CP Strong Community Stories: Meridith: Part Two
Read Part One of Meridith’s Blog
…I was immediately focused and, for the first time in my life, actually willing to get into a gym and truly work on my physical abilities. Before this, I never liked going to PT, but having a competitive athletic goal was exactly what I needed. Illinois has a phenomenal adaptive athletics program. The first trainer I worked with there not only pushed me to see what I was really capable of, but also became one of my closest friends. She set the tone for me that PT did not have to be medically based, but it could be based on sports specific benchmarks. She never expected anything less of me than the able-bodied athletes she worked with. I have continued to carry that with me, and I will now selectively find trainers who will never take it easy on me and constantly hold me to a high standard. I have also added in adaptive CrossFit to push myself even further. I would say the majority of my training centers around strength, balance, and reaction time. Throughout this process, I have learned to trust my coaches and training staff I choose to surround myself with. I have found some of them in places I would not have expected, and our bonds are all extremely special. One of the most important things I have learned is to let my trainers deal with the medical side of what my CP means for my body as an athlete. The best thing I can do is follow their lead, knowing that they have the knowledge to do their part and my best interest in mind. This is what lets me really see myself as an athlete and put the CP to the side. I find this is a huge part of what has allowed me to succeed!
Meridith working hard in the gym at the University of Illinois
My first SkiSpec was in 2013 and I have grown so much since then. When I first started skiing, I could barely hold my head in a turn. Now, I can control my bi-ski and initiate my own turns without outriggers. What this means is that I ski sitting down, with a coach behind me on tether straps. The coach is essentially serving as a starter and emergency brake at this point, since I am able to use my body to initiate the weight shifts necessary to control the ski.
The outriggers refer to little skis on the side that I used to use to help prevent me from tipping over. I now have enough balance control that I do not rely on them, and this allows me to be able to make even sharper turns, which is great for racing! I look forward to the race at SkiSpec every year, since it is the only one I have found that is sanctioned and will allow me to compete, without the all too familiar disability sport trend that everyone gets a medal. The training is rigorous, which always pushes me to get better and create bonds with my teammates. The majority of them do not have CP and there are a lot of athletes with acquired injuries. I believe this has helped me to connect with them, because we share a deep understanding of the sport, a commitment to it, and a competitive drive. I have had the honor to work with and learn from some of the best in the world in the adaptive skiing realm. They continue to shape me and force me to see even higher possibilities for myself.
The best moments of SkiSpec for me have always been zoning in and just listening to my coach’s voice in the racecourse, and then crossing the line and immediately sharing that moment with the closest people to me, no matter how physically close or far away they are at the time!
Meredith during a SkiSpec Race
Currently, there is not a sanctioned competition division for tethered bi-skiing. My biggest goal is to be a part of creating this and show that athletes who ski the way I do can be in control of their own performance, just like other athletes, both with and without physical disabilities. The best advice I can give to anyone interested in pursuing adaptive sports would be to set a goal and surround yourself with the people who will help you achieve it. Not everyone is going to believe you can do it, but that can be a fuel to push you even further. Just because you may have a physical disability does not make you any less capable or understanding of what it takes to pursue greatness in your sport. At the same time, it will not be handed to you. You have to work for it and be willing to make sacrifices.
For me, I prioritize my training year-round and always surround myself with people who believe I can succeed, even when I might not believe in myself. I have found that having a filter of who these close people are has been a key in allowing me to maintain my focus both on and off the mountain. It is this group around me and our collective dedication that has given me my successes, and I cannot wait to see where we will go from here. From what is known as a “Hole in the Woods” at Double H, to the Colorado Rockies, skiing has given me the greatest journey, people, and memories of my life!
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