R.I.P. Rich Taylor

Seriously bad news received today. Rich Taylor, one of the worlds top skaters has died after losing his battle with injuries sustained earlier this week.

He was skating with friends when he lost control at high speed, colliding with a lamppost. He broke both of his legs, but worse than that, he hit his head causing bleeding in the skull and swelling of the brain. Even with these serious injuries, and though he was in a coma, it still came as a huge shock to hear he didn’t pull through. This guy was a legend, an institution within skating and an all around star. It is almost inconceivable that he is no longer with us.

Personally, he has been an inspiration for as long as I can remember. He was one of the first British skater that I ever heard about getting sponsored (by Bauer in ’97) and he was a true embassador for them for a number of years. He was someone who just seemed at all times to be skating for the pure fun of it with zero attitude and competitive only with his own goals.

My thoughs go out to those close to Rich. There’s really not much more I can say than he will be sorely missed. Not only by those lucky enough to know him, but also by many thousands of others who have been inspired by him over the years.