In the 2011 Nature Valley NASTAR Championships, Fossil Ridge High School freshman Cole Glaser achieved the title of 13th in the nation for ski racing. After the greatest triumph in his short-lived ski racing career, Cole faced many setbacks involving a detrimental meniscus tear; one that still haunts him to this day
By Kierra Vaughan
Nov. 11, 2012
It all began with a small pair of skis, fresh Colorado powder, and 3-year-old Cole Glaser. Though he is now 14, he still remembers his first ski trip to Copper Mountain,Colo.”I hated it,” Cole said.
Though passion wasn’t immediately invoked, skiing is now the most important aspect in Cole’s life, and has been for several years. “I love the freedom and the joy of being out there. Skiing is really hard to explain, it just gives you a feeling of greatness,” Cole said.
During his years of recreational skiing—which spanned from three to ten years old—Cole improved quickly and drastically. He never even took a single lesson during this time, mainly because his dad, Joe Glaser, taught him everything he needed to know. Therefore, Cole’s father has been his biggest influence, who has had a successful career in the sport himself. “I skied my first black run at seven years old,” Cole said.
When Cole suddenly decided to give racing a try, his father supported him wholeheartedly.”[My dad] always wanted me to ski. It was purely out of coincidence that I wanted to try ski racing. He was so excited that the very next day I had all the gear I needed,” Cole said.
Cole began racing in 2008, at age 10. “I didn’t even try. I only got two lessons because my dad wanted me to,” Cole said.
Therefore, when Cole qualified for the 2011 Nastar National Championships and placed 13th, he had merely two years of racing experience under his belt.
According to skyhidailynews.com, “NASTAR is the largest recreational ski and snowboard race program in the nation.” The article states that in the 2011 championships, more than 95,000 skiers competed season-long on their local hills to qualify for the competition, and only 1,200 across the nation qualified and were able to compete.
After the most proud moment in his racing career, Cole injured his knee while ski training. “I jumped off the supporters to a bridge onto an uneven rocky surface,” he explained. He was practicing some tricks. After the initial tear, Cole and his friend biked eight miles back to his house. Each time his knee bent, the meniscus tore further.
By the time Cole went to the doctor two weeks later, there was a tear more than an inch long. He went into surgery four weeks after the initial injury. “They fixed it with seven stitches and trimmed a few other things out of my knee,” Cole said. He was on crutches for several months and went to extensive physical therapy. Though doctors predicted that his knee should be back to normal at this point, Cole still struggles with constant pain.
“Every time my knee pops, it tears. I can’t go up the stairs without that happening. It hurts twenty four seven… the pain makes it hard to focus,” said Cole, “and I’m an extremely active person so it takes away from that.” Though he is able to deal with the physical pain, Cole is especially upset that the surgery is cutting into ski time for this upcoming season.
Instead, Cole has decided to focus on a different aspect of the sport. “I decided to set down the skinny skis to migrate to fatter skis. By doing that I am able to ski terrain accessible by helicopters only,” Cole explained.
Although Cole is giving up racing, skiing will continue to be a huge part of his life. “I stopped because I found it boring to be stuck in a designated path. I think it’s more fun to choose which way I want to go,” Cole said.
Always giving himself a high bar to aim for, Cole is already training for another competition. He wants to participate in the Red Bull Cold Rush, which has three categories: big mountain, freestyle, and cliffs.
Cole feels that no matter what turns his life takes in the future, this sport will always be a part of his life.”Skiing is a progressive sport,” Cole said. “I envision getting better until I am too old to ski.”
Editor’s Note: Kierra Vaughan is a freshman in Mrs. Marcello’s Journalism I class.
