Albert Arthur Beyer

Canadian Materials Engineering Visionary

Al was a true innovator, born in Calgary, Alberta, but lived most of his life in Edmonton. He is predeceased by his parents, Julia (Overland), in 1989, and Arthur, in 1991, and beloved family dog Brutus, who no doubt was waiting with his tennis ball for him. Albert leaves behind his only sister, Alane (Glen). Cousins Kevin Overland in Saskatchewan, Todd and Mike McAlary in Ontario, and extended family in Norway, Canada, England, and the USA.

Albert came from a family of makers and artists. His Dad, Arthur, in his early years a Photographer with the R.C.A.F. & Calgary Herald. Julie, a member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Alane, a Scandinavian-style artist. So, it’s no surprise that from a very early age, Albert was extremely good at envisioning designs and then building them!

As a young boy, the minute Al got home from pre-school, he raced into his room to work on his latest Lego project, surprising our parents with his early creative skills. In his teens, Al excelled in downhill and slalom water skiing, competing at local tournaments against the likes of Vern Oberg at Wizard and the Bailey brothers at Pigeon Lake. We had great memories in Sicamous, B.C., where the family spent many summers in Dad’s handmade Ski boat (350 Chev). I think we were all a little deaf from that engine noise!

Al was good enough to qualify for both the Alberta ski teams (downhill and water). But Mum and Dad wanted him to attend University. So, after graduating from Harry Ainlay Senior High School in 1979, Al decided on the Materials Engineering Technology program at N.A.I.T graduating in 1982.

After graduation, he did a little autobody work in our garage in Aspen Gardens. It was around this time he decided to cut apart his new waterski to see how it was made, much to Dad’s displeasure. It was shortly after that time when Concept Water Skis was born, which led him to making small trick skis for the young Llewellyn brothers in the 1990s.

Al built the first carbon fiber bike frame for Rocky Mountain bikes and carbon-inlayed crank arms for RaceFace. Then fiberglass bike wheels for the Silver medal-winning Canadian National Cycling Team in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Then he designed and manufactured award-winning ultra-light gyrocopters & rotor blades, winning the Best Engineered Award for Oshkosh 1990. Heck, Al even made one of the first Carbon Fiber hockey sticks! Sadly, the local funding that was promised to manufacture the sticks never came to be. This was his greatest disappointment.

So, it was back to aviation, with Al working closely with David Marsden P.Eng on aerodynamic projects, and also Chris of Falconar Avia at Blatchford Hangar 11. He also used his skills building drones and wind turbine blades. And even the giant balls you still see on Jasper Avenue and the Remedy café, which are to this day known as Al’s big balls!

Throughout the entirety of his career, Al was a one-man show, preferring to work on his own. Relying heavily on grants from both the Alberta & National Research Council of Canada. These grants led to work with other Olympians, like Jeff Hamilton, a world record holder as the fastest downhill skier. On Jeff’s new adventure, he used Al’s carbon fiber bike wheel, this time racing bikes downhill, at speeds well exceeding 100mph.

He applied his Materials Engineering skills to the groundbreaking “Goose Egg” (DCLR8). A back of the helmet carbon fiber egg-like add-on, designed to protect the vulnerable back of sports helmets from hard impacts. This “egg” achieved an unheard-of 70% reduction in impact forces. Albert worked closely with Tec Edmonton, UA Solve, and the UofA Mechanical Engineering department. He holds both U.S. and Canadian patents for this device. Al never let go of his dream to help reduce concussions in sports.

Al was well known in the industry across North America as the go-to guy if you wanted it made right. So, it’s no surprise he made a carbon fiber sit-ski for Olympian Derek Zaplotinsky, a Para-Nordic skier for the PyeongChang Seoul Olympics in 2018. Then came the Cult favorite, his carbon fiber toilet seats, which he shipped worldwide. Even comedian Jay Leno has one! “A little fiber goes a long way”!

Al also worked on vintage Formula One-style race cars and building and repairing carbon fiber parts for custom cars. In the last years of his life, he dedicated much of his time to repairing carbon fiber bicycles for local bike shops.

When Al first began his struggle with severe Thrombocytopenia several years ago, he became concerned with his legacy. He wanted the next generation of builders to dream big like he did. It was back then that he made his wishes clear about how he wanted to be remembered.

In the last month of his life, his condition worsened, developing quickly into Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL). We are extremely grateful to the UofA Hospital, for their unmatched kindness and compassion, through some of the toughest days of his life.

Al, or as he’s more affectionately known, Stoney, was a great storyteller. He seemed to know everyone, and always had a tall tale to tell. My brother was indeed a true innovator, ahead of his time. But to me, it was his tender heart for animals that revealed his true inner spirit. So it’s only fitting that if you wish to make a donation in his name, please consider a local animal shelter.

We would also like to thank the County Quilters Guild in Spruce Grove for their memorable quilt, which I will long treasure.

Celebration of Life will take place high on the tops of the Rocky Mountains! Now it’s time to Ski the clouds, Stoney!