Re: [Paddlewise] Older Paddlers

From: <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com>


> Natalie's post brought back a (non-paddling) memory.
> 
> When I was in college and escorted rail tours of "the Scenic West" that were 
> [...]
> She responded that things had never been exactly right in the 25 
> years since she'd lost everything from just above her right knee in a bad 
> skiing accident.  Then, and for more than 35 years, I've wondered about a 
> suitable response to that statement.
> 
> It isn't age --- it's attitude.

My non-paddling memory is two days old.  Another oldster giving a 47 year 
old youngster a run (well, ski) for his money.

Amie brought a family from her running club, the Achilles Track Club, to
cross-country ski with us.  Achilles is a club for disabled athletes and 
Amie is a seeing-eye runner in marathons and other runs (three marathons
in 2000.  She also works with wheelchair athletes and one autistic man.)

This family, mom, dad and daughter, are blind.  Mom - 100%, dad and
daughter 10% vision in one eye.   Olga (mom) is pushing 60.  Amie was 
dropped after one kilometer.  She yelled at me to take over.  I had to guide 
Olga around the 12 kilometers of trail.  Up and down, around turns and past
other skiers.  Panting (me) all the way.  I was near my limit the whole time.

Olga barely speaks English.  One word she doesn't understand is "slow".
I had to chase her down hills, keeping my hand on her arm to lead her,
in a partial tuck, around the turns.  When I suggested she snowplow to
slow down, she said "nyet!."   

If the average Canadian 20 year old could ski with the gusto she had, we
wouldn't be worried about health care costs.  This woman - blind! - skied
down hills without abandon, down hills that scare lots of skiers with sight.

Attitude?  You bet!  An attitude we should all strive for!

Mike

PS - Olga has been a gold medal paralympic skier in the past!

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