[2] He attended the University of Washington but left the school to pursue professional snowboarding just prior to earning his degree.

Kelly had uncredited starring roles in the Greg Stump films Siberia[5] and P-Tex, Lies & Duct Tape,[6] and was the first snowboarder to appear in an IMAX movie.

Kelly was part owner and on the board of directors of Island Lake Catskiing[7] near Fernie B.C., where he spent a lot of time freeriding and filming.

Kelly died on 20 January 2003 near Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada in an avalanche which trapped 8 people and killed 6 others.

In 2012 the owner of Baldface lodge, Jeff Pensiero, asked Keith Berens of Live Metal Studio to design a memorial sculpture for Kelly.

The memorial is a 10-ft welded steel sword (often mistaken for a cross), with coloured glass set within it and a prayer wheel made from local yew wood beneath.