Tributes to man who loved challenge

The casket of Queenstown builder and snowboarder Ryan Campbell (30), who died in an avalanche on Sunday night, is carried by (from left) his younger brother Fraser (obscured), mother Wendy, father Joe, close friend Dan Ashbolt, first cousin Steve Daniel and elder brother Nathan from the memorial service in Frankton yesterday. Funeral director Russell McGrouther (right) leads the group. Photo by James Beech.

More than 70 family and friends gathered for a memorial service in the City Impact Church, in Frankton.

Mother Wendy Campbell remembered her middle son as a clever and creative man.

He was a perfectionist, who loved freedom, pushed his boundaries and was usually messy and always late, she said.

Father Joe Campbell said his son loved to challenge himself in all aspects of life, in sport, recreation or building, right from when he was designing bigger and better skateboard jumps on the family driveway as a youth.

Younger brother Fraser remembered Ryan calling him in Auckland while he was admiring the view from one of his favourite peaks on the Remarkables and saying: "You need to be here, bro'. You need to see this."

Elder brother Nathan said the only solace was Ryan "died doing something he loved. He lived life to the full."

Pastor Dean Payn said Ryan, originally from Auckland, loved Queenstown's mountains, rivers and lakes so much he had wanted to buy land in Queenstown, build a house and share it with loved ones.

The snowboard Mr Campbell was riding when tragedy struck was placed on his coffin during the service.