kkeenan 14 #1 January 23, 2008 Sure sounds familiar... -------------------------- SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- An extreme skier died Tuesday from injuries he sustained after jumping off a cliff for a scene in a documentary film. Billy Poole was flown by helicopter from the backcountry of Big Cottonwood Canyon to University of Utah Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m., hospital spokeswoman Vickie King said. The 28-year-old Poole was sponsored by Salt Lake City-based Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., maker of ski and climbing gear. Chief executive Peter Metcalf described him as a rising star among big-mountain skiers. "His stature was increasing. He was inspiring, outgoing, friendly, the perfect ambassador for a company like Black Diamond," Metcalf said. "He lived the life of big mountain skier on just enough money to support his habit. "In this sport," the executive said, "death is part of life."_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #2 January 23, 2008 "in this sport", the executive said, "death is part of life"... ... hmmmm.....Death as a result of an "over challenging" task.....is sad, and reckless. Here is a young guy, all full of energy and captured by adrenaline, in many of the same ways that skydivers are said to be drawn to the hobby/sport... " he lived the life of a big mountain skier " ( Whatever THAT is ) ,,,, "on just enough money to support his habit ".... hmmmm again... this coming from the man for whom he was 'working',, as he shot this film..??now i don't know if this was a 'scripted' jump, or just ad-libbed by the skier... but sometimes the extra added enticement of 'being in a film', of earning a few dollars, of being able to pay the rent, can lure people into poor situations.... i surely Doubt that the Black Diamond Company executive,,,, was capable of such a stunt, but maybe the marketing dept decided it was doable...and sadly B Poole and his family pay the price... too bad. R I P edited to correct spelling jt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Remster 30 #3 January 23, 2008 Sorry Jimmy, but you sure sound like a wuffo.Remster Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #4 January 23, 2008 Warren Miller has been filming big mountain skiing for years. He and his stars are praised for what they can do. Jimmy, all of your statements can apply to a segment of us skydivers. Pushing the edge of swooping, CReW, WS, etc. How many DZ bums live on the DZ in an old trailer making squat so they can feed their habit? Doesn't sound too different. A bunch of posters here end their sigline with BSBD. We accept that we can do everything right and still die. It's the same in big mountain skiing. I have family that works for BD. I know that they are hurting right now. They, like us, are a big family. We do crazy shit on film all the time and think nothing of it. Sounds a bit like pot and kettle. RIP/BSBD Billy50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #5 January 23, 2008 Some of us walk the middle path and shake our heads at those falling off the edges. I've watched extreme skiing pushing back the boundaries for years in these films. Although I'm saddened by the loss of this young man's life, I'm in no way surprised. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #6 January 23, 2008 Some of us walk the middle path and shake our heads at those falling off the edges. Quote Yeah...we're called OLD GUYS! There's old ones and there's bold ones, there's no old bold ones. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #7 January 23, 2008 Quote Sorry Jimmy, but you sure sound like a wuffo. well in the world of SKIING,, i am a wuffo.i just got the feeling that the skier was put into a dangerous situation and simply exceeded his skill level.. ( though there was NO concrete mention of that in the O P ) BUT it could be that he's done dozens of such moves,,, and just caught a bad break here..... i was also trying to critique the response from the executive.... a sort of,,, "oh well" "que Sera Sera " , type of indifference...,,, anything to get the film done...and then simply praise the "collateral damage" sure enough there are risks in such activities. and perhaps those risks were assessed by Mr. Poole..... but we might not ever know the degree to which he was "encouraged" by others,,, or just How he felt about it, as he undertook the challenge... a more in-depth report would have been helpful jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d_squared431 0 #8 January 23, 2008 " he lived the life of a big mountain skier " ( Whatever THAT is ) ,,,, "on just enough money to support his habit ".... hmmmm again... this coming from the man for whom he was 'working',, as he shot this film..?? now i don't know if this was a 'scripted' jump, or just ad-libbed by the skier... but sometimes the extra added inticement of 'being in a film', of earning a few dollars, of being able to pay the rent, can lure people into poor situations.... Unless you live as a many snow buns have you will not understand this saying. This is not just what a reporter writes, this is the life style of a skier / snoboarder. When it comes to the type of lines you take well skiing or snowboarding it is all the individuals choice. You are not told to ski one specici spot. You are taken to an area that you and they want and then you do you best to to make it down. This guy could have skied this same spot several times already but this may have been the first time it was going to be caught on film. The thing about inticement is only one thing......powder, steeps, and challenge. "The steeper and deeper the better the run" It is a tragic loss when someone dies doing something they love but with all deaths there are lessons to be learned.TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1 I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #9 January 23, 2008 This is actually interesting (in a sad ironic way) Just a few nights ago, one of the news stories was about a local doctor (a neurologist at KU) died while skiing in CO. He fell, sustained a high level cervical fracture and died before he could be helped. This was a front line news story. Almost 10min on the "tragic loss". But, why is his death (or this skier or Heath Ledgers or anyones) more "tragic" than anyone elses. People die skiing, skydiving, driving, running, and even just sitting in front of the tv watching Springer. Focusing on the death of one . . . . when there are hundreds. Additionally... I have gotten a little "annoyance" from my work that I do choose to engage in a rather dangerous pasttime.... but yet skiing is ok for doctors, and how many drs have their private pilots, or even golf.... it's all "dangerous." We all die. I hope that this skier enjoyed the life and challenges that he loved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #10 January 23, 2008 Quote There's old ones and there's bold ones, there's no old bold ones. Sky One?? Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #11 January 23, 2008 Quote Quote There's old ones and there's bold ones, there's no old bold ones. Sky One?? He's not old if his daddy's still around. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #12 January 23, 2008 Quote He's not old if his daddy's still around. fair enough, Walt?? Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnMitchell 16 #13 January 23, 2008 Quote Yeah...we're called OLD GUYS! Yeah, remember back when we were the stupid ones? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #14 January 23, 2008 Quote Quote Yeah...we're called OLD GUYS! Yeah, remember back when we were the stupid ones? Back then old guys thought we were stupid for 'takin' chances...now youngens think we're stupid for being safe! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #15 January 23, 2008 Quote But, why is his death (or this skier or Heath Ledgers or anyones) more "tragic" than anyone elses. There has to be one in every f'n thread... _____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #16 January 23, 2008 Quote Quote He's not old if his daddy's still around. fair enough, Walt?? My dad is still around too. Granted, I am still alive only because of luck, but I'm a real pussy these days when it comes to risk. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #17 January 23, 2008 Quote Quote But, why is his death (or this skier or Heath Ledgers or anyones) more "tragic" than anyone elses. There has to be one in every f'n thread... huh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #18 January 23, 2008 Quote Quote Quote But, why is his death (or this skier or Heath Ledgers or anyones) more "tragic" than anyone elses. There has to be one in every f'n thread... huh? As a wise person pointed out to me recently, when someone in our culture dies, they become almost godlike in the eyes of the people who liked them and anything said about the deceased that does not put them in a godlike light is considered to be quite evil by some. In this case, someone having the gall to point out that one person's death may not be any more tragic than someone else's could be considered evil. Make sense?Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #19 January 23, 2008 Quote Quote Quote Quote But, why is his death (or this skier or Heath Ledgers or anyones) more "tragic" than anyone elses. There has to be one in every f'n thread... huh? As a wise person pointed out to me recently, when someone in our culture dies, they become almost godlike in the eyes of the people who liked them and anything said about the deceased that does not put them in a godlike light is considered to be quite evil by some. In this case, someone having the gall to point out that one person's death may not be any more tragic than someone else's could be considered evil. Make sense?Walt But yet if you (or he) were to ACTUALLY READ the whole post, I actually defended the LIFE that he chose to live rather than mourn the tragedy of the end. So it's evil now to say that HE CHOSE to be who he wanted to, to live by his rules and ultimately to died.... just like everybody else should? Nope, doesn't make sense.... unless partial illiteracy or selective comprehension is the excuse. I wasn't joking about his death, I wasn't saying "he shouldn't have....", I was just commenting that death happens to everyone. At least he lived it the way that he wanted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #20 January 23, 2008 Post sexy pics of yourself holding at least one gun and all will be forgiven.Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #21 January 23, 2008 Nah... nobody notices that. It's much more fun to pull a random sentence out of a post out of context and use that to display how cold and heartless I am. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #22 January 23, 2008 Quote Nah... nobody notices that. It's much more fun to pull a random sentence out of a post out of context and use that to display how cold and heartless I am. True that, but I'd still prefer the pics!Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pirana 0 #23 January 23, 2008 Quote Some of us walk the middle path and shake our heads at those falling off the edges. Quote Yeah...we're called OLD GUYS! Hey, . . . you. HEY, . . . HEY . . OLD GUYS! (You gotta holler at us if you want our attention)." . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #24 January 23, 2008 Quotea more in-depth report would have been helpful A google news search doesn't turn up much detail. Only this; "Poole cartwheeled through some rocks in the landing area". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomAiello 26 #25 January 23, 2008 Quotei surely Doubt that the Black Diamond Company executive,,,, was capable of such a stunt... I don't know. Black Diamond has a reputation for keeping pretty close to their sports, and the level of participation amongst employees is very high. It's not a soda pop company--it's one of the world's leading climbing equipment manufacturers, and I think they expect their people to have more than a passing familiarity with how the gear is used. I don't know the particular guy being quoted, but I used to know a guy who was at a high level of management at that company, and that dude could do 10 or 12 one arm pull ups in a row. He once put up a world class aid route with a broken ankle. Soft corporate type in a cushy corner office he was not. Remember that Black Diamond was formed when Chouinard Equipment (founded and until then owned by one of the pioneers of modern climbing) was bought out by the employees, because they couldn't bear to see the company shut down. Chouinard had been sued after an accident involving their equipment (which was likely just as spurious as suing the manufacturer of your rig if you go in), and the owner decided it would be more profitable to focus on his "soft goods" (clothing) business. Chouinard spun off the gear business and carried on with his clothing business, which he named Patagonia.-- Tom Aiello Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com SnakeRiverBASE.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
