My parents were on the patrol at Jay before I came along. She was the only woman on the patrol at the time. My grandparents retired and built a house in the area the year I was born, so we were there every weekend. Pass at 5 y.o., they taught me to ski. T-bar, all day long. I remember being in line for the Bonnie (center pole double) for my first chair ride. I saw the chairs go into the barn and come back out looking like they were really hauling ass. Somebody up front had the liftie, probably Mountain Dick, slow the lift down so they could get on. I asked my dad if they would do the same. He said, "you get on it at full speed or you don't get on."
Racing at age 7. My family didn't have a lot of money; you could tell by the way I was outfitted. Parents split at 10, moved to Jay full time at 13. Worked summers (lawns) and winters (shoveling) for cash for ski gear and a pass. Damn, was I proud of those 203 cm Atomic GS "red sleds" I bought.
Last year in college I was on the ski team, taught every weekend through college. Skied 75 days that year. Taught out west for 4 more. Moved back east, skied 1 day a year most years for 20 years. Then things in life change. Back at it.
I credit my parents and grandparents for looking for opportunities. Always the most modest house (or apt. for us) in the nicest area type of thinking. Skiing is expensive, but there are ways to make it happen.
