This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 4:41 PM- Professional extreme skier Billy Poole died this afternoon after taking a fall while filming in Big Cottonwood Canyon between Solitude and Brighton ski resorts.
Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office spokesman Paul Jaroscak said the 28-year-old died around 1:30 p.m. at University Hospital. Poole was filming a jump, had a bad landing, and possibly hit some rocks, Jaroscak said. Earlier reports of an avalanche in the area were false, he said.
Poole was filming in the area with Boulder, Colo.-based Warren Miller Entertainment. A spokesman reached at the company's corporate headquarters said the company is still trying to learn details about the accident and will release a statement later today.
Poole was one of dozens of skiers sponsored by Black Diamond, a ski and climbing equipment distributor in Salt Lake City. The company's Web site includes an http://www.bdel.com/scene/" Target="_BLANK">interview with Poole about a trip to Argentina, where he skied and filmed over the summer.
Penn Newhard, a public relations specialist for Backbone Media, which represents Black Diamond, called Poole "a hard working" athlete who was well-liked on the ski circuit.
"He was highly regarded as an up and coming and talented young athlete," said Newhard, noting Poole was a "super personable young man."
Poole was making a name for himself on the slopes and was a positive ambassador for Utah's ski scene, said Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah --the state's ski and snowboard association.
"It's really sad news," Rafferty said. "He was a phenomenal athlete and a great representative of Utah's ski community."
jbergreen@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">jbergreen@sltrib.com
mrogers@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">mrogers@sltrib.com