Friday, August 10, 2012

Our Future Olympians

In February, Tru was invited to participate in an adaptive ski program. He was unfamiliar with the sport. However, we want him to experience everything he can.  So, we took off to the slopes with the intention of spending one day there. While Tru prepared for his lesson, Dallas and Lin-Ley went snow tubing. The volunteers decked out Tru with one ski boot, one ski, a helmet and two outriggers (poles with skis on them). The object of Tru's adaptive skiing is that he would ski with his good leg and either take off his prosthetic leg (he would never agree to that!) or simply keep his prosthetic leg off of the snow.

Tru loved skiing from the moment we arrived! He did not always keep his prosthetic leg up as he was instructed. He informed us that he needed to keep it down so that he had brakes if he started going too fast.
Love this picture! Getting a little pep talk.
Photo op!
Once he got the hang of things, Tru could not contain his smiles!
And that was a wrap with a snow angel finale.

When we told Tru we were heading home he began to cry. The director of the adaptive ski clinic offered to give Tru additional lessons the next day if we could stay.

So....
Day 2.

They also gave Lin-Ley a private lesson. So, she gladly got into the action.
Tru donned his gear and was back on the slopes. Smiles and all.
After a few minutes on the beginners' slope, one ride up the magic carpet, and no problems skiing back down....
Tru was on the big slope for a practice run.
Then, before I knew it, he was waving good-bye from the ski lift.
One happy (and sweaty) guy!
We were told Lin-Ley was a natural.
The dude of the hour and his crew.
Two happy kids!

Time to go home.
Tru sobbed the whole afternoon we left.   He wanted to sell our house and move closer to the ski slopes.

Dallas and I had already agreed that if the kids loved skiing that much that we would bring them skiing more often.  Unfortunately, God had other plans.  Most of the snow melted the two days we were there and He did not send any more for the remainder of the winter....

Guess we know where we will be returning this winter!

A special thank you to everyone at Two Top Mountain Adaptive Sports Foundation!