Billy Kidd, his statue, and one Fish
During my three crossings of the Pacific between California/Hawaii/California, I often wondered of the great sailor explorers of centuries ago. To leave Europe on sailing vessels made by hand, sails not as efficient as the ones made today, and no real understanding of what lay past the horizon. To have the confidence and courage to leave a safe and secure port, the sailors of that time made headways into the unknown, the uncharted, the potential ocean death trap.
A USA Olympic skier in the sixties did somewhat the same thing. The Europeans had always dominated the sport of skiing in the Olympics, until an American kid, not believing what had been the norm, broke the European domination and won a medal. Steamboat’s Billy Kidd, was that young dude and he still has the heart and energy of that same young dude.
On a chance encounter at Steamboat, I met Billy Kidd and shared with him the mission of MauiSkiBus.com. He loved the idea and spent the whole afternoon skiing with me and being a great ambassador of skiing and Steamboat Springs. Many resorts have their own ambassadors, but no resort has one equal to Billy Kidd, as he helped young and old on the finer points of skiing and racing.
A modern town with its roots in the cowboy life, with ranches the best we had seen in Colorado and horses galore. A ten minute drive out of Steamboat, and the skiing scene was gone and the wilds of Colorado appeared. To be free on a horse, on an open range, to gallop from hill top to hill top, is an unique feel similiar to a day on the slopes with fresh powder. Mike Lane, the marketing manager made the day happen in Steamboat Springs and Billy Kidd was the icing on the cake.