Bill Keenan

Bill Keenan came to freestyle skiing naturally, building on a background in several competitive sports at high school, including gymnastics and ski racing. He was selected to represent Canada on the national freestyle team in 1980 and stayed for seven years until retiring in 1986.

His talent was confirmed in his first season, when he was named Freestyle World Cup moguls “Rookie of the Year” with a second-place overall finish. In 1982, Bill captured the Canadian freestyle moguls title and, a year later, became the best in the world in his discipline as the 1983 World Cup moguls champion. In the same year, he received a National Sports Award of Excellence, repeating the honour in 1984.

Bill won nine World Cup moguls events between 1981 and 1985 and maintained consistently high rankings throughout his competitive career. He was also a member of the University of Calgary gymnastics team when it won the Western Canadian Championships in 1978, and his skiing talents were further showcased when he worked as a stunt skier in the James Bond film A View to a Kill.

His image was featured on the $20 coin minted for Calgary’s 1988 Winter Olympic Games, and he served as a colour commentator for freestyle during those Olympics.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1978 — Member of the University of Calgary gymnastics team, Western Canadian champions

1980 — Joined Canada’s national freestyle team; named Freestyle World Cup moguls Rookie of the Year; 2nd overall in World Cup moguls rankings

1981 — Won World Cup moguls, Livigno, Italy; ranked 5th overall in World Cup moguls

1982 — Won World Cup moguls, Livigno, Italy and Sugarbush, U.S.; Canadian freestyle moguls champion; ranked 3rd overall in World Cup moguls

1983 — World Cup moguls champion; wins at Angel Fire, U.S., Ravascletto, Italy, and Livigno, Italy; received National Sports Award of Excellence

1984 — Won World Cup moguls at Salen, Sweden, and Gostling, Austria; repeated National Sports Award of Excellence; ranked 4th overall in World Cup moguls

1985 — Won World Cup moguls at Breckenridge, U.S.; ranked 7th overall in World Cup moguls

1986 — Retired from national freestyle team after seven seasons

1988 — Photo featured on the $20 coin for Calgary’s Winter Olympic Games; served as colour commentator for freestyle at the Games

Additional — Worked as a stunt skier in A View to a Kill (James Bond film)

Note: Information compiled from several sources; may not include all accomplishments. © Canadian Ski Museum & Hall of Fame. For personal/educational use only. All rights reserved.