That skiing conditions recently at Sugarbush were not the best for the majority of skiers was evident everywhere: little traffic on the way to the mountain, plentiful parking, minimal lines at the lifts, and practically no wait for a snack at the Skinny Pancake. But Kayla is not your average person and for her (and me by association) they were fantastic: no crowds, minimal lines, parking within walking distance, warm weather and just enough snow to cover the magic carpet! I do not know if there could have been a more perfect season for her to ski.
For five Sundays this winter, I packed Kayla’s bag and skis and we made our way to Sugarbush for her morning ski lesson. Kayla had tried skiing a bit last year and had taken to it so this winter I booked five ski lessons through Vermont Sports and Adaptive. Consequently for five Sundays, we would meet up with Shasta from Vermont Adaptive outside the Skinny Pancake at Lincoln Peak to begin Kayla’s lesson. Kayla made a great connection with Shasta last year after a couple of lessons so we requested her for this year.
Shasta was bravely determined to teach Kayla how to ski without any adaptive equipment this year but recognized some of obstacles the Kayla faced. In particular, she and other instructors noticed that Kayla fatigues very easily when on skis and frequently could not complete more than three or four runs. Shasta and Vermont Adaptive minimized this impediment by assigning another assistant, Patrick, to help Kayla by pulling her to the lifts on a sled that Shasta brought. The sled preserved a considerable amount of energy for Kayla, enabling her to get in more “runs” and learning. Shasta also recognized Kayla’s need for structure and developed a clear plan and schedule specifically for Kayla and would tell her it at the start of each lesson. This communication helped calm Kayla and allowed her to focus during her lessons.
Kayla’s progress over the five weeks was incredible. To begin the season Kayla had difficulty just standing on her ski’s without support. Switching to shorter skis helped her with her balance and by the third lesson she actually had her maiden voyage on the chair lift! Granted she couldn’t ski without major assistance but she sure loved riding the chair lift. Of course, her lack of stamina was particular evident when she took the chair lift as she had difficulty making it down the long mountain trails. Shasta would piggy back her down the mountain when Kayla’s strength gave out. Lessons four and five were all about the small magic carpet and actually skiing independently! Kayla still need to work on the turns but she finally has the balance down! She probably will never compete in the Olympics but then again, neither do most of us. She can, however, enjoy skiing and be very proud of her accomplishments.
Thank you Vermont Adaptive and a special thank you to Shasta and Patrick. You both were patient, flexible, creative, and so outgoing with Kayla. She made an incredible connection with the both of you and is already talking about skiing next year!