Jason Lapierre 1971 - 2006

http://www.calgaryalpine.com/main/index.php?page_id=87

Popular ski coach killed while cycling
The Calgary Herald
Fri 21 Jul 2006
Page: B4
Section: City & Region
Byline: Jason van Rassel
Source: Calgary Herald
Calgary's sporting community is mourning the death of a respected ski coach and athlete who was hit by a car while cycling near Cochrane.
Jason Lapierre, 34, was the program director at the Calgary Alpine Racing Club and an avid triathlete.
Colleagues credited Lapierre's stewardship with revitalizing the club and producing a promising group of young skiers.
"He had taken it from a point a few years ago when our (membership) numbers were declining and we were in a do-or-die situation," said Todd McNutt, the club's alpine director. "With his vision and enthusiasm . . . he made it one of the best."
Lapierre had coached skiing for 13 years and had spent the past seven with the Calgary club. He could have easily coached at a higher level, McNutt said, but remained committed to developing young athletes.
Off the slopes, Lapierre counted triathlon as one of his main interests. He helped organize a triathlon being held in Sylvan Lake this weekend and had competed in the 2003 Canadian Ironman competition.
Lapierre was cycling on Highway 1A about five kilometres east of Cochrane when a westbound car crossed the centre line and struck him.
The driver of the car was treated and released from hospital. The RCMP are still probing whether a medical event caused the crash.

Cyclist killed by car on highway
calgary.ctv.ca
jsh
POSTED AT 10:52 AM Thursday, July 20

RCMP continue to investigate a motor vehicle crash that left a cyclist dead Wednesday.

Investigators say a car heading westbound on Highway 1A near Cochrane collided with a lone cyclist heading eastbound around 2:30 p.m.

The unidentified cyclist died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle was treated and released from hospital Wednesday night.

The name of the victim is not being released at the family’s request.

Cochrane RCMP continue to investigate the incident.

I just found out this was a fellow racer and friend, Jason Lapierre. I can't believe it. We met racing triathlons together in 2001 and continued to race many tris and duathlons together in the years following. When I moved exclusively to cycling in 2003 I didn't see him for awhile until he started racing more in the cycling scene. By then he was coaching the Alpine Ski team in earnest and trying to get all of his kids trying out cycling as well, especially at the velodrome for off-season training. He was keen on getting his athletes involved in off-season racing as well and even brought a group of them to Synergy's AGM last year to raise interest. He was genuinely a selfless guy and was so passionate about getting kids into racing. He was a great supporter of the sports he was passionate about and getting others involved in them as well. The Calgary sporting community has a huge hole in it now with the loss of Jay. I'll miss his great smile and conversation so much.