On Sunday 25 February 2024, we received the devastating news that our friend and long-term Ski Notley instructor Will Myers had passed away after a short illness.
Will was a huge part of Ski Notley over the best part of a decade. Anyone who knew him and were taught by him will know just how big.
In 2015, Dave and Jen, our other long-term ski guides, were looking for another person to help with our annual school trip, and recommended their colleague Will. “Are you sure he will fit in?” we asked. “Absolutely” was the reply.
So…Will came on board.
Right from the off, he was the missing jigsaw piece for our puzzle.
Will knew more about skiing than most of us will ever learn. More importantly, he knew how to pass his knowledge on to our students. That’s not a given. Plenty of top-class skiers have no clue how to teach. Will had that gift.
Well over a hundred of our students owe their “ski legs” to Will.
He should have been skiing with us in 2024. He should have been coaching the beginners in their initial tentative runs, and watching them blossom over the week into confident, proficient skiers through his advice and guidance. Like he always did. He was an awesome coach. And I don’t use that word lightly.
But the universe intervened. We learned that he had pulled out from the trip just a few short days before we were supposed to leave. We knew he must have been ill to not come with us – he had been asking me about the trip for almost a year – but we didn’t know how ill.
Will passed away while we were on the trip.
Personally, I will miss his presence. I will miss him skiing past my camera, asking to see the photos, and then bemoaning his own technique. It was always great. It was never good enough for him.
I genuinely hope that wherever he is, the powder is deep, the pistes are freshly prepared, and he has all the time he needs to get his knees that little bit closer to the floor in the turns. Just one more run…
With the blessing of his family, we have instituted an annual Will Myers Award in his memory, to be given to the most outstanding student on each trip. That can mean anything – skiing ability, progress, resilience, kindness – whatever makes them really stand out.
We hope he would approve.
Chris Rowe (Geek)
