Creator of famous Mt Baker Banked Slalom passed away

[fin]

I was forwarded this by Duane White. I did not know Bob Barci, but his creation of the Mnt. Baker Banked Slalom Snowboard Race makes him a legend in my mind. Good turns to you Bob.

Fin

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Bob passed away at his home in Fall City on Tuesday, April 3, 2007. He

was 60 years old.

Bob was born in 1946 in Everett, Washington, to Robert and Kathleen Barci.

He graduated from Cascade High in 1964 and attended Everett Community

College. Bob grew up in a south Everett neighborhood where the kids

outnumbered the parents. It was an era when kids spent their free time

outside, playing baseball, climbing trees, and building camps and

bicycles. Bob was continually modifying his bike. This early interest

would become a life-long passion as well as providing his livelihood for

most of his life.

As a teenager, Bob was drawn to skate boarding and surfing, and made his

own skate and surf boards. One year, Bob and his buddies tied the

surfboard on top of his '47 Ford and headed south to California; this too

would be part of Bob's life and legacy. As with many Americans, Bob was

influenced by President Kennedy. He took the President's physical fitness

challenge by walking from Everett to the Space Needle and back.

Bob served in the Navy and was ''boots on'' in the Delta during the

Vietnam conflict as a Huey helicopter mechanic. He was also a jet

mechanic and crew chief on the maiden voyage of the John F. Kennedy

aircraft carrier.

After the Navy, Bob and his good friend opened several ''Bikefactory''

stores in the Puget Sound area, on the San Juan Islands, and in Hawaii.

His stores were among the earliest to carry skateboard, BMX, and snowboard

equipment in the northwest and the Bikefactory sponsored many aspiring

young athletes on their skateboard and BMX teams. The surfing bug came

back to Bob in the form of snowboarding. After spending many years

trekking in the wilderness for hours just for one soulful ride, he was

among the few early boarders who convinced ski resorts to allow

snowboarders to use the hills and lifts. Referred to as the ''Grandfather

of Snowboarding in the Northwest,'' Bob did much to help build today's

robust local snowboarding scene. Bob and other local retailers began the

Northwest Snowboard series in the 1980's, a series of snowboard races that

launched many northwest riders into national and international fame.

Another particularly important contribution is the famous Mt Baker Banked

Slalom Snowboard race. Mt Baker has a natural half pipe that Bob thought

was perfect for a banked slalom, and after some persuasion the owners of

the resort allowed Bob and his snowboard buddies to have a race there on

Superbowl Sunday. This event has grown to international status and Bob was

honored for his dedication and perseverance in the movie ''Platinum''

which tells the 20-year history of the Banked Slalom at Mt Baker and

credits Bob as the originator of this event.

Bob joined the Crystal Mountain Volunteer Ski Patrol in 1995, where he met

his wife Nancy, another enthusiastic snowboarder. As one of the first

snowboard patrollers, Bob worked tirelessly to bring more snowboarders

onto patrols in the northwest and train them to be the best patrollers on

the hill. He became the regional and divisional snowboard advisor and also

worked nationally. Bob and Nancy moved to the Hyak Patrol at Snoqualmie

Pass in 2002.

A car enthusiast his whole life, Bob spent many years rebuilding custom

Subarus into hotrods. The proud owner of a Cobra, Bob displayed at many

car shows around the Northwest and was an active member and the recent

past President of the Legends Car Club of Kirkland.

The last Bikefactory store closed in Bellevue in the 90's and Bob became a

faithful and loyal employee of Seattle Bike Supply until his death.

Bob leaves his wife Nancy, mother Kathleen Barci, daughter Kellie Eaton

(Jim), Step daughters Angela Storey, Sarah Storey, Kristin Jones (Mike),

grandchildren Evan and Christine Eaton, brother Dennis Barci(Suzie)

nephews Ryan (Sarah) and Steven Barci and uncle Paul Barci (Anna Marie).

He was preceded in death by his father Robert Barci.

A memorial service for Bob will be held on Saturday April 14th, at 10:30

a.m., at Timber Lake Christian Fellowship, 4505 236th Ave NE, Redmond, WA

(www.tlcf.org for directions).

[Steve Prokopiw]

I had the great pleasure of meeting and working with Bob at Silver Mountain on a couple of occasions while I was conducting regional riding improvement clinics for board patrolers. We hit it off from the first minute as we shared a passion for all things bike and board. It should be noted that Bob was a Hardbooter and was very interested in the advantages that the boots and bindings might provide patrolers.We were going to do alot of work togeather until cancer infiltrated his life.He was the most knowledgeble and friendliest trainer I ever worked with.I am extremely saddened to hear of his passing.Snowsports,biking,patroling and anyone who knew him have lost a great friend.