28 | JULY 6 • 2023
S
ol and Eli Cogan are
big mountain skiers.
They embrace
extreme skiing on off-piste
terrain, meaning terrain that
has not been prepared for
skiing.
“Typically, that means
starting at the top of a
mountain, and enduring
slopes with more than a
45-degree pitch that include
cliffs, crevasses and other
natural conditions that
most people would find
treacherous,” Sol said.
“It’s the way nature
created the run. The great
frontier. Out of bounds. Back
country.”
Sol and his son Eli have
gone snowcat and heli-skiing
(skiers take a snowcat that’s
normally used to groom ski
runs or a helicopter instead
of a ski lift to the top of a
mountain) and conquered
Corbet’s Couloir at the
Jackson Hole Mountain
Resort in Wyoming.
Corbet’s Couloir has been
called “America’s scariest
ski slope.” One reason is the
entrance. It’s a steep, narrow
chute that drops nearly 30
feet straight down.
Sol and Eli were at the top
of Corbet’s Couloir a few
months ago. They watched
several skiers decide not to
tackle the slope and leave.
Other skiers just watched
those fearless enough to take
the plunge.
Eli decided to try it.
“I didn’t have any
alternative but to follow,”
Sol said. “It was a rush of a
lifetime for both of us and
the best part is Eli skied it
better than I did.
“We’ve had an incredible
season. I crossed three things
off my bucket list: snowcat
and heli-skiing and Corbet’s.
And I did all that with my
9-year-old son. What could
be more special than that?”
Whoa! His 9-year-old
son? Yep. Young Eli is a big
mountain skier who recently
finished third grade at Lone
Pine Elementary School in
West Bloomfield Township.
“I couldn’t be prouder of
Eli,” Sol said. “I’ve been an
avid skier most of my life. Eli
has pushed me beyond what
I thought were my limits.
He’s smart beyond his years.
He’s an old soul.”
“Old? I’m not old,” Eli said
incredulously after hearing
what his father said about
him.
Sol quickly explained that
being called an old soul is a
compliment. By definition, it
refers to a young person who
demonstrates a maturity,
understanding or seriousness
typical of someone much
older.
Armed with that
knowledge, Eli resumed
being interviewed and said
he loves skiing because
there’s always something new
to do.
Eli has done a lot on the
slopes for someone whose
age hasn’t hit double digits.
He began skiing just after
he could walk. He’s already
accomplished what many
adult skiers normally do, he’s
been a regular visitor to the
slopes in Park City, Utah,
STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Ski Do
Meet 9-year-old Eli Cogan,
who conquered ‘America’s
scariest ski slope.’
SPORTS
ON THE COVER
Eli Cogan soars
during a ski
camp on Mt.
Hood in Oregon.
SOL COGAN