In Honor of my friend, Nils

**Lonnie** · 09-15-2007, 09:23 AM

Bump......

For all the right reasons....

**tromano** · 09-15-2007, 09:37 AM

Wow that post has a whole "where the red fern grows" quality about it. Beautiful.

**schuss** · 09-15-2007, 09:42 AM

Thank you for giving the most fitting tribute we could hope for.

**Stone-Free** · 09-15-2007, 09:51 AM

That was a very soul-stirring and emotional read for me.

Thank you for sharing that.

**up an down** · 09-15-2007, 11:56 AM

thanks for sharing beandip. your post is magnificent! i hope all of us are as fortunate in our friendships as you and nils were.

**SnowTigress** · 09-15-2007, 12:33 PM

courtney,
thanks for sharing the Nils you know with us. my heart goes out to you for your loss. hang in there girl. we all love you around here.

**asandygal** · 09-15-2007, 01:36 PM

Thank you....

**GoldenBear** · 09-15-2007, 02:51 PM

In true honor of your friend Nils......Thank you for letting us in.

**PNWbrit** · 09-15-2007, 03:05 PM

Wow..

What an amazing tribute. I'm sure your love and friendship was something that Nils held dearest and that supported him most during such painful times.

**Shin-to-Win** · 09-15-2007, 03:23 PM

I met Nils for the first time last year when he came out to the PNW to do some filming and poke around the NW. I really wanted to ski with him, but my "real life" schedule suggested otherwise. There was only one possible day during his 14 day trip we could hook up. Nils was heading out to Stevens on a Thursday to meet up with some long lost non-mag friends. I then made one of the best decisions ever, by cancelling my "important" work plans to spend a day skiing with him.

Despite my complete lack of talent on skis, Nils insisted on filming me almost all day long for his Normalcy project. He made me feel like a rock star on a day when it should have been all about him.

Even though we had just met, Nils was completely comfortable talking about his fight with cancer and the reality of his current diagnosis. To him, these were the cards and he was matter of factly fighting back without the anger, bitterness, or self pity that one might expect from a person unfairly singled out by this disease.

We had a great day at Stevens with a mini-tour from Z-BO.m Nils was excited to tackle some tough lines and was game for whatever came his way. He was even more stoked when I caught up with him after his day at Crystal where he met Ingrid, declaring it the best day ever on skis. Wish I could have been there to share it with him. Wish I could have been there for his training rides this past spring in preparation for a triathalon.

A triathalon? I'm not battling anything right now and I can't seem to muster a simple ride on the weekends, but MR KICKING CANCERS ASS is going to do a triathalon? Simply amazing.

I KNEW his diagnosis was dire, I KNEW the odds were very slim, but somehow I could never actually envision him losing this battle.

Whenever I think something is "tough" or get pissed cause things don't go my way, I think of Nils . . . his attitude and his strength. An amazing teacher who lead us all by example. Thank you Nils!! I miss you already. RIP

**Jumper Bones** · 09-15-2007, 03:43 PM

Thank you, Courtney.

And you too, Shin...

**Chainsaw_Willie** · 09-15-2007, 04:06 PM

Wish I could've met him.

Hope to meet you, Courtney, someday. That was a fantastic tribute to your friend.

**girlski0912** · 09-15-2007, 05:50 PM

Courtney- I think he would be honored by your words.

**divegirl** · 09-15-2007, 07:10 PM

Courtney that was so wonderful and so moving, thank you for posting such a beautiful tribute to your awesome friendship.
I wish I could have hung out with the two of you during your quest for the next rad food dish and beer tap.

**Cliff Huckable** · 09-15-2007, 07:37 PM

Beautiful.

Thank you.

**SkiEvil** · 09-15-2007, 08:43 PM

That brought more than a few tears to my eyes.....

**dk_alaskan** · 09-15-2007, 09:08 PM

as i sit here trying to type betweeen tears, I hope to someday have a friend like you, Court. As the guy everyone considers to be the "rock" and the "macho" man among everyone, i am not supposed to admit shedding tears, however, fuck it. I only met Nils once, which i am very greatful for. What i took away from him was a strong man who was weakened by a disease yet still wanted to live life to its fullest. His eyes still had the spirit of a man who was warring with his deamons and winning. We as a community have lost a great members contributions, not a great member. Plakespear will be forever with us in spirit and in his past writings. My condolences and best wishes to his family who have lost a beloved member.

I am at a loss for words now (yeah, me, at a loss for words, go figure eh). May we all learn to live life to its fullest and hold those close to us even tighter, otherwise, what Nils brought to this world will be lost.

Skol Nils

**Arty50** · 09-15-2007, 11:13 PM

Everybody seems to know when he's around
He lifts me up and fades without a sound
Mr. Sun won't you shine?
Mr. Sun won't you shine?

Why he's here I will never know
He makes you know you feel
Like somewhere to go

Mr. Sun won't you shine?
Mr. Sun just you shine

Walking with a man called Sun
I think my journey's just begun
Do you think he'll mind?

He lifts you up he shines
And then he's gone
But you know you need him
More when he's gone

Mr. Sun just shine
Mr. Sun just shine

Walking with a man called Sun
I think my journey's just begun
Do you think he'll mind?

Shine...
Shine...
Shine...
Shine...
Let it shine...

**eCr412** · 09-15-2007, 11:14 PM

I honestly don't even know what to say.

Beautiful to say the least. Brought tears to my eyes.

**AbsolutStoli** · 09-16-2007, 02:01 AM

wow courtney, thank you!

as another member of the community who has not met nils, i dont think im the only one who feels he will continue to inspire and encourage us even in his absence.

im going to go celebrate his life and drink a hoegaarden in his honor.

**str8line** · 09-16-2007, 08:47 AM

As many others have said, that was so beautiful Courtney. Thank you for so eloquently remembering Nils. He will be deeply missed.

**gamma** · 09-16-2007, 09:01 AM

Thanks Courtney...

Nils, never met you, but you were obviously a fighter and strong as nails..

Rest in Peace.. may your memory live on..

**Game Over** · 09-16-2007, 11:29 AM

thank you for sharing.

i never met plakespear, but it sounds like he was one hell of a guy.

**jtran10** · 09-16-2007, 12:19 PM

Very moving. Thanks.

**dark mavidson** · 09-16-2007, 01:18 PM

That was the most beautiful eulogy, ever. Having never known or spoken to Nils, through your writing I now feel like I knew him just as well as any of you. There is little that can be said that hasn't been already, but it seems there are things about certain people that cannot be said enough. From all of your heartfelt celebrations of his life, I can tell that each and every one of you benefited from Nils friendship/acquaintanceship, just as he benefited from each of those in turn. Echoing your words, I can only hope someday be as good as a friend as Nils was to everyone.

Yet another example of how rad this community, and the individuals who compose it, really is.

And so it goes.