Brent was a kind, generous, warm man who would give his shirt off his back to help you out… and, if you were starting to kayak, would be giving you the ‘proper’ gear to ensure you were doing it right! He helped me so much when I started kayaking, and I am so grateful for all of his help and tutoring that allowed me to develop to the point that together we were constantly testing and pushing our limits. Most of all, I’m going to miss him as a friend. And it really, really sucks that I won’t be getting any more phone calls or messages saying, “SURF’S UP!!!” and knowing that we’re off on another adventure!
Some of my favourite stories/adventures with Brent:
Paddling to Rugged Point and exploring the islands that were untouched by the glaciers
Exploring the sea caves around Maquinna Point on Nootka Island
Brent grumbling that I was a terrible person to go on trips to the west coast with because I always had beautiful sunny weather with flat calm seas … which meant no surf or rock gardening!
Poring over the tide and current tables as soon as they came out and planning our big trips to Surge and Oki.
Taking the ferry to Quadra with Brent and Jonathan Reggler. Having coffee at Café Aroma, talking and laughing the entire trip. Listening to AC/DC while changing (much approved by Brent) and Disco (very much disapproved by Brent – but hey, Jonathan loves it
!, then surfing the wave with Brent sporting a huge grin and cheering everyone on. He was always so happy for fellow kayakers that were sharing his favourite spot and enjoying themselves.
Having dinner with Brent and Jonathan and looking at all the latest kayaking videos.
Leaving at 5:30am in the morning to drive to Tofino in order to surf just for the one day. And whether the surf was good or bad, we surfed well or not, it was always an awesome day.
His laughter as we chased my kayak down the beach at Saratoga as it was been pin wheeled by the wind and blown away from us.
Brent’s meticulous preparation and understanding of all things kayaking. He described in great details all the huge paddling differences between two kayaks to the point that I would have sworn one was a 3 person double and the other a surf kayak. They were his two kayaks “Ozzy” (a NDK black with yellow stripe Romany with a skeg) and the “Raven” (A NDK Romany with black hull and yellow deck without skeg). I couldn’t tell the difference!
Changing in monsoon winds, soaking wet with the rain hitting us horizontally and saying, “Isn’t this awesome weather! It’s the best we’ve had all year!!!”
"WOOHOO!!!!"
He is still terribly missed by all of us.
Paul Mysak