Day 3 Second GS Nationals

Lasse Eriksson, Ray Watkins, and Kevin Jardine - Coaches of the US and Canadian Para Alpine Ski Teams.

"A coach is someone who tells you what you don't want to hear, who has you see what you don't want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be." - Tom Landry
My first coaches were instructors from @recunlimited @bogusbasin who took me to my first race, the Idaho First Security Games @brundagemtn. They also encouraged me to race the #dottyclark @bogusbasin and believed in me long before I did.
My first competitive coach was @julieminahan with the @nationalabilitycenter. Julie was an incredible coach that taught me work ethic, what it truly means to be a strong woman and how to MAKE my dreams come true!
Then I made the US Adaptive Ski Team in 2001 and the Paralympic ski team in 2002 and these guys pictured became life long coaches and friends.
I asked Coach, @kevinjaspen @usparaalpineski why Paralympic athletes? This was a while back, but it really stuck with me. He said something to the effect, 'There really isn't much of a difference between able bodied racing (AB) and what you do. I coach you the same way I would an AB. I really don't see the difference other than equipment and what you've been through. It's ski racing.' I love that answer. It's really stuck with me through the years. "It's ski racing." That's it! That's all it is! Simple!
It's been fun for me to do a bit of coaching myself and work with young kiddo's and also veterans, who are looking for that outlet to freedom and transportation to explore their true potential. Coaching ski racing allows for exponential growth without throwing someone down a tree run and saying, 'Good luck! Try avoiding trees!' Instead, as a coach, you get to witness the 'ah ha!' moments regularly and then watch that athlete go from having very little confidence on a green run, to a fierce ripper on a black diamond! This is a taste of the thrill I imagine these top level coaches get when they watch their athletes race down the mountain.
DAY 3: Won my second Bronze medal in giant slalom! Maybe this old tiger still has her racing stripes! Great hugs and thanks to @ray_watkinsx @lassetheswede @kevinjaspen and @usparaalpineski also @mountainhardwear @smithoptics @pocsports for the sweet gear!