"happiness lies outdoors... The wilderness is a rest for my soul."

Grant Tyler was born on November 27, 1978, in Denver.  He moved with his family to Billings, Montana in September of 1982.  He attended Billings West High School and graduated in 1997 as class valedictorian and a National Merit Scholar.  Before he had graduated from high school, he had gone to junior Olympics 3 times, and had been the Silver Run Race Team captain for 3 years running. He was the top man (racer) in the Northern Division of the USSA in 1997. He received many other Silver Run awards, ranging from outstanding competitor to sportsmanship.

Grant was a senior at the University of Washington where he was majoring in the Comparative History of Ideas. Grant was a philosopher who believed he could make a difference, an accomplished athlete, a musician, and a true child of the great outdoors.  Grant said that "happiness lies outdoors... The wilderness is a rest for my soul."

Grant began skiing at age 2. He raced as a competitive Alpine racer for Silver Run Ski Education Foundation from ages 5 to 18.  During the 1998-99 ski season, he began pursuing the goal of being the best freeskier he could be.  He grew up skiing and came to believe that freeskiing is "the soul of skiing." In characteristic fashion, Grant set his heart and mind to his goal and accomplished his dream.

He competed on the International Free Skiing Association’s North American Tour for the ’98-99 and ’99-2000 seasons, finishing the 2000 season as the third-ranked competitor. He was to compete fully sponsored on the World Tour in the 2001 season.

In his spare time he enjoyed cycling, rock climbing, camping, hiking, waterskiing, and, sea kayaking.  Grant loved life to its fullest, living slightly on the edge as he explored new attitudes, thoughts and territories.  He shared his adventures with his best friends, but also took the time to include his parents and their friends in his activities.

Grant touched many lives with his exuberance, enthusiasm for life and his compassion for others.