Alaska's Eaglecrest Shares a Success Story
Juneau, AK…….This is a story of a 12-year-old Boy, who liked say, "No. I can't." Sometimes he would mumble it, sometimes he would yell it, and most others he would just crumble to the ground in exhaustion and defeat. It was a good day if he was convinced to even step outside in his ski boots, and even better day if a pair of skis was lying somewhere in the vicinity. Bystanders surely wondered the purpose, as day after day they passed him as he sat with his instructor in the snow. For hours, he watched and waited. He stood up now and then, but then back down he went in a fit of fear, stubbornness and frustration.
A year went by, and no one expected to see the Boy who liked to say "No, I can't". But the next January, he came back ready to refuse all over again. But something was different. The routine had become familiar, the sights and sounds of the lodge were understood, and his community of support had grown wildly. Rental staff inspired his attitude, instructors praised his accomplishments, and bystanders cheered him on as he emerged from the lodge.
In his first lesson of the new season, he agreed to put one ski on. To the instructors' surprise, he knew how to do it and very well. After all, he had watched and waited for that time. After one ski, came two skis. Progress was slow, but moving forward. Best of all something big was on the horizon, FUN.
After several more weeks, the Boy who liked to say "No, I can't" began to transform. Flashes of exhilaration dashed across his face as he slid cautiously across the flat terrain. Now and again he'd falter as the frustration overcame him, but inevitably he'd get back up and try again.
Last week, the Boy who liked to day "No, I can't" pointed at the chairlift and said "Let’s go up there….to the top." The instructor was shocked, but after all - the Boy had watched and waited for all that time. Without hesitation the Boy began directing the instructor where he wanted to go, hooting and hollering the whole way. When he sat down on the lift, he never looked back. As they reached the top, all the boy said was "I did it," and slowly nodded his head.
As he skied down the beginner area, bystanders were astonished as he swiveled parallel turns with his instructor, triumphantly finishing in a hockey stop. No one could believe it. Mouths gaped in disbelief. But after all, he had watched and waited, for all that time. In that moment, the Boy who liked to say "No, I can't", instead said· "Next time, let's do that again."
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month empowers students of all abilities to realize the exhilaration of healthy, active lifestyles and rediscover self-confidence through movement and pure fun.
Eaglecrest is owned by the city of Juneau, Alaska. It works with the Alaska HHS/Office of Children's Services
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