Billy Kidd facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Billy Kidd

Alpine skier
Kidd after winning the world title in 1970
Born	(1943-04-13) April 13, 1943 (age 82) Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Olympics
Teams	2 – (1964, 1968)
Medals	1 (0 gold)
World Championships
Teams	5 – (1962–1970) includes two Olympics
Medals	4 (1 gold)
World Cup
Seasons	3 – (1968–1970)
Wins	2 – 2 (SL)
Podiums	4 – 4 (SL)
Overall titles	0 – (7th in 1968)
Discipline titles	0 – (8th in SL & GS, 1968)
Medal record Men's alpine skiing Representing the  United States Olympic Games Silver 1964 Innsbruck Slalom World Championships Gold 1970 Val Gardena Combined Bronze 1964 Innsbruck Combined Bronze 1970 Val Gardena Slalom

Billy Kidd (born April 13, 1943) is a famous American alpine ski racer. He was part of the U.S. Ski Team from 1962 to 1970.

Billy Kidd made history at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. He and his teammate Jimmie Heuga were the first American men to win Olympic medals in alpine skiing. Billy won a silver medal in the slalom event.

Six years later, Billy achieved even more success. He won a gold medal in the combined event at the 1970 World Championships in Italy. He also earned a bronze medal in the slalom at the same championships. After his amateur career, Billy became a professional ski racer and even won the World Pro Ski Tour World Championships in 1970. He is the only racer to win both amateur (FIS) and professional world titles in the same year!

Since 1970, Billy Kidd has been a legend in skiing. He continues to be involved in the sport as the director of skiing at Steamboat Ski Resort in Colorado.

Early Life and Skiing Dreams

Billy Kidd was born in Burlington, Vermont, on April 13, 1943. He grew up in the ski town of Stowe during the 1950s. His parents, Bill and Betty, owned a motel there.

With his father's encouragement and coaching, Billy became a top junior ski racer. He trained at Stowe with the Mount Mansfield Ski Team. Billy and his friend Jimmie Heuga were both chosen for the U.S. Ski Team in 1962.

Billy's Amazing Ski Racing Career

Billy Kidd quickly made a name for himself in his first season at age 18. He placed eighth in the slalom and 15th in the giant slalom at the 1962 World Championships in Chamonix, France.

After dealing with some injuries, Billy was ready for the 1964 season. At the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, he won a silver medal in the slalom. This was a huge moment! He and Jimmie Heuga (who won bronze) were the first American men to win Olympic medals in alpine skiing. Both were only 20 years old. Billy also finished seventh in the giant slalom and 16th in the downhill. Because he finished all three races, he also earned a bronze medal in the combined event at the FIS World Championships.

In 1966, Billy won three important races in Europe. He was even outracing the famous Jean-Claude Killy. However, Billy then suffered two major injuries. First, he sprained his left ankle. Later that year, he broke his right leg during downhill training. This happened at the 1966 World Championships in Portillo, Chile. These injuries kept him from competing in the first World Cup season in 1967. During this time, he went back to college at the University of Colorado.

Billy Kidd in 1965, showing his focus on the slopes.

The next year, at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, he placed fifth in the giant slalom. After these Olympics, he won a World Cup slalom race in Aspen in March. He finished seventh overall in the World Cup standings, which was the best for any North American skier that year. His first World Cup victory came in Aspen, Colorado. His second win was a year later in Squaw Valley, California.

At the 1970 World Championships in Val Gardena, Italy, Billy won the gold medal in the combined event. He also took home a bronze in the slalom. After winning gold, he said, "I'd always promised my mom I'd bring home a gold medal."

After the World Championships in February 1970, Billy retired from the World Cup circuit. He immediately joined the new professional ski circuit, started by his former coach Bob Beattie. Billy won the pro championship that same year. This made him the only racer to hold world titles in both the amateur and professional circuits at the same time. He retired from professional racing in the fall of 1972 due to ongoing injuries.

Billy graduated from the University of Colorado in 1969 with a degree in economics. He is also part Abenaki and is the honorary captain of the Native American Olympic Ski Team. In 2013, Billy Kidd was honored by being inducted into the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame.

Life in Steamboat Springs

Billy Kidd moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1970. Since then, he has been closely connected with the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. He works there as the director of skiing. In 2020, he celebrated his 50th year on the job at Steamboat Ski Resort!

Billy Kidd in 1972, a year before he retired from professional racing.

Billy is easy to spot because he always wears his Stetson cowboy hat. During ski season, skiers and snowboarders can join Billy for a free daily clinic. It happens at 1 PM at the top of the Steamboat gondola. Those who "ski with Billy Kidd" get tips and learn about what it's like to ski in the Olympics.

Billy has also been involved in many important causes. He served on the board of directors for Special Olympics International. He was invited by its founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. He also served on the President's Council on Physical Fitness. Billy regularly hosts Native American teenagers at Steamboat for "Future Olympians" weekends. These weekends offer skiing and snowboarding lessons.

In the late 1980s, Billy Kidd was featured in the famous American Express "Portraits" advertising campaign. He was photographed by Annie Leibovitz at his ranch near Steamboat. This campaign showed portraits of famous people from around the world.

Billy also hosts ski outings for big companies. These include American Express, Rolex, UPS, American Airlines, Time, and Sports Illustrated magazines.

World Cup Results

Season Standings

Race Podiums

• 2 wins – (2 SL)
• 4 podiums, 19 top-ten finishes.

Season	Date	Location	Discipline	Place
1968	March 16, 1968	Aspen, USA	Slalom	1st
1969	February 28, 1969	Squaw Valley, USA	Slalom	1st
	March 16, 1969	Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada	Slalom	3rd
1970	February 8, 1970	Val Gardena, Italy ^	Slalom	3rd

^ World Championships were also World Cup events in 1970

World Championship Results

From 1948 through 1980, the Winter Olympics were also the World Championships for alpine skiing.

Olympic Results