Alright, I will start us out with a Matt memory: Matt was pretty much the only person who really wanted to climb with me in 25+ Celsius plus humidity (That's about 90 Fahrenheit) in the middle of the summer, in fact that is the conditions he preferred. What a maniac. I have since learned better, but I will try to still do some sweatfests in the middle of the summer in his honor.

Thank you for creating and sharing this wonderful tribute. My family accidentally stumbled into climbing and my 3 kids started fairly quickly into the competition scene after that. Our first memories of these comps all have Matt as a staple in them. He was always loudly cheering all of the kids on and seemed to know them all by name. In their first competitions my kids were probably 10, 8 and 6. It soon became a given that if Matt was there he would spot them (still allowed at that point) and they would seemingly lose all fear. I definitively credit Matt with helping to instill confidence and a love of the sport in my 3 children. He is now and forever a part of their core memories and I will be forever grateful.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this. These are the stories that I know exist, but I never witnessed. I never volunteered, even though Matt tried to pull me in (I think I owe it to him to volunteer now), so these are all outside my experiences and memories of him. I know he loved volunteering and seeing competitors, regardless of their age, trying their hardest, progressing, and succeeding. I think something that made his initiatives special beyond the lengths he would take to get to competitions, be available, and go above and beyond, was that his efforts weren't fueled by having a kid in the circuit, or being a coach or part of his job, or being part of gym ownership, but purely for his love of the sport and witnessing atheletes origins. I think he knew any kid could be the next big name, so he gave them all the opportunity to shine. I'm happy you got to experience Matt, I'm grateful that you are able to help share his story, and I'm sorry for your family's loss as well - I'm sure he was a friendly face you will miss, but I'm sure you are better for having crossed paths.

Braeden, thank you for this incredible sharing and tribute to a really REALLY awesome man. I imagine there to be many pockets of Matthew memories to be discovered for years to come. My most perfect personal Matthew memory happened in the climbing gym, of course. Typically biting off a very hefty mouthful of work for a comp, I was in the depths of despair at the amount of work left to do, and was just scrambling to get it done in time to get some sleep for the next day... but....Matt was there at the end of the night when all the staff were leaving, and sensing my need for help he just looked around at the work left to do, didn't ask, and just started working. I thought I was alone in the gym to be honest, and then I heard the vacuum and there he was, just getting it done. He stayed until everything was done and he knew I was going home - it was incredibly generous and kind, and of course ending the night with his laugh was just about perfect. So many great memories of this human, but this one is pretty special to me. Peace Matthew.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

I'm glad I got to hear this in person tonight, but appreciate reading it again. Thanks again for everything you did, and for having such a fun space that can bring so many people from different walks of life together. Most of my favourite memories of climbing and Matt are from your gym, so they are forever intertwined. See you around, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Thank you so much for this video and organizing the event. I couldn't personally make it but my husband (Matt's cousin) and my son went. I saw a bit of the tribute and it was so nice for the family to hear about his climbing stories. My kids would call him, "Uncle Matt" and Uncle Matt got the kids into climbing. The kids loved it so much that they did camps with Boulderz and Uncle Matt would show up just to belay the kids while they were at camp. He was a loving, fun uncle and even got my daughter her own chalk bag in the shape of a panda which is her favourite animal. ❤

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Hey! I met him there with your son, your entire extended family is so nice. I'm glad "Uncle Matt's" family were able to get a bit more of an insight into the sport Matt loved and see how much of an impact he made. There are days I wonder if Matt himself knew how much he gave to the community and the impact he made. There were so many people there for him that I didn't even know, he definitely left an unforgettable impression on many, and I'm sure your kids, and his other nieces and nephews, will have many wonderful memories of him to live on. I'm sorry you couldn't make it, but I'm happy you found this video to get a sense of how much he meant to people, especially me. I'm sorry for your loss, but he will live on through all of us.

@user-sx1ym2fz4o

Жыл бұрын

This video did bring comfort, all the comments here did. Hearing his laugh and cheer will be here for all of us. Thank you. ❤

I remember a number of years ago, I must have been talking about having some friends over while at climbing, and Tee must have asked if he could join. I warned him that it was a girls night, I was just having a bunch of my non-climbing girlfriends over, but he was welcome to come anyways. So there we were, at my dining room table, gossipping with all of my girlfriends and Tee - who even brought homemade tiramisu

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

I love the tee-pot. When I moved, matt showed up at like 10:30pm when he heard things were going sideways, after a long day of work. He stuck around at the new place, offering to help until 1am, but I told him he had already done enough and he could just keep me company, I had help in the morning for the rest. He checked in the next day to see how it went and I didn't have the heart to tell him that my help fell through and it was a disaster again. He was the best.

@elleng.9914

Жыл бұрын

A lovely tribute Braeden. Thank you for making this. Condolences to all 😔

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

@@elleng.9914 thanks Ellen

Aw, man...I'm so very sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I've lost several climbing friends through the years, but your relationship with Matt seems closer than mine was with the ones I've lost. Hang in there, man, and let grief be grief. Your tribute to him was beautiful.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Tom, he was definitely one of the good ones. Sorry for your losses as well.

Walking into a new place and having someone be so kind is incredibly comforting. I’m so sorry for your loss. I had a similar thing happen and this video helped me finally release those tears. I wish you and your new little one a life of love.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Glad this video was cathartic for you and I hope you feel a bit lighter. Sorry what you were going through, there are brighter days ahead for the both of us. Thanks for the kind words.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I just started to get in to climbing and I saw your video on my feed. He seems like he was a very thoughtful and kind person. I have very few close friends and I can't imagine losing any of them. Keep your head high brother!

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

He will definitely be missed, but thanks for the positivity, appreciate it. On the climbing note, welcome! Not sure if or when I'll ever get to my advice video, so in lieu of that, just remember to keep it fun - that is probably my #1 tip. Grades are just suggestions and there will always be a harder one, so don't focus on the number. Have fun!

Thanks for putting all of this into words. I loved getting to see some new clips of him and hear that laugh again!

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Tyler, appreciate the comment and glad that his laugh still resonates. Fun little factoid; in the longer clip (with audio) of him spotting me on danzig, he mentions that the last time he saw you was there and you were pulling on Life O'Reilly, or something like that.

I am sorry for your loss, it seems be won't be forgotten. I somehow stumbled on to this video as im in a very bad headspace myself right now. I will keep fighting on too.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

He won't, I'm certain of it. Sorry to hear about your struggles, keep fighting the good fight, you are worth it. There are brighter days ahead, you just need to weather the storm. Best of luck, thanks for the comment.

I'm so sorry to hear about another loss you have suffered recently. I didn't know Matt well but I was telling you a little while ago about how I would see him all the time when the Cave first opened but I was too intimidated to talk to him because he was climbing such tough problems and I was a beginner. Years later, I think just before COVID shut down all the gyms he came back to the Cave all by himself to visit. I was working on this V5-6 problem that was my project and I saw him straight CRUSH it in like his first try. I started working on it and he gave me some helpful tips and was such a nice guy that I remember thinking, "why didn't I befriend this guy like years ago when he was at the Cave all the time?" I never saw him again after that but always remembered his face as a staple of the local climbing community. What a great guy and I wish I got to know him better. I will be there this Thursday and can't wait to climb with you with Matt cheering us on for the send in spirit!

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

I remember you saying he helped you climb something hard. I find it funny how our brains encode information, like how I distinctly remember the problem he set, but have trouble remembering people's names. I love how vivid climbing memories can be, and I'm glad you have one for him, and it sounds like a classic Matt interaction.

Matt was a strong presence in our climbing community. His loud cheer echoed across the gym and always made us feel supported. He will forever be missed. Our next dessert will be in his honour

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Yes! Desserts! Almost forgot, donuts and gelato will be on the menu! Maybe some tiramisu as well.

Thank you soooo much for creating such a wonderful tribute to my dear friend Matt. I met Matt in 2007 in school to become a registered massage therapist. We became good friends right away and partners throughout the whole time. Matt spent a lot of time at my house and my two younger daughters just adored him. He was one of the kindest, sweetest humans , and that smile and giggle was so contagious. We continued our friendship once we graduated and I saw Matt just before he passed and we left nothing unsaid. He challenged me mentally and I challenged him emotionally. We hugged it out and he teared up and thanked me for everything I have done for him and said he always enjoyed spending time with me. 😞My heart is heavy with such a tragic loss.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

I hate being redundant, but he truly was one of a kind. As someone who seemed like they struggled to emote sometimes, he was extremely empathetic to others and truly did create so many emotional connections, whether he knew, or intended to, or not. Sorry for your loss, but I am glad you got to leave it all on the table with him. Some days my brain wanders into places that remind me of things I wish I had said and I guess in some ways this video was a way for me to fulfill that wish.

❤

I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like Matt was a great guy and a friend we can only wish we could have.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words, I sincerely think he was.

In college Matt has his days and nights mixed up. He would come to school at 8am when he would normally be going to bed. My job as his partner was to wake him several times throughout the day as he would fall asleep with his head on his massage book. The kicker was he would still get the highest mark in the class on tests and exams.

@SendStory

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a non-climbing story about Matt. Although my social circumstances were quite different, this is all very on brand for the Matt I knew, Haha