I’m a solo dad to three awesome teenage girls. And as I’ve watched each of them soar — literally, up in the air, twisting and turning above snow-capped mountains — I’ve felt no fear for them. Because I know the steps they took to get there, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
My youngest, now 14, is so advanced that she’s up against girls older than her. Only a handful of girls in the country can do what’s called a Cork 7 on snow, and she’s the youngest. Remember the name Ava Keenan. She’s committed to becoming the first Black skier to win an Olympic gold medal.
I love skiing, and it’s been a race to see who can ski better than dad. I hate to admit it, but in the moguls, navigating big bumps on a steep slope, Ava’s got me. The other two are still trying.
Conquer your fears
All three — Kenna, Elle, and Ava — learned to ski freestyle and flip in the air. Elle and Ava do moguls; Kenna does park and pipe, with an emphasis on the halfpipe. She gets a good 8 to 10 feet out of the pipe. I can’t describe to you how scary that is — at first.
That’s a big part of what I love about their adventures in skiing. To achieve what they’ve done, they’ve had to face fears and overcome them.
People learn lessons from all kinds of sports. But most other sports don’t really involve fear. You learn discipline, hard work, and other skills, sure. But there’s little to be actually afraid of. Freestyle skiing is different. There is a lot to be afraid of.
I saw this clearly when Kenna was learning to ski rails, and worked her way up to doing jumps 20 to 30 feet high. It’s frightening at first. But the exhilaration and sense of accomplishment beat out the fear.
Accidents do happen of course. Once, another skier cut in front of her as she was coming in switch, which means skiing backwards while keeping your body facing forward. He clipped her skis, sending Kenna flying backwards into the face of the jump, splitting her helmet almost in half. She suffered a rather serious concussion, but the helmet did protect her from a more serious head injury. She recovered quickly, and did not want to give up.
Trust the process
People who see their air acrobatics sometimes ask me whether I’m afraid for their safety when I watch them. Without hesitation, the answer is no. There’s good reason for that: I know the process that got them there. So I know what they’re prepared for and can handle.
I know the hours they spent learning to do all these things on trampolines. Then pits. Then water ramps. Along the way, they fell, but learned to handle the spills safely. They’ve also had great coaches who know when they’re ready for the next step.
What might look to other people like a wild, daring risk, is to me a stage in their progression, the result of a ton of practice, determination, and courage. The kind of courage that’s earned through experience. Courage backed up by legitimate confidence.
As their dad, I want them to take all that into the challenges they face in the future.
Budding entrepreneurship
There’s also another aspect of this that I love for them. Ultimately, skiing is a solo venture. There’s important teamwork along the way, in learning, supporting fellow skiers, and representing a group that you compete as a part of. But when you’re on the slopes, it’s all up to you.
As an entrepreneur myself focused on sales growth, I want my daughters to carry that spirit of individuality into their futures, knowing that they can become entrepreneurs as well. I want them to have enough faith in themselves and their abilities to pursue their goals. They’re racing ahead on that front, too. Ava launched her own business, Kosak, selling ski apparel, and my middle, Elle, is launching a clothing line for women with long legs. (She’s 5’10” with a 34-inch inseam and can never find pants that fit.)
Kenna will soon head off to college. It won’t be long before Elle and Ava reach adulthood too. And sure, just like any parent, I have worries. But I keep in mind what they’ve already accomplished. I know that they’ve got what it takes to reach the heights they aspire to and land on their feet — or, if they fall, pick themselves up and keep going. As their dad, that’s what I want for them. And I couldn’t be prouder. They’re prepared!
Images courtesy of author
