- Weston Huff, 33, died in a base jumping accident in Provo's Rock Canyon.
- His family remembers him as a skilled instructor and outdoor enthusiast without regrets.
- Huff's passion for flying provided peace despite the inherent risks, his family said.
PROVO — The family of a 33-year-old man who died in a BASE jumping accident in Provo is remembering the skilled instructor and outdoor enthusiast who they said lived without regret.
Weston Huff was killed Saturday in Rock Canyon after a parachute malfunction during a BASE jump.
Huff's mother, Trina Preece, said he was an experienced paraglider and BASE jumper, as well as a certified tandem paragliding instructor. His family said he understood the risks associated with flying sports and chose to pursue them anyway, finding both purpose and peace in the air.
"People put their lives in his hands," Trina Preece said. "And when it wasn't someone else, he was at risk of his life in his own hands."
She said it was common for her son to be flying near Point of the Mountain, a popular launch site for the sport. Some people seek thrills through gambling or substance use, Trina Preece said, but for Huff, flying filled that role.
"For him, his addiction was flying," she said.
Carson Preece, Huff's brother, said he taught him how to fly.
"I did 10 to 20 feet of air, and I'm like, 'That's the coolest thing,'" Carson said. "And then we started just taking off from there, and since, we've done a lot less tandems and a lot more of, we'd both hike with our own wing, and we'd fly the Y, we'd fly the G … that's just always something I'd do with him."
Challenges as a youth
Trina Preece said Huff faced challenges growing up, and he was diagnosed with Tourette's and Asperger's.
"Weston had a lot of difficulties, of things that we could share or things that he absolutely would never share that were too painful, trauma, things that he might have suffered," his mom said. "So for someone like that to have a takeaway of goodness and kindness and love, I mean, a lot of people walk away from hard experiences being jaded and hardened."
The flying community, his family said, became a place where he felt accepted and secure.
"He made connections and friendships through that passion and through that love, and then from there, he was able to network and branch out," his sister, Kalli Bistrattin Machado, said.
"Most of us aren't happy in our careers," said Mick Preece, Huff's stepdad. "But he was."
Huff's mom admits that her son's job and his passion in life made her nervous.
"I was concerned, and it was terrifying," she said. "I'm a mom. We take care of our little ducklings, and he definitely gave me the most sleepless nights."
Those fears were realized Saturday when Huff was involved in the fatal accident in Rock Canyon, an area his family said he had jumped from before.
"He went up there to feel alive," said Bistrattin Machado. "Based off of one of the people that were there, he pulled the cord and his chute didn't fully expand, and he died on impact. And there were people that came running when they saw it and switched out for CPR for 10 to 15 minutes before emergency services arrived and pronounced him dead."
Huff's heartbroken family said he was meticulous when he flew and jumped.
"It can take like an hour to do, or more time sometimes, where you just … you got to make sure every fold is correct, and his roommate said he did it all," Carson said.
"It's not about not being careful," Trina Preece said. "It's one of those situations where you have to be so passionate that you're willing to take the thrill, or the alternative. He's had friends that have died."
She said she is aware some people may question her son's choices or comment on the circumstances of his death, but she stands by the way he lived.
"My question to them is, how are you living your life, and how many regrets do you have?" Trina Preece said. "Because that kid, he didn't have regrets. If he died doing what he loved, then he loved it, and it was a risk."
How he will be remembered
In the days since his death, family members have held onto his belongings, wearing his shirts and hats, pieces of the eclectic outfits he was known for.
Bistrattin Machado and Carson Preece remember their brother's signature way of saying goodbye.
"Weston would tell anyone that he loved him and his friends," she said. "Sometimes there's that stereotype or like uncomfortable feelings between guys to tell you that, but Weston didn't care. And he just would tell everyone and anyone that he loved them and he meant it."
Friends and former students have posted online tributes describing Huff as a professional, comforting and skilled instructor who made people feel safe during their first flights. Some said those first lessons grew into lasting friendships.
"He was extremely knowledgeable and calculated in all that he did in the sky sports," Huff's high school best friend, Justin Farrer, said.
A GoFundMe* account has been set up to help support the family with expenses.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
