Tell a story about great man jim kuster

[pete gads]

I was 17 living in a little town west of morinville. Me and friend rode dirt bikes around ditches ,fields and thought we could ride. Then we heard that an hells angle was moving into town and didn't know what to do. While out riding one day we were by the school grounds, rippen up stuff, riding in work boots and jeans plus helmet when out of now where this guy goes by on one wheel, i mean going for a long ways. If we could go 100 feet on one wheel we thought wow.
He came over and told us who he was, a machinic from edm that move out here. Next thing we know he has us buying proper bikegear and taking us out to riding areas. Teaching us things, getting us into racing and then riding in the mountains.
This whole time carl was about 4 and riding his little 50. He would get man cause he had to stay home.
One time out in nordegg my 250 blow a clutch, way out in the back country, jim says no problem, we'll go back take the clutch out of someone else come back put in your bike then ride it out. I said do i walk out, he say no, jump on with me. Now there are five of us out there, so jump on with jim and that was the last time i did that. No one could catch us, i mean jumping off fire cuts wheeling across meadows. The next day someone else rode with him.
23 years ago he took me out to the mountains sledding and i haven't missed a years since. I would show up in westlock , change paddle weights and jets on sled, then leave at about 11pm get there then ride two days and drive home. He would take me to place i thought i would never get out of but he would always get me back somehow. He loved short cuts that would always take longer. Not slagging his son carl but in jims prime he could out ride anybody of today
he got me started in so much and taught me so much you will be greatly missed one day jim your friend pete g

 

[Roy Maxwell]

Don't know Jim or Carl but ride with guys who rode in Valemount with Jim and young Carl back when it was considered a good day if you made it to the Allen Creek Cabin. Reid Perkins who may not be on this forum talks about Jim quite often when we are riding. He said Jim is an amazing rider (better than Carl in his day with all due resepct to Carl) who loves to explore and was always looking for new ways to get from here to there. Said Jim would head down into untracked tight trees while the rest of them hung back waiting for his return. After some time Jim would return after being stuck several times, branches sticking out of his sled and Jim would say "it's a little sketchy down there". The boy's knew if Jim thought it was a "little sketchy down there" there was not a hope in hell they were going that way.

 

[Mare]

I've never sledded with him, but I hear he can ride like the wind. I go to CC Cycle often just to say HI to Jim & Claudette. They ALWAYS have time to chat a bit... in between phone calls. We have bought 3 sleds from them, and Jim has always been there to answer questions no matter how silly they may seem. Jim is a GREAT guy, and I wish Him and his family all the best in the future.

 

[Wideload]

Jim and Claudette have always have inspired me to be behind a set of handle bars like Pete they have taught me a lot about riding anything with handle bars when I was 10 my dad took my brothers and I to buy a Honda z50 from jasper cycle on stony plain road where Jim had worked I remember Jim riding that bike in the small showroom and like true kuster fashion he was on the back wheel of that bike I thought that was so kool I can remember riding what ever he had up and down the ally in Edmonton when I was a lot younger. I also have rode as a passenger with Jim it was always scary doing things I never would do on my own but he was always in control he never let anyone ride without a helmet I thank him for that almost every ride I have been on my helmets are always full of scratches. They always have time for any questions that I have about riding or fixing I have been taken to places in AB to ride that most guys would never think of going buy Jim and carl when all my boys were born Michelle made sure that they all had Thor sleepers they all enjoy riding as well just like to say thanks for all that you have done for me and all the advice that I have received from the kuster family my prayers are with you uncle Jim

 

[chadwik74]

I have been mountian riding for YEARS and Jim always was and always will be a icon in this sport....(and dirt biking). I spent a lot of time at the Valemount hotel back in the day when Stan used to own it.....my ol man would take me there numerous times every season along with lots of other father son duos....I remember hearing one story about Jim dropping down in a bowl where no man should have went back in the XLT days and ended up having to leave it there. First time I ever heard of anybody needing a chopper to get unstuck.(prob over 20yrs ago) My ol man has pictures somewhere of them picking it up and bringing it back to the top of the hill...I guess Jim doubled up there....brushed it off, pulled it a couple times and rode the rest of the day. He is one awesome individual.

 

[bobsledder]

He sounds like one hell of a guy that was willing to share his knowledge. Pretty cool.

 

[imdoo'n]

? any more info, as i assume many of us are lost? sounds like a great guy who liked people.

 

[pete gads]

he has als,( lou garides disease) started about year ago, has really slowed him down he is takin one day at a time

 

[Luke The Drifter]

I was a long time customer of Jim's up until he got out of the business last year. He always greeted me with a smile and answered any and all of my questions no matter how big or small they were. I've been fortunate to ride with him in the past and he definitely made you work to try and follow him, thats for sure! His dealership wasn't the biggest by any means but the service I got there was second to none. I didn't get to go to his ALS fundraiser in Westlock last year since I was working in Fort Mac, but I wish I could have been there to help support him and his family. It's definitely hard to see a guy who was so active to be slowed down so quickly and so young

 

[Trukker]

Certainly an awful disease .Have a good friend battling it .

 

[trailboss]

I've known and been riding with Jim for about 12 years and could write a novel about the things we've done and seen in those 12 years riding in the mountains. Recently started riding bike again and can't say enough about how fast you learn riding with Jim. He doesn't come right out and push you, you just naturally become a better rider trying to keep up with him, doesn't matter if it's snow or dirt. The one thing I love most about Jim is the fact that no matter how late we are coming from anywhere he always had time to stop suddenly anywhere and say " Hey, have you seen this before? then lock up the brakes and swerve off the highway down some goat trail to see some natural wonder of some kind. As much as Jim is a real motorhead he truly appreciates nature and all it has to offer, motorized atv's are just his way of seeing our world from a much cooler view! I'm quite sure there's been a few places we've gone with our group under Jim's leadership that no man has ever been before, and there are a lot of things I would have never seen if it wasn't for him. Even though Jim can't ride with us anymore he will always be with us on every ride! Even though I'm not a religious person Jim & Claudette are some people I am praying for as they fight this battle. Life definitely isn't fair sometimes. Mike B.

 

[ridndirty]

I've known Jim since his Jasper Cycle days. I've never had the pleasure of riding with him, but I've been passed by him lots of times, in Harescrambles and Crosscountry races around the province. Jim's always been the guy that could see the line that no one else see's, most of the time without even dropping a gear! It was never easy to see where Jim was parked at a race, because there was never a big show or glitz around him, just a guy coming for a ride, and to help other people have a good day too. Always one of the best guys in the biz. Thanks Jim, Murray.

 

[007sevens]

Stubbled across this....

R.I.P. Jim

 

[Big nasty]

Stubbled across this....

R.I.P. Jim

Thanks for bringing this back up. i didn't know Jim but love the stories. R.I.P.

 

[tex78]

Thanks for bringing this back up. i didn't know jim but love the stories. R.I.P.

X2, know Carl but not Jim


I used to go to elementary school in westlock with Carl I think, left when I was 10

 

[Flyer]

I wish I'd met him. My loss. It sounds like he has a living legacy though. I haven't met Carl yet, but plan to. If Jim's shoes weren't filled before, it was out of respect. I think Carl will fill them now. The recorded interviews alone have me convinced. No better mark for Jim to leave behind than a son who rides well and helps others.

 

[hpjunkie]

I've had the pleasure of riding with Jim & Carl in the past. Never in what I would call a "high traffic" area. I believe the last time, an individual in the group took out a bearing on his drive axle on the way in. Jim never hesitated,told us to keep going & he would get him back to the truck. On the way out late that evening we met them coming back up. They got off the sleds, Jim taking off his helmet & stating, "great day wasn't it boys"! That was Jim, happy to have helped someone out, and just loving the "great wide open" RIP Jim.

 

[tundra twin track]

I met Jim in January, 1986 at CC Cycle, when getting advice on sled setup. As I was making my maiden voyage to Valemount. I had two successful trips that winter and was hooked. In January 1987, Brad C., Murray L., and myself were headed to Valemount on a late Friday afternoon, but had to stop and get a belt at CC Cycle and asked Jim if he could join us. Jim said he had never been, but he'd like to come along. He said he would be an hour or so before he could leave, as his new 1987 400 Indy SKS was apart, receiving modifications. We walked in the back of the shop to see the complete front and rear suspension was dismantled and no track in the sled. Well, a few hours later, off we went.
We rode the first day in Miledge with deep powder and I can still picture Jim with wide open throttle jumping a nasty drainage. And, with a big grin on his face, he said, "The throttle is your best friend!!". I knew right then this was a wild man on a sled and he was hooked on the mountains.
After numerous trips together we became very close friends. December 31, 1988 we headed to Valemount again, with Jim on his 89 500 SP, Brad's 89 500 SKS and myself on a 82 TX-C fan 136. Alan Creek was the first ride for 1989. As we just got into the Premier, Jim dropped down in this bowl with a full set of paddles. Needless to say after numerous attempts Jim couldn't get out. With Brad and I still on the ridge, we knew it wasn't coming out! For six hours we inched the sled by hand up the slope, we ended up abandoning the sled due to darkness. Jim and Brad doubled out. When we got back to town, I was very ill due to being on the throttle side of the sled for six hours, breathing in exhaust. Once we got back to the Valemount Hotel, Jim and Brad were in Stan's shop in the back of the hotel. They doubled up the paddles on Brad's 500 and the TX-C, while I was on the the john and head in a waste basket for the next 12 hours!! The next morning the two of them went back with help. But, a storm had blown in and they could not even get close. So, we headed home less Jim's sled. Jim made two more trips back trying to retrieve it, but it had really dumped snow that month. Abundant snow fall made accessing the alpine a full days job.
On the last weekend of January, Jim and I headed back up. Jim took Carl's 1980 340 TX-C and off we went. Jim had decided to go to Yellowhead Helicopters and hire Gary F. When we arrived there we meet a couple of Air Force Pilots getting their chopper repaired. Jim asked them if they could lift out a sled. With a grin, they replied, "We'd love too!", but their lift hook had been replaced with a recon camera. So, Gary was the man, providing the weather improved. Jim and I headed up the mountain to meet Gary on Mt. Milton. Gary picked up Jim, Bob (from Athabasca) and myself and off we went. After several minutes in the air searching, we'd spotted the avy probe and the ribbon still visible. Gary dropped us off on the ridge above the sled and Bob stayed on the ridge to keep an eye on Jim and I as snow stability was sketchy. With shovels and slings in hand, we headed down the slope to dig it out. Gary came with the hook and grabbed the sled and set it on Mt. Milton. Quicker than expected he returned to the ridge to pick us up. Being we were only half way up and with the clock ticking and Jim's money burning ($10/min), he encouraged me to climb faster, "Beamer, get your fat ass in gear!" As quick and cost efficient as possible, we made it to the top!
Once back back up on Milton, we opened the hood to find any exact mold of packed snow in the shape of the hood. After cleaning all the snow from the engine compartment, it fired right up! At this time, the Air Force guys we talked to earlier flew over and seeing us, sat down their chopper. They were curious to see how we had made out. I don't recall the model of the chopper they were flying, but when they lifted off they put on a real show in the valley between Premier and Milton. Banking completely horizontal with very little daylight from the skids to the mountain side. It reminded me of the action movies!
Now with three sleds on top of the mountain, we found a girl doubling with her boyfriend. She agreed to ride the 340 down the mountain. Jim told her it was full of fuel, and with blue sky's above to feel free to ride it for the rest of the day. Back in the parking lot, we loaded up and waited for the young lady to show up. Finally she rode up with a grin on her face, as she had been kicking her boyfriends butt all afternoon with that little 340 free air, and he was riding 521 liquid. Jim and both laughed over that, but her boyfriend did not find the humour in it!
In the fall of 1993, Jim modded a Polaris 488 FC engine that I ran in both my custom Indy Lite chassis. The engine is still running today.
In the years to follow, we had countless adventures together. Some of the most memorable ones are the Wasp Creek Expedition with those two massive slides. The trip that Jim, Carl, Ivan, Dave and myself chartered a helicopter to scout out a safer route up White Feather Creek. And a trip into Howard Creek where we encountered a massive boxed end shaped wind tunnel about 800 feet long and 20 feet deep. Daryl (Ziggy) went first, side hilling 2/3 up and out of the tunnel. I followed, bailing out about half way up. We waited at the top for Jim on his Mod ZRT. He came wide open, right up the gut! And, to our amazement, Jim blew right out the end and pulled off a complete back flip! Wearing his tether, he bailed seconds before the sled landed. When we rode up, he had a smile on his face explaining, "That damn throttle is sticking again!"


I am going to miss you Jim
Thank You for the Memories


Dale B

 

[kenvb]

I have bought a few sleds and bikes from Jim and taken a few out of province inspections to him after I didnt renew my licence. always a smile from Claudette. getting old sucks when we have health issues.

 

[gpt]

The first time I meet Jim I couldn't see over top of the motocross bikes in his shop and thought "man I'm never gonna be able to ride these". Although I cherish some sledding memories with Jim, my favourite and perhaps the truest to him was just a simple day trail riding on the bikes(we were a bit older but still on small bikes) up by Long Island lake. We were a group of a couple families including many young kids with Jim leading us around the bush. We struggled over every wet log, mud hole and rooted up hill. Jim helped every one of us up over and out. Always smiling that kind smile and loving every moment. He coulda have zipped thru those trails in a heartbeat but he never did. Calm patient and kind. Over the years we spent time on the trails at the races and up in the hills with Jim and his family and made great memories. You were a wonderful man and are deeply missed,
Ride in peace my friend.
Greg T