Mountain biker died ‘doing what he loved,’ dad says; memorial is Saturday

Forrest Anthony Angwin, 25, of Grants Pass crashed and died April 12 during a mountain bike race on the Jabberwocky Trail near Ashland. Angwin family photo
April 21, 2023

25-year-old man died during bike race in Ashland watershed; coroner couldn’t determine a cause of death

By Shaun Hall, Rogue Valley Times

Mountain bike rider Forrest Anthony Angwin sent a text message to his father at 5:19 p.m. April 12, the last day of his life, before racing down the Jabberwocky Trail near Ashland. “I’m at the top,” the 25-year-old Grants Pass resident wrote, according to a copy of the text provided by his father, Forrest Anthony Angwin III. “NICE,” the elder Angwin replied. “That was fast.”

“Took me about 30 minutes.””Good job!!!” It wasn’t long before the young man started down, riding his father’s bike, not his usual bike, as a competitor in a first-of-the-season race organized by Ashland DEVO. About halfway down, some 2.5 miles from the finish, where his father awaited him, he crashed, according to Angwin III, who spoke Wednesday in a phone interview.“I understand it was on a little bit of a turn,” he said. “There was a jump there. He took an impact to the chest.”

No one saw the crash. Other racers went by. In fact, no one knew of it until he didn’t check in at the bottom, near Lithia Park, and a race official went looking.

Casey Botts, executive director of Ashland DEVO, a youth-oriented biking organization, released a statement. Botts, who is president of the Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association, said Angwin was wearing a helmet and other safety gear. When found a short distance from the trail, he was unresponsive. Organizers and volunteers tried to resuscitate him.

“We are extraordinarily grateful to those who responded to this incident, including fellow participants who initially assisted our outstanding team, and for the emergency services and law enforcement personnel who worked with our team during this difficult event,” Botts wrote. “We all cherish the freedom and joy we receive from time spent on the trails, but times like this are a reminder that risk is ever present in our sport.”

Participants in the race ranged in age from 7 to 50.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies and rescue personnel were notified about 6:30 p.m., but that Angwin died at the scene on a remote section of the popular trail. The official cause of death is pending the results of lab tests, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Aaron Lewis. The results of an autopsy were provided to the family.

“The crash is a mystery,” Angwin III said. “The coroner couldn’t determine a cause of death.”

His son, an intermediate-level rider familiar with the Jabberwocky Trail, was using a GoPro video camera during his ride, although the camera “took an impact” and didn’t show the actual crash, he said. There were no broken bones, except some ribs broken during CPR.

“It almost sounds like that football player,” he said, referring to Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed Jan. 2 after making a tackle during a game.

“He hit his chest and it threw his heart out of rhythm,” he surmised.

An online fundraising campaign set up by a family friend, Justin Duby, had raised more than $17,000 as of Thursday. Donors included fellow riders and bicycle-related organizations, more than 170 donors in all, for which the family is grateful. The money is earmarked for funeral expenses, according to Duby’s posting. It also will support the younger Angwin’s fiancee, Cheyenne Crowl, and her 2-year-old boy, Logan, who called him ‘Dad.’

“He was stepping up in the dad role for that little man,” Angwin III said. “I told her, ‘You’re my daughter.’ We’re going to do whatever we can to help her out.”

Angwin worked with his stepfather at Michael’s Plumbing of Grants Pass. He attended Hidden Valley High School and Grants Pass High School in Josephine County before graduating from El Cajon (California) High School. Besides his father, he is survived by his mother, stepparents and five siblings. He created a YouTube page, F&F Garage.

“I was fortunate to be his dad,” the elder Angwin said.

A memorial service is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Edgewater Christian Fellowship, 101 Assembly Circle, in Grants Pass, with a barbecue to follow at Fields Park, 6784 Williams Highway, near Murphy. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors of Grants Pass is handling arrangements.

Angwin has ridden the Jabberwocky Trail since 2015 and sometimes rode it a couple times a month, his father said. Crowl sometimes would drop him off and wait for him at the bottom.

“He was very good at what he did,” Angwin III said. “It’s a great sport. It’s an unsafe sport.

“He went out having fun, doing what he loved. Love what you do. Do what you love.”

To see the gofundme page, go to www.gofundme.com/f/forrest-a-angwin-death-expenses

Reporter Shaun Hall covers outdoors and the environment. Reach him at [email protected]. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

Break out the boats, Emigrant Lake has buffed up

Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be. 

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Rogue Theater Company Richard L Hay Center Cat on a hot tin roof Ashland Oregon
Ashland Community Composting Ashland Oregon
ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum Summer Camp Ashland Oregon

Latest posts

Break out the boats, Emigrant Lake has buffed up

Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be. 

Read More >

Our Sponsors

Southern Oregon Summer Camps and Activities Directory Ashland Medford Oregon
Rogue Valley Symphony Visit the Grand Canyon Medford Grants Pass Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

Jackson County Parks took advantage of the dip in visitors to install upgrades such as ADA-compliant restrooms and granite tent pads in the campground. Lambert said the county replaced stairs and sidewalks throughout the park and remodeled the concessions area where waterslides used to be. 
The U.S. is currently engaged in a $1.7 trillion upgrade of its nuclear arsenal. SOU will be hosting a symposium on Friday April 25 called “The New Nuclear Arms Race,” to explore the dimensions and the implications of this nuclear upgrade and consider ways to oppose it.
Learn about the lives of Ashland pioneers who are buried at the Ashland Cemetery, thanks to living volunteers who will portray them.... Tombstone Tales takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 14.
Supporters of imprisoned wildland firefighter Brian “Hakiym” Simpson and a defense attorney who represented him in court are sending an almost 3,000-signature petition and letter to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, urging her to exonerate the 42-year-old and have him released from prison.
The Rogue Valley Symphony recently revealed the lineup for its 2025-26 season and it starts out with a bang — a weeklong festival of three concerts in late August at Medford’s Craterian Theater, featuring the debut of the symphony's newly acquired 9-foot Hamburg Steinway grand piano, the Raven.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.