There isn’t much that can stop Troy Hurtubise.
Now, the local inventor is hoping to prove that once again by going one on one with a grizzly bear.
Hurtubise got worldwide attention after the creation of the Ursus Mark VI bear suit which he used in the world renowned documentary Project Grizzly, filmed back in 1996.
Back then Hurtubise tried to find out if his unique protective suit could withstand an attack from a black bear. But a full on attack never happened.
Fast forward 20 years and Hurtubise is at it again, now with a 170 pound titanium lined suit that he says cost $120,000 to produce.
The suit will be the focal point of a new film called “Project Grizzly II, The Forbidden Trail,” which is expected to be released in the fall of 2017.
Hurtubise says they have already filmed four parts of the documentary including one segment they filmed in North Bay back in late June. On that day they tested the suit by driving Hurtubise, attached to the front bumper of the vehicle, right through a brick wall.
“We did the brick wall test and I was unscathed and my Montana took more damage than the suit did, it shattered the window and completely bent in the grill so my suit didn’t get a scratch on it but the Montana got wiped out,” Hurtubise said with a chuckle.
The suit stood up to the brick wall and now Hurtubise plans to take the suit into an enclosed area with a grizzly bear. He expects to make that expedition in the spring of 2017.
“The attack is guaranteed, the grizzly will attack me in that suit,” said Hurtubise who has coordinated the big event with a grizzly handler in B.C.
“The attack you are going to see one in Project Grizzly II, the world is finally going to see it and I’m going to know whether the suit holds up or not.
“Definitely it’s going to go on for three to five minutes and that 1,000 pound grizzly is going to be all over me. He could throw me around a bit but I’m not going to be a rag doll like some people might think.”
Hurtubise says he expects about three more shoots in August leading up to the Toronto Film Festival where they will have another demonstration with the suit while gearing up for Project Grizzly II being released at the festival in the fall of 2017.
Hurtubise has been renowned for his unique inventions including the Angel Light, which he claimed could see through walls, along with building bullet proof padding which could be magnetically attached to the sides of military vehicles.
But inventing comes with a cost.
Hurtubise is speaking with a European investor to help fund the making of the film. Along with that he has created a “Go Fund me” page.
Here’s that link: https://www.gofundme.com/g9zu7ng4
