Keeping It Real: An Anonymous Story, Part 3*

We recently connected with someone in our community who wanted to share their story anonymously. Check out the second part below and stay tuned for more installments soon.

What achievement are you most proud of and why?

To my knowledge, I am the first tethered bi-ski to compete in the Level I race held at the end of the Hartford Ski Spectacular. This is my proudest achievement, because it can be used as a proof of concept that athletes who ski the way I do are capable of competitive racing. Being in a tethered bi-ski means that I ski sitting in a bucket seat with two skis underneath me and a coach on two tether straps behind me. The tethers are there to primarily serve as a starter and an emergency break. The initiation of my turns comes from the physical movement of my body influencing the balance of the ski, so I am in control of the turns that I make. I want to serve as the example that tethered skiers can be athletes versus just passively going for a ride.

What do you hope to achieve in the next few years?

I want to continue working towards doing everything I can to help create some sort of competitive racing division for tethered bi-skiing. Currently, it is not a recognized division. I feel I am in a position to help make this change, as I have continually shown progress over the past several years and started to be taken more seriously as a racer. It took me a few years to get to the level where I was able and expected to run in the race during the Hartford Ski Spectacular every season. I want to continue pushing the envelope and provide an example for young athletes who ski the way I do, so that they can aspire to be competitive racers and hopefully have a recognized division one day.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Put your energy into what really matters to you! There are going to be a lot of curveballs and things that try to throw you off the rails. Just focus on what and who are most important. Do what you want and not what other people want for you. It is going to take a while to find the people that really push you toward the goals you have for yourself, but they do exist. Put everything into your sports and it will pay off!

*This story is part of KEEPING IT REAL — a series of personal stories that will take you deeper into the lives of people with CP. Each person makes different choices based on what works for them, and we’ll showcase that — highlighting what life is like for them on a daily basis, what they care about, and the ways CP impacts them. 

The KEEPING IT REAL blog is intended solely to raise awareness about the varied human experience with cerebral palsy and shouldn’t be read or construed to contain any medical advice or medical endorsement by Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation. Only you and your doctor know what’s best for you. Please consult your doctor for medical advice.