ALEXANDER ASAWA - Super Success Story!

My husband and I are avid skiers and had hoped that someday we would be able to ski together as a family. Because of the challenges with sensory integration disorder, skiing was extremely difficult for our son. Everything about skiing seemed to trigger his condition. After last year when we attempted to have him take a group ski lesson, we had all but given up on the dream of skiing together as a family. The lesson was a disaster and left him completely insecure about his ability to ski and depleted of his self-esteem. He was sad that he could not keep up with the class and was scared to make new friends and try new trails on the mountain. After we picked him up at lunch completely in tears, he declared that he would never take another ski lesson, ever!

Around the time when we were making plans for our first ski trip this year, I spoke with a friend from his elementary school. We share a love of skiing and she told me about the Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra program at Mammoth Mountain. After perusing the website, I decided to call and see if it would be possible for Alexander to have a lesson. Because of his declaration at the end of last year, I knew this was going to be a challenge but I was not willing to give up on my son being able to ski and for us to ski together as a family. Your kind staff patiently explained all elements of the program and I was able to convey to Alexander how they understand his special needs and that it would not be at all similar to the group lesson experience. He finally was willing to give it a try. I was excited and felt hopeful that this might be the very experience that he needed to restore his enthusiasm for skiing and his self-esteem as a skier.

As we drove up to Mammoth Mountain, January 2nd we headed right into the tail end of a huge snow storm that dumped a record amount of snow in 48 hours. Many of the lifts were closed, including Discovery Chair which was the only lift that Alexander felt marginally comfortable riding due to his experience in the group lesson last year. When we met the instructors Peggy Chew and Joe Hatch, I had no idea if he was even going to be able to ski that day. Fortunately, the Thunder Bound chair lift was open and we were able to go up on that chair with great difficulty. In fact, Alexander had tears in his eyes the entire ride up the mountain. He was terrified to ski in this unfamiliar part of the mountain. He grabbed me and clung to me for dear life. It was only after some quick thinking on Peggy's part that he agreed to go down the slope behind Joe holding on to him in tandem. Peggy and Joe were able to work with Alexander to help him to feel comfortable using a harness and a pole to assist him in the process. We have so much appreciation for the wonderful efforts by Peggy and Joe.

It was a quite literally a miracle to see Alexander make such remarkable progress from holding onto Joe to skiing independently in only three days. Alexander was able to restore his excitement for skiing and his desire to continue to learn to ski. The first two days Alexander would not let me leave his side as he progressed from tandem skiing to just the harness to skiing independently. On the last day I was able to bring him to the lesson and he was completely comfortable in skiing with Joe without any fears. This is a tribute to Joe's natural ability to work with children and specifically with children who have special needs. He has been instrumental in helping Alexander overcome his fears and become the skier he was born to be. Alexander is now able to enjoy the freedom and fun of skiing with the joy and exuberance that my husband and I share. We owe this all to your program and skilled instructors. We sincerely thank you and your wonderful staff. We look forward to many more years of working with you and your program.

Kind regards,
Paige Asawa