An outdoorsman and lover of watersports with a knack for hospitality and fun founded Axis Adrenaline Projects with the aim of putting Bermuda on the map for the pursuit of wakeboarding, waterskiing and wakesurfing.

John Martin earned the nickname Johnny Bravo, after the cartoon character, for his powerful build, outsized character and love of extreme sports.

Known to all as JB, Mr Martin dreamt of building an adventure sports scene in Bermuda and sharing the joy of the water.

He told the Bermuda Sun in a 2013 interview, shortly after launching the business: “Wakeboarding and waterskiing tend to be sports that privileged children get into, mainly because either their parents own a boat or can afford the lessons — and I want to be able to provide everyone an opportunity just to try it out and, who knows, the next Parks Bonifay might come out of it.”

His reference was to the US professional wakeboarder. Mr Martin was no slouch at the sport himself.

Born in the city of Niagara Falls in Canada, Mr Martin’s love of the outdoors — and outdoor sports — took off in the Ontario countryside, where he sought out the highest hills in the area for entire days of snowboarding and took on challenges such as climbing waterfalls.

Jenn Redburn, one of his three older sisters, said: “He loved nature from Day 1. We were fortunate to have a lot of space around, and we got kicked outside instead of watching TV. John embraced that.”

Snowboarding took Mr Martin out west, where he worked during ski seasons in British Columbia.

Wakeboarding, which involves manoeuvring on a board with foot straps towed behind a boat, was an easy leap from the sport.

Mr Martin also started sailing back in his Niagara Falls days, and loved travel and connecting with people abroad.

Mrs Redburn said her younger brother set out in hospitality, from bartending to waiting tables at the local tennis club, as a means of supporting his hobbies — but Mr Martin proved a natural at that too.

She added: “He was always positive and tried to make sure everybody else was too.”

As well as his watersports business, Mr Martin worked on charter boats and was a longstanding bartender at the Port O Call Restaurant on Front Street.

The family’s Bermuda roots meant Mr Martin came here from birth, spending summers and Christmas holidays on the island.

The call of the water played a significant role in his decision to settle on the island after sailing here on board the British-registered Arethusa for the Cadiz-to-Bermuda leg of Tall Ships 2000.

Mr Martin and his wife, Jenna, a highly successful hairdresser, had twins in 2000: Savannah and Bryson.

Mr Martin, juggling charters and bartending with life as the stay-at-home father, passed on his passion for the outdoors to his children — along with being the “cool, celebrity uncle” to his nieces and nephews, his sister said. Well known and radiating a natural enthusiasm, he enjoyed walking barefoot and was deeply proud of his island home.

Mrs Redburn described him as a consummate salesman for the island, at home and abroad, adding: “He was absolutely one of Bermuda’s best ambassadors.”

Axis Adrenaline was popular with young people, offering a summer programme based around the motto of his own childhood: “Go play outside.”

Mrs Redburn said: “He started it with the view of wanting people to get out and enjoy the water like he did.

“He just wanted people to have fun and see what the island could offer. He could get anybody to learn and love it.”

Mr Martin also loved showing people different sides of Bermuda, and teaching locals and visitors alike about the island.

Tragedy hit the family when Mrs Martin had ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2014, shortly followed by the discovery of her husband’s brain cancer in early 2015.

The two supported each other through their treatment and rallied to support the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, fundraising for the charity to bring radiation treatment to the island — something Mr Martin was able to receive.

Mrs Redburn said: “He absolutely prioritised living life, having fun, making sure people were happy. I don’t think I ever heard him complain.

“He worked as hard as he could, almost to a fault.”

After his wife succumbed to cancer in 2019, Mr Martin, who continued to deal with his own treatment, was left as the lone supporter of their children.

The twins relocated to Northern Ireland, where they had family. Mr Martin and his wife had spent time before there, in Strangford. Mr Martin relocated as well, getting more treatment for brain tumours.

Last year, however, a regular check-up revealed a new tumour too aggressive for treatment. Mr Martin took it in his stride and continued to “get out to play”, his sister said, but he died not long after turning 47 at Christmas.

A celebration of his life is planned for this summer.

• John Bryson Martin, a watersports enthusiast and charter-boat operator, was born on December 25, 1978. He died on January 6, 2026, aged 47