Keep Flying

The R.I.P. post below is a tribute to Asher Crank who was a freeride skier for the Academy. I have known him since he was a little ski racer for the club I started coaching for in 1998. He died skiing. His life revolved around skiing, friends, and family. There is no accounting why such a young and good person should be taken from us so young, but there is a bit of relief, for me, knowing that he was surrounded by people who loved him his whole life - to the second he left us - and that he died doing what he lived for. That is not ironic to me.

The post below the R.I.P. was about another kid and another traumatic crash. Tyler is on the mend and doing very well. "For Granted" was the title of the Tyler blog and it wasn't until Asher passed that I was given a whole new insight into taking things for granted. I love Asher - did even when he was an obnoxious little squirt in a Spyder suit. I was responsible for training him in the fall, making sure was as physically fit as possible going into a rigerous winter schedule. Being so close to this kid, knowing him, his parents, and his friends, it was another shot to the gut to realize what an impact this young man had on all of us. He had to be forcibly removed from my life for me to see him for what he was. Beyond the frustrations of typical teen-adult worlds, Asher was a smiling face, big laugh, strong, and loving presence.

How can I (you, anyone) stay focused on appreciating everyone and everything? The confusion of losing Asher has been a keen reminder that I can only control so much in my life. I want to be more understanding and kind to the people I am intertwined with. Hugging Kai feels better than it did before Asher died, and I thought it was the best thing I have known before. There have been a lot of lapsed judgements with kids at the school regarding alcohol and marijuana use this week, something that eats away at me. I don't want to be judgemental towards these indescretions, rather let the cards fall as they may through the disciplinary process and give the kids understanding and empathy. I want them to take their consequences head on and try to understand what they have done, but I want to be a steady presence rather than an emotional well-up that makes these scenarios harder to deal with and understand.

My last interaction with Asher was when the snowboard and freeride teams were in the tuning room gearing up to leave for Copper. We were working out the finances - something he had not thought about until the last minute. I assured him that we were cool and would be fine, then sent him on his way with a pat on the back. He knew we were cool. Asher was going to stay in Copper after the snowboard team returned. He was going to enter his first contest at the professional level. He had planned and worked to get himself into this position for many years. Asher had been calculated, progressively working towards his goal to become a pro skier and then taking over his mom's ski shop. He was on his way.

On Saturday 1/20, there was a community celebration of Ahser's life. It was a gathering of nearly a thousand people - nearly half the population of the town. Stephanie and Kibber, Asher's parents, were so gracious and beautiful in the face of this tragedy. It makes me proud and grateful to be a part of a community that values everything Asher was about. The ceremony was bittersweet, full of tears, and earnest words about a good person.

Kibber, who I do not know very well, looked into the group of CBA kids that Asher surrounded himself with, and stated clearly what I am sure Asher would have expressed if he was able, "You have to keep flying. Just keep on flying." So we packed our gear directly after the ceremony and went back over to Copper and flew through the boardercross course. Two of Asher's best friends, Tucker on a snowboard and Josh on skis, took gold medals in heated racing. Just the way Asher would have had it.