For the Benefit of Jimmy Zell
My name is Big Wally. I am a member of the Jackson Hole Ski Patol and have been for years. On behalf of The Hole Family I would like to invite you to participate in GOATSTOCK 2009, a day of fun and music and a Benefit to help Jimmy Zell on the Harvest Full Moon October 3rd.
Jimmy Zell was one of the best skiers to ever hit this area. He was the 14th person to ski the Grand Teton back in 1986 and also won the World Extreme Skiing competition in Valdez, Alaska in a year when Doug Coombs was also a competitor. He invented the Silent part of the Swift, Silent, Deep credo of the Jackson Hole Air Force as he was always under the radar and never told anyone where he was skiing as he didn’t want to get in trouble. He pioneered all of the routes that people now ski in the Jackson Hole Backcountry including being the first to ski The Arch and setting the line to return from Granite Canyon. Unfortunately a little over 10 years ago Jimmy was paralysed from the waist down in a paragliding accident in Mexico. This past summer he spent 40 days in St. Johns hospital and had 4 operations relating to complications from his paralysis and was diagnosed as having ALS which is Lou Gehrig’s disease which at the present time is incurable. He has been forced to switch from his wheelchair to a power chair as he simply doesn’t have the strength to push himself around anymore as he now weighs less than 100 pounds. No matter how rough your life has been, Jimmy’s has been worse and he needs our help.
GOATSTOCK 2009 has been designed as a Benefit to raise money to help out Jimmy in his time of need. Many of the best musicians in the valley have been gracious enough to donate their time and energies to make this day of fun and music possible. We are asking the entire community to come out and give Jimmy their support. It will start at 10 am with a mountain bike ride leaving Red Top Meadows led by Sparky (bring your bear spray!). At about the same time the Goats (antelope) will be cooking over an open fire and the music will start at noon. I believe we will have music by Phil Round, the Rocknuts, the Recessions, Calle Mambo, the Chanman Roots Band and Mandatory Air with the Miller Sisters with possibly a jam session with all interested musicians as a finale. DJ’s will fill in between bands, refreshments and food will be served, volleyball and horseshoes will be played, a kids game area will be available, paragliders will attempt to fly-in and land at the party and bus service will be available to shuttle people from the Stilson lot to Red Top on an hourly basis. There will be a covered stage and a giant circus tent to keep a possible afternoon shower from spoiling the fun. ( We are praying for a beautiful Indian Summer kind of day.)
So, PLEASE, mark your calendar for October 3rd, the next full moon and come join us for a day of fun and music for a cause. Remember it’s not an event to get out of control and destroying my backyard but a day of good people enjoying good music and fun and coming together as a community and being generous to help out one of our friends who is in need. Bring your checkbook for a donation.
Thank you for your support,
Big Wally
