In Memory of Igor Oralov
> 08/14/2008
On July 18th, 2008 in Moscow Russia, Igor Oralov sadly
passed away. Igor was riding a friends super stock 3 seater Aquabike
and in a fast turn, he lost control and flew off the PWC and hit a seawall,
he died from the serious impact. Igor was working as the Chief Course
Marshal for the Russian Motor Sport Federation Aquabike Championships
in Moscow. The race event was held at the Olympic rowing location. He
was born on June 13, 1969, he was 39 years old.
Igor came to our K38 International Safety Summit that was held in Fregene,
Italy near Rome. Fabio Annigoni who runs K38 Italy had been working
for several years training course marshals in Russia for their Federation,
and Igor was the lead person, highly seasoned and well liked by all.
Igor attended our summit and the K38 Russia connection was born, if
not over a bottle of Vodka, perhaps we throw in some pasta, pesto, clams
and bread, gosh we ate a lot! Igor came with Sergey Lisitsyn we talked
about Russian Olympic athletes, our love for education and programs
for boating, how highly respected Igor was in his field, since he spoke
no English Sergey translated, and we all got along with hand gestures
and smiles, no communication errors.
When it came to our training, it was all body and sign language as we
spent 7 days together. The evenings we cut loose and the discussions
about fine Italian wines versus the pleasures of Russian Vodka became
diplomatic urgency. Vodka won. We had so much fun, those kind of memories
carry us into old age and I'm sure our family members will be wondering
what we are mumbling about when Alzheimers sets in and we begin long
ago conversations with our Russian friends!
Two weeks ago I brought out my folder of K38 Summit images. I stopped
on one of Igor staring back at me, I leaned back and smiled. I began
thinking of what he is doing back home, how is Sergey, how is their
season going? Today I received a call from Fabio, I immediately asked
him 'Heya Fabio how is Igor? What is he doing". We were on Skype
on video call, and my daughter Kyla was listening.
Fabio started to mumble. I turned the volume up. In the background Kyla
said 'mom he said he is dead'. I said to Fabio, 'He's bad?? What do
you mean he's bad?'. Fabio repeats 'dead, dead' in his heavy accent.
I looked at my computer screen and my face stares back at me, stunned,
I grab my head, like so many people in disbelief when they hear that
someone they loved or knew is dead, simply dead. It sinks in and a barrage
of questions begin, Fabio is very saddened and the communication trails
off.
So how do we choose to remember those who have died tragically? As the
shock wears off, the anger sets in, and the reality is firm, searching
for old pictures, connecting with friends, connecting with anything
that is familiar and unknown, we simply grieve. Igor I know helped a
lot of people, it is a fact. It is one more feather in his crown. He
was passionate about his love affair with Aquabikes, this I know and
another feather to his dedicated service. He trusted our training knowledge
enough to embrace it as his own, and his crown is almost full, others
will fill in vast pieces. I know how much Igor was looking forward to
the races, that was our common bond.
I write back to Fabio, he says that nobody wanted me to be upset about
this, and that is understandable, the guys are always protecting me,
for reasons others would not understand, so no judgment from that. Almost
a month has passed since Igor left, but I already sensed it intuitively,
he was visiting my memories and my unconscious already.
I was looking forward to seeing Igor and Sergey at our K38 Summit in
Hawai'i this December and was nudging Fabio to get them to come to the
IJSBA World Finals in Havasu.
The rule is every K38 international has to bring something familiar
and well known from their region for our gatherings. So the Portuguese
bring Sausage and cheese and compete with the Italians and the Spaniards
bring wine and sausage and compete with everyone and the Brits bring
tea (HAHA), and the Ruskies bring Vodka, and the french unbelievable
wine and Chocolate and so on and we have a big food blitz!
I will bring a bottle of Vodka to World Finals and when the K38 Family
gathers we shall all drink a toast to our friend Igor! I remember Sergey
telling me all about Stoleshnikov vodka, the man behind the mix and
the weapons and the magic of storytelling unfolds. I shall have to find
a bottle, I remember Igor nodding earnestly in agreement!
Salut my friend!
Yours in Water Safety
On Behalf of the K38 Family
Igor Oralov Photo Album
http://flickr.com/photos/k38shawn/sets/72157606713568238/
