Add your stories, memories, laughs, pictures, and videos here so the world can continue to be inspired by Billy’s life.
More ski videos on Powder.com
Dream it. Achieve it. Outdoor Programs that help kids find their passion and achieve their dreams.
Add your stories, memories, laughs, pictures, and videos here so the world can continue to be inspired by Billy’s life.
More ski videos on Powder.com
well I didn’t know Billy personally but I know he was a rippin skier, and as a alta local I have to give props. r.I.p billy
I loved watching you ski……keep ripping.
I NEVER KNEW THIS FINE PERSON BUT HIS SKIING IS AMAZING. I LOVE SKIING THE MOUNTAINS, SO TO SEE SOMEONE DO IT SO PERFECTLY IS SOOOOO INSPIRING TO ME. REST IN PEACE BILLY AND SKI THAT NEVER ENDING POWDER DAY WHERE YOU REST.
I met Billy in Argentina this summer. My most impressing memory of him is when we went to do a couloir called Entre rios in Las Leñas. It was supposed to be only a 2h hike wgich turned out to be 4h30. After half of it, we had to go down very gnarly spots, to go back up again. Billy and I started at the same time, he set the bootpack and still got 50mn before me at the top. That is as strong as he was. I had a tremendous day with him that day, that i will never forget. Thanks for that day bro, keep it safe wherever you are. I’ll do a few turns for you tomorrow. Nicolas aka Frenchie
On the day that Billy passed I was driving home from Park City at sunset and noticed something I had never seen before. There was a huge beam of redish orange light reaching from the mountains to the sky. I’m not a religous person, but I had to think it was his spirit passing on. It was absolutely beautiful.
I work for BD, and I will never forget my ‘intro to Billy.’ I was walking through the R&D area when a ski developer passed me holding one of our newest, most secretive, holy grail type skis - snapped in half. This was supposed to be the most burly, indestructible ski ever made, so I naturally asked, ‘You killed it! What did you do?’
‘I couldn’t do this,’ was the reply. ‘It was Billy Poole.’
Still a bit saddened by the loss of such a beautiful snow toy, I went back to my desk. I then did what every normal computer dork does when he has a question. I Youtubed Billy. I just had to see the person who could destroy the un-destroyable.
I have a fledgling videography business and I believe I have been fortunate to have skied with/filmed some truly great skiers (definitely not including myself). To this day, I have never seen a person who could charge a line so aggressively, so in control, so commanding, and still keep a smooth feel to it, like Billy did. His style reminded me of the absolute control of Kent Kreitler, The creativity of Eric Hjorleifson, and the aggression of Seth Morrison, all packaged in the fluidity and anti-ego of Brant Moles. Everything looked so easy! It seemed like he and the mountains were old friends, just playing with each other.
I never knew him more than the occasional ‘Hi’ while he came in to pick up some gear or something, but I knew that he was a good person. With some people, you can just tell.
I think skiing took a few steps backward when he passed on. It lost one of its pioneers, one of the people whose style would (and still will) be imitated by groms for years to come. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Most of the people who view this sight most likely are riding in the captain’s chair of the same preverbal boat that I am. We find ourselves thinking about him at strange times during the day and then need to follow up on that thought by looking at this video. Thank the lord (there are so many of them nowadays I can’t keep up) that Camcorders were invented, because with this footage seen here of BP coupled with a video we have of ourselves white water rafting a few years back in Maine, and one extremely disturbing video that was shot during a night of debauchery at out apartment my senior year…this is what I have to remember BP. Now don’t get me wrong, memories are here to haunt us and comfort us at the same time, however anyone who was close with Billy in his college days most likely remembers only 60% of what really happened, and 20% of it is most likely exaggerated/hallucinated stories, and the remaining 20% is completely gone. Where have these memories gone? Who knows, but maybe the state of learning theory will bring them back when I visit Jamaica on my honey moon. But my main point of writing this is to shine some light on the Billy Poole AWAY from the ski mountain.
Because there was such a person, and he is the person who made me cry like I just lost 6th grade basketball game at the buzzer, or after you punch yourself in the face attempting to assemble a TV stand that no mortal human could ever construct…you catch my drift. I’ve been trying to take more pictures in general now, just because I am a man and the last 28 years have cared not to document my adventures, and now I realize that I forget everything instantly after it happens. However, I cannot forget Billy. What I can do is write down some of these memories here, almost as an insurance policy that I will not disgrace BP by forgetting about his impact on my life and his close friend at UNH. Here we go…these might not make sense to you but this is my therapy so relax a lil bit…
1. The night @ the YMCA in Portsmouth when we were supposed to be guarding the paintings in the tent outside, but instead about 10 of us spent the night in the pool getting smushed. Melissa had on a bathing suite that was too small (thank you for that by the way) and I hooked up with Colleen after she asked me 250 intimate questions about my life and my dreams. Great night, Grade: A+
2. The night that we all went out in town during the summer when you and Melissa took over my room and slept under my bunk bed. I always appreciated that, as anyone who knows you… are well aware that your feet smell like week old cheetos. But that night after countless brewz, you decided you would run home without stepping on concrete. Instead you ran from car top to car top, denting every hood along the way because your tree trunks that you called legs were telling you where to go…classic. Grade: B+
3. Rafting…you are the only one who didn’t wear a helmet. You quoted the phrase “stupid sexy Miller” because he looked soooo good in that wetsuit. That hick from NH came over to our fire and asked us if “ Ya’ll themuns shootin of them shotguns? - Where you replied….”What duuuude??? And then cracked in his face with your ridiculous laugh. Grade B+
4. Street fight in Portsmouth when Mike Band said he was that kids father, and after the fight dispersed you looked at me and said “I think that kid kicked me in my face, who kicks in street fight? Grade A
5. The day I went golfing with Molleo and came back and hung out with you and Melissa and Timmy, when I found grain alcohol and ended up vomiting all over myself and was out of commission for two straight days. That was cool. Grade: F
6. Strafford apartments – A5 and A6, Foosball – Billy on the five man
7. The jump you made in your back yard your senior year when you were doing back flips and landed on your face.
8. Coming to Medford to hang out for a couple weeks with Dylan, feeling bad because you didn’t have a real job when we all actually despised what we were doing each day.
9. Driving the ice cream truck in Hampton beach.
I realize this list is longer than I thought. Maybe I have given myself less credit that I deserve (trust me that has never occurred before). Bottom line is BP is not someone you get close to with having a major impact on you. Some people come and they go and they don’t leave a lasting impact on you, as most of you know that is just not the case with Billy. Even though I hadn’t directly spoken to BP in over a year, Jason always called and let us know how he was doing and vice versa. Tim, Saunders, Jason, Big Steve, Mike Band and even JJ you little river rat, we all never knew we had limited time with Billy, should we have done anything different?………. Not a chance
BP we love you
Kyle (AKA smiles) Westervelt
Boston MA
Billy was such an awesome person! I had the pleasure of working with him on numerous designs for Discrete. He always had the most positive vibes going on and his energy just made a person feel good. He told me the new Discrete catalog design gave him goose bumps, which to a designer, is the most emotional and respectable compliment one could give. I knew he was really in tuned in.
The day of his death was actually my first day out this season, sitting out for 5 months from a nasty bike injury. As I skinned up in the cold darkness with another buddy, the sun slowly came out, and was the first sunny day in 3 over weeks, it was something very special. I had such an amazing day, one of those days you just keep saying, “It feels good to be alive.” It felt like being 6 years old on Christmas morning.
A few hours later in the AM someone ran over and said, “Hey Dave, Billy just got in an accident.” I thought, Billy is so fucking tough it must be something minor…but a short time later I got the sad news of his loss. I honestly could not even fathom it. I thought of his friends and family and what they must be going through.
But, in the midst of sadness, I saw friends coming together in remembrance. So please just simply remember! Remember what an amazing person Billy was and he’ll always be a part of every person who knew him, and even those who never got the chance to. I think about him often. Rock on Billy, you really left a positive mark in this world. —Dave.
I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with Billy during his Aspen/Snowmass tenure. During this time I was able to witness his aspiration towards sking as a career. A non-reality and only a dream for many of us, Billy never took his eye off the prize. He met the right people, made the right impressions, and never stopped pushing the limits of his sking, even if the odds were against him. Our lives took different paths but i’ve never forgotten about him and the relationship we developed. Again, an ode to lasting impressions. Blessings to this opportunity to experience the life of this human and to all the lives he touched and will continue to touch through the foundation. Thank you to you all who have posted your thoughts. Had To Cry Today-Blind Faith
love eternal R.I.P. Billy Poole -Nuge
Billy, better late than never. Obviously still think of you now and again, even though I haven’t seen you in years. Still think of you and Pennie and the good times at your house watching the horses in the sun from your window. I will always remember sneaking around the trails of Camp Putnam at night to visit our friends, and finding you doing the same. I will miss your kind spirit, your laugh and your natural ability to leave a positive impact on everyone you meet. When I think of you, I think of freedom. Miss you, Billy, along with everyone else.
Hey BP - had a lot of fun celebrating your birthday last weekend with some of our friends! There have been a lot of funny stories shared that I had forgotten about….we had some good times!! Thought I would share the one that makes me laugh the most!
It was the beginning of my sophomore year in college, and I absolutely hated being there! I lived in the apartment below Billy and for about a month didn’t say a word to him as I passed him 4 or 5 times a day coming in and out of our apartments. I am pretty sure he knew I was miserable and he hating seeing anyone like that! Then it just so happened that I practically ran into him as he was leaving a party and I was coming in….He stops me and says, “Hey, why don’t you ever say hello? Next time I see you I want you to say what’s up Billy?” Then he just kinda stumbled away….
I very next day I passed him as he was going into his apartment so I said it
“Hey what’s up Billy?”
He looks at me funny and says:
“Who are you?” There was a pause and then came the laugh I will never forget and he said….”I’m just fuckin’ with you dude! Come on in!”
4 years later I was one of those kids sitting on the couch with him when he told us he was moving out west to be a professional skier. Well, you accomplished that dream and it’s that ambition and drive of yours that I try to carry on!
Miss you and love you bro!
Jason McLean
Stowe, VT
I Get the opportunity to ski/work with the best of them. And Billy was one of the best. Watching him grease cliffs rarely hit in JH and Slay lines in Argentina. Ski deep pow in Alta and party like it’s 1999 are my memories of Billy. Rarely do I meet a skier with the confidence he had and the ability to follow through on his vision. 1 line at a time.
Vinnie
U RIP !!!! WOW WHAT A GREAT SKIER ,
I knew Bill in high school and had stayed in touch sporadically since than. When we ran into each other a couple of years ago, I told him about my boring job and he told me about how he was living his dream.
He was always a person that knew how to both live and appreciate life. Even as a 16 year old cocky wrestler with a big smile, he knew more about living than most people. He always just drew people to him and connected with them.
I find myself checking out this page every couple of weeks just because I’d love to catch up with him. Miss you Bill.
The last time I spoke with Billy was the day of our graduation. I never even knew he was a skier until our reunion this past Nov. when one of our fellow class mates was like “hey billy is an extreme skier in Utah- and he’s doing really well”. I thought wow- that is really cool- not really understanding what that meant. Until later I googled him and watched his videos- and couldn’t believe what I was watching- he was truly amazing.
My brother called me at 5 am to tell me the sad news of his passing- and even though i had not talked to him in so long- it hit me like a ton of bricks- i have so many amazing memories of Billy- we went out for a while in highschool- he was at first one of my good friends- we used to goof off in history and get yelled at constantly- we started “going out” soon after- he was the first person I said ” I love you” too, the first and only person I snuck into my house at 3 in the morning (oh ya that was after he stole his step bros pick up truck- without a liscence I might add)( oh ya and the other nights he road his BIKE from Barre to my house in Hubbardston!!!) I still have notes from him- I still have that picture of him and Seth posing near the pond down the road from his house- from when Jesslyn, Seth and Bill and I would go on walks- I still have the backstage pass from when we went to see Dave Mathews band- so many awsome memories.
I wanted to send my condolances to his family and friends and hope you are all doing well. I also want to say I am so Jealous of Billy- he got to live his dream and that is something many of us will never get to say. I will always have a special place in my heart for the young man I once knew.
Oh, yes, I remember hearing about when Billy snuck into Nikki’s house. He-he! I even thought about Nikki when I heard…and how painful this would be for her. I remember when Billy told me he was going to see Dave Matthews Band and that he was going back stage. I was so jealous but so happy for him at the same time. He really got a kick out of how excited I was about it. I begged him to try and get me Dave’s autograph. Weeks later I forgot all about it. One day I was talking to Billy and he just sort of said “Oh, by the way, this is for you”. And he pulled a small piece of material out of his pocket. It was a frayed little square that had a very small picture of the band on it and right there in bold sharpie was Dave’s signature. I couldn’t believe he remembered me or cared to really do that. I feel priviledged to have known him.
To whomever turned in my debit card and CASH that I lost at Friday night’s fundraiser…thank you! Just goes to show how great a group of people Billy knew. Namaste.
I met Billy and Dylan a few years ago through a friend which was his roommate at De Casa Shred Gnar, i believe. Sometimes at their parties I would admire his humor and all his friends he had.I remember him walking in the house with a new pair of skis, boots, poles- all the perks of being a pro skier. His blue eyes beamed and his hair sorta lit up to an even brighter shade of red. He was always kind to me and always was pumped on skiing and life. I was with a posse of them shredding Brighton one gnarly pow day a few years back. I will always remember feeling so pumped inside to be skiing with such great skiers. I jumped my first 15 ft. cliff that day and knocked poles with the others and Billy. He was a nice guy and awesome skier, and he is really truely missed.
Rest In Peace Billy
I may only be 15 years old, but I have heared many things about this out of this world person that my friends had always wanted to be in the future. But even if your body isn’t here, your sould will be, and we will never stop observing what kind of a layed back personality you had, whether it was you observing a HUGE cliff or just chillin in your videos. Rest in peace…