| Author | Message | ||
     Malott442 |
I know he wasn't a member of this board, but if you stunt you might know him, and if not, it is a shame you never met him. I would've posted sooner but it's been a trying week. Thursday, July 26th, Chris Snetzko, my best friend, was killed while working at a fabrication shop in Florida. He was 31, and leaves behind two children, a loving girlfriend (live in for 5 years) and a baby boy due in December. It really hurts that he is gone, and many will miss the crazy, scary, natural born leader everyone had come to know and love. Chris was a wild one, and could come across as abrasive from time to time, but he had a heart of gold and it showed. Throughout his stunting career he put together not one, or two, but 5 charity stunt shows to help needy children in the community. Stunt for the Kids, Clutch for the Kids, Stuff the Bus, you get the idea. He is the guy who taught me and many others like me to ride wheelies, and even loaned out his bike to a few people (including me!) to learn on. I learned two things, lessons if you will, from this tragedy. The easy one: Don't bypass doing what really makes you happy. Chris was a stunt rider, and hung up his boots to raise his family because of the risk of injury. I will admit, Chris was bulletproof on a bike, 6 years stunting with no injuries to speak of, and the odds might have been against him. I dislocated a shoulder, tore a tendon in my knee, broke two toes, and have nice exhaust burn scars from half as much time on the lot. This retired daredevil died at work doing an otherwise un-risky routine task in a fabrication shop earning cheddar for his growing family. I semi quite stunting (I still have a crf50) to work without risk of losing my job and to provide for my wife. Out of my injuries, I hadn't really lost any work and never regretted any hardships because of the wrecks. But I have yearned and yearned for a bike and it drives me crazy. Lesson one taken. I am now selling my 1125R to make way for a stunt bike. I'm going to live the life that makes me happy (with blessing from my wife, she ROCKS by the way). This is the hard lesson. We have not spoke in 2 years. Chris and I got in an argument and I quit speaking to him. He has been reaching out to me for a year and a half, and I only went as far as emailing him back and forth on occasion. I had been wanting to call him badly for 6 months, and procrastinated and made excuses, and now I'm stuck here with the regret for possibly the rest of my life. Take this lesson from me: Life is too short for grudges, and friendships have no room for pride. Tell the ones you need to that you love them, and work your disagreements out and move on together, because you never know, you never know. Chris was the twin brother from another mother. All I have left now is memories and apologies owed that I can't pay out. Expensive lesson learned. I love you Chris, and I hope heaven has a lot for you to ride on.    | ||
| Ltbuell |
Really sorry to hear that.Talented young man,father and friend to many....may he be happy in his "next journey"... | ||
| 86129squids |
Dang- I just sold my XB, all I got is a GL1000, otherwise I'd pull a few wheelies in his memory... Pegs down down fo sho. Peace to you, do what you can to comfort his family, as they're really yours too. | ||
| Whatever |
Sorry about your friend!  Hope you can help the gf get a good lawyer! | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
So sorry for your loss and his family's. | ||
| Slaughter |
I always hate hearing of anybody's passing but you said that though he was a stunter, he was killed at work. Can you say HOW? Many of us work where on-the-job injuries are certainly possible but seldom fatal. Can you shed some light? | ||
| Malott442 |
I don't know if I can legally say anything about it, but I will say that safety is something people easily overlook. OSHA requirements may seem silly sometimes, but they are there for a reason. His death was most likely avoidable, but I'm not sure who was at fault. I am as guilty of the next guy in being unsafe from time to time. Not bracing forklift carriages to lube a lift pump or grab a srewdriver. Putting my hands or worse in pinch points. Using an electric taped cord. All things I have done in the past year. All things that can be fatal. Please remind your friends to be safe. The inconvenience is more than worth the risk of cutting your life short. | ||
| Brumbear |
Thats a bitter loss RIP and prayers for the young family | ||
| Slaughter |
Wise words, Matthew. |
