At approximately 12:39AM Easter Sunday morning (2004), while traveling southward on bicycles and skateboards towards their home in Waves, NC, four members of the REAL family were struck by an SUV traveling south on Highway 12.

The people involved in the accident included REAL kiteboarding’s Matt “M2” Raincock, Jason Slezak, Matt “M3” Spaeth, and also aspiring kiteboarder and friend of the group, Adrienne Pocock.

The driver of the Chevy Suburban was distracted by his cell phone and veered off the road at full speed. The vehicle struck the four people from behind. Jason Slezak and Matt Spaeth who were both riding bicycles, sustained shoulder, hip and lower leg injuries, were admitted to Outer Banks Hospital and later discharged with clean x-rays and cat scans. Matt Raincock and Adrienne Pocock, who were on a skateboard being towed by one of the bicycles, were both killed on impact.

Matt Raincock, known around REAL as “M2”, has been an integral part of the REAL kiteboarding crew since the opening days of the original REAL Kite Center (Buxton) in the Spring of 2002. M2 lived to be on the water, all day, every day. He spent his teens and early twenties teaching sailing and dinghy racing, and then made the switch to kiteboarding. He and his best friend Colin Gowland, transplanted themselves to Cape Hatteras in the Spring of 2002 to take advantage of the excellent conditions and make the most of their riding. Both Matt and Colin took every possible kiting session that existed from the day they got here right up until Matt’s death. Be it kiting on surfboards, wakeskates, wakeboards, myths or skimboards, these two riders took advantage of every single rideable day and always lived life to its fullest.

M2 spent this past winter with Colin and his wife Enily, on Enily’s home island of Puerto Rico. Matt introduced Colin to Enily earlier the prior year and their relationship led to their marriage in the Fall of 2003. During the REAL photo and video shoot in PR this winter, Matt was again one of the standout riders, absolutely blazing on his 100cm Jimmy Lewis Myth board and taking stratospheric heights during jumps when he pulled the trigger. Whether it be on the beach or on the water, he was always a great person to share a day with. M2 always brightened your day with his smile, his humor and his absolute love of life.

Matt’s contributions to REAL included valued input to the REAL Lesson and Kite Camp instructional programs. This included many syllabus curriculums of individual lessons and camps as well as the naming of several of these programs. His humor came through with his REAL t-shirt design “If you don’t learn to kiteboard today, you’ll still suck this time next year”. His graphic talents shined with the release of his “KBA” REAL sticker featuring another original REAL rider and friend Llew Simmonds. He later took this same talent to design the bold graphics and color schemes on the new Flexifoil Strike kites, all on the back of a paper napkin while drinking rum and tonics a Trip’s house. A sailor through and through !

Many people talk about the great people they meet at REAL, and Matt is definitely one of the people who created the standard by which many have followed. The thousands of people he introduced to kiteboarding have all been influenced by his personable teaching methods, his easy going demeanor, and his love for the water. Matt was always smiling, laughing, and looking forward to sharing his love for the sport with others. In between two lessons a day, or camps all day long, he always made time to take sessions before, in between and after being on the water with students. If you saw someone out riding, it was probably Matt. He was on the water 8am to sundown almost every day.

Matt’s last day with us was spent doing what he loved the most; Smiling, laughing, being with his friends, being on the water, and introducing new people to the sport that changed his life forever. At an Easter weekend gathering that night, he circled the crowd making great conversation with almost everyone there. All of us have vivid memories of Matt’s last day, how he touched each of us and how he was smiling the entire day and “living large”. M2 was never one to save anything for tomorrow and this was just another one of those days. He left with Jason, Matt Spaeth and Adrienne headed south on Highway 12 riding his “longboard” skateboard after yet another great day of his life…..

“M2, we will remember and love you forever. You are always in our hearts and in our sessions. We hope you are fully litt and riding the smoothest water possible; a new “Slick” that you will show us when we meet again. Huge “fans” from your family at REAL !”

Please Click Here for a downloadable Memorial PDF of Matt "M2" Raincock.


The Raincock family has asked that in lieu of flowers, friends of their son should send donations in Matt's name to "Set Sail for Hope" a charity event that the Raincock family has been involved in organizing for many years. This annual sailing event raises money for Camp Trillium...a summer camp where children with cancer have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors - as Matt did - with their parents and siblings.

For those of you in Toronto, a Celebration of Matt's Life will take place on Thursday, April 29th, 6pm, at The Steam Whistle Brewery, 255 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto (just south of the CN Tower). Please join us for some pints in M2's honor. Trip Forman, Sean Martin and Dave McGuire from REAL have confirmed their attendance.

You can send emails to the Raincock family at the address below :

Email:
ann@thetravelsociety.com


Please forward your thoughts, memories and condolences to Adrienne’s family at the following contact info:

Address:
Don, Donna and Aaron Pocock
107 Regent St.
Richmond Hill Ontario
L4C 9P4
Canada

Email:
aaronpocock@canoemail.ca


Jason Slezak and Matt “M3” Spaeth are making their recoveries in Cape Hatteras, NC. You can send your encouraging support to them at the following contact info :

Address:
Jason Slezak and Matt Spaeth
c/o REAL kiteboarding
PO Box 1614
47170 Highway 12
Buxton NC 27920

Emails:
Jason Slezak
Jason@realkiteboarding.com

Matt "M3" Spaeth
matts@realkiteboarding.com