 |
| Zane Ashford, 15 rocking the slopes and a ski patroller.... |
Okay this is a two-part post. But it has one big message: Support
your
ski patrol. Platty’s is all-volunteer. They not only work for free, they
pay for all their own supplies too. That includes: bandages, splints, sleds,
oxygen…. So next time you see them pull someone down the hill on a sled and
think but for the grace of god… make sure you also give to them. (Okay, even if
you don’t think that might one day be you on the sled). And, one easy way to do
it is coming up this and next weekend. This weekend the ski patrol will be
selling raffle tickets to raise money and next weekend will be the raffle as
well as the annual ski patrol BBQ dinner with live music and the raffle
drawing. The prizes are good: everything from a dual suspension mountain bike
(retail value $1600) to two pair of Rossi skis – one men’s, one women’s with
bindings, an Xbox with Kinect and more). The raffle is a bargain to boot. One
ticket for a dollar and a book 6 for $5.
While you’re supporting the ski patrol today, think too
about the ski patroller of the future. (Remember I told you this is a two-fer).
Zane Ashford, 15, she bubbly with blond hair and blue eyes – and good natured
to boot. Also, a fully qualified member of the national ski patrol. We met when
I rode the lift with her dad Bim, head of the Platty ski patrol. And like any
doting dad he told me about young Zane becoming a patroller at 14. She started studying
for it when she was 13… While she can’t actually work at Platty (too young),
her story is inspiring.
She grew up seeing her dad patrolling and has always wanted
to be one herself. In fact it was partly her dad and partly getting pneumonia and
being hospitalized for it when she was young. Ever since, she has wanted to
become a doctor and help others. Being a patroller is part of this plan. When I
asked her what the hardest part of it was, she didn’t say, skiing down steeps
with a sled, or helping someone with a concussion puking up their guts, no, she
said confidence. Surrounded by all the adults wanting to become patrollers, she
didn’t think she knew what to do, but then found she did and that “98% of the
time I was right, but I was shy.”
When I ask when she wants to study in college, she sweetly
laughs that she doesn’t know. Not yet. Ah, youth. This is the moment where I’d
say it’s wasted on them, but looking at Zane, she seems to be doing all the
right things.
 |
| Proud pops... Now support the ski patrol |
