Competitor & Inspiration
Willie Neal’s biography exemplifies his belief that we all have the ability and responsibility to “be the change we wish to see in the world.” When he moved to Jackson in 1998, Willie fell in love with Nordic skiing, and he trained with the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club Nordic Comp Team from 2002-2008, racing in five Junior National events. A multiple-time All-American, he is the only person to have won eight Wyoming High School individual Nordic Championships, the most possible by a skier. In 2008, he represented the US on the Scandinavia Cup Team, inspiring his peers to see what was possible on the international level while encouraging them to train harder, to be more focused, and to enjoy the process, not just the outcome. He won the JHSC Pole Pedal Paddle Junior Division as a middle-school student and the Race Division as a high-school student. Respected for his focus, work ethic, enthusiasm, teamwork, and sportsmanship, Willie’s passion extended far beyond the Nordic community: he participated in numerous community events, where he frequently promoted environmental awareness and stewardship through printed materials and booths. A young leader, he spearheaded the Town of Jackson’s “No Idling” resolution and similar ordinances in Sun Valley, ID; Ventura, CA; and Fort Fairfield, ME. In his work for Senator John Kerry, he devised a means to send encrypted communications so that senatorial offices could save paper, ink, and energy. He was a remarkable Nordic skier and outgoing citizen, whose life ended too early in a tragic accident, yet his passion and joy continue to reverberate throughout the Jackson community.
