Bill Briggs is a renowned figure in the world of skiing, serving as the director of the Great American Ski School at Snow King Mountain in Jackson, Wyoming, United States. Born in Maine, Briggs is notable for being the first person to ski the Grand Teton on June 15, 1971, an achievement that earned him the title of the father of extreme skiing in North America.
Briggs' pioneering spirit and skill led him to make first descents of other mountains in the Teton Range, including Middle Teton, South Teton, Mount Moran, and Mount Owen. His contributions to skiing have been recognized with the 2003 Utah Ski archives Historical Achievement Award.
In 2008, Briggs was inducted into the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, with his citation acknowledging his role as the father of big mountain skiing in the United States. His first ski descent of the Grand Teton is widely regarded as the single most significant moment in American big mountain skiing.
In addition to his skiing accomplishments, Briggs is also a talented musician. He is a founding member of the Stagecoach Band, which has been playing country and bluegrass music every Sunday since 1969 at the Stagecoach Bar in Wilson, Wyoming. Briggs also founded and presides over the Hootenanny, an open mic music event that takes place every Monday in Moose, Wyoming.
As a multi-instrumentalist, Briggs plays the banjo, auto-harp, and six and twelve-string guitars. He is particularly skilled at singing traditional and contemporary folk songs, specializing in mountain yodels.
