Willie Neal

This Saturday at the weekend biathlon camp in Fort Kent a few of the younger athletes were fortunate enough to get an opportunity to work with some of the older Maine Winter Sports Center regional team athletes on skate roller-ski technique.  One of these older athletes was Willie Neal.  On Sunday night when the campers were on the drive back to Southern Maine, Willie was out roller-skiing with his girlfriend back in the Fort Kent area.  Willie was hit by a car while roller-skiing and killed.  Although these younger athletes only met Willie on Saturday and only got to work with him once, everyone was upset and shocked when hearing about his death.  In the two hours that these younger athletes got to work with Willie they found out what a nice guy and a great skier he was.  The Southern Maine Biathlon Club would like to thank Willie for working with us and will support the Neal family in the fullest.  Willie's death is a huge loss for the ski community and for the world as well.  Not only was Willie a great skier, but an influential figure in climate change, and very involved in the democratic party.  Willie was a delegate for the state of Wyoming at the Democratic National Convention and worked as an intern for Sen. John Kerry.  Willie, you were a great guy and you will be missed. Rest in peace. 

 http://fasterskier.com/2009/06/jackson-wy-biathlete-willie-neal-killed-in-roller-skiing-accident/

-Jackson Hall