nick kennedy <<nkavalancheranch>> sends:

Last night, during the main event of the film festival, local filmmaker Tom Tatum got a film screened about Rob Kells, his impact on Telluride, his involvement in the World Aerobatic and Speed Gliding contests here in Telluride, the Hang Gliding Festival's and the Manufactures League Meets, and the rather early evolution and exploration of the limits of paragliding. Rob was here for the 1st Aerobatic contest and was a major player in creating the event, writing the rules and flying in it in a WW Harrier that was heavily reinforced for high G maneuvers. The Movie is called "Double High" and is a real classic. Tom Tatum and Rob Kells had a long history of putting films together and it was a great piece about Rob, Telluride and Rob's tireless promotion of the sport.

Leo Van der Bosch and I both got up and spoke about Rob and Wills Wing, Rob becoming president of Wills Wing at the ripe old age of 26, his great persona, how he loved coming to Telluride, how when we talked on the phone he always asked about the skiing, the soaring conditions, who was in town, and what was going on.

It was a great to see, on the big screen, to a packed house, hang gliders looping into the Town Park! There were a lot of face shots: JZ, Bob Faris, Ron Young, Dan Racanelli, Pat Maggard, Greg Duhone, Larry Tudor, The Ellenville Gang etc. Reliving the Speed Gliding Contest where Rob won, beating Jim Lee by a fraction on the last day was a real highlight. Rob has just beaming when it found out he won! It was a tough and dangerous course.

Rob and I were both diagnosed with prostate cancer at roughly the same time. His situation was much farther advanced than mine. We were in contact weekly on the phone, comparing notes and procedures. In true Rob fashion gave it his all, never gave up and kept a very positive outlook until he passed away last year.

I was very lucky not to miss my yearly physical three years ago. I had elevated, but not real high PSA score. I ended up having surgery two weeks later and found out from the lab that I had an aggressive form of prostate cancer that would have been fatal in about 12 to 16 months. The point of this is to encourage people to get your yearly blood work, get a chest x-ray, and take care of yourselves. We alone are responsible for our own health. When I was diagnosed, I felt super good and had absolutely no adverse signs.

We here in Telluride will always remember Rob fondly, coming into town with a huge grin on his face, driving his trademark red vehicles to bring us all sorts of really bitchin' gliders for us to try out: The Harrier, The Duck ,The Attack Duck, The HP series [ these really were a huge leap ahead for mountain pilots ], The Ram Air, The Cross Country, and the Fusion, to name a few of my favorites.