JULY 6 • 2023 | 29
and he’s attended ski school
since he was 3.
He started ski racing
when he was 8 and has
qualified for the NASTAR
ski racing program national
championships two years
in a row, earning gold and
silver medals in giant slalom
and slalom.
While he loves ski
racing, Eli’s big passion is
big mountain skiing now
that he’s had a chance to
experience it.
So how has Eli been able
to do so much as a skier at
such a young age? Two of his
longtime coaches think they
know.
Joseph Esch is an
instructor at the Park City
Ski & Snowboard School.
“When people face a new
or stressful situation, they
tend to shut down and go
into a defensive mode,” he
said.
“When it comes to skiing,
that happens when adults
worry about getting hurt.
But children usually don’t
use rational thinking.
“Eli doesn’t let that
happen. He takes a second
to remember what he
has practiced, what he is
supposed to do. He puts
his bravado into action. He
backs up what he says he’s
going to do.”
Ron Lunan has been a
ski coach and instructor for
55 years. He’s worked with
members of the U.S. Ski
Team. He’s giving back to the
sport these days, working
with skiers on a voluntary
basis at the Park City
Mountain Resort.
Lunan said Eli’s secret to
success on the slopes is he’s
a natural athlete who has
a great ability to learn and
comprehend.
“He knows how to listen
to instruction and have a
conversation with you,”
Lunan said. “He takes
everything in. He devours it.
That’s so important because
when you think about it,
skiing is something we aren’t
supposed to do. And it’s a
constant state of correction.
“Eli is a great kid and a
perfect example of what
happens when love, passion,
ambition and good old
fashioned hard work are
put together. Anything can
be conceived, believed and
achieved. I hope I’m around
when Eli is skiing for the
U.S. in the Olympics.”
Back home, Eli has made
quite an impression on Mary
Hillberry, the principal at
Lone Pine, after attending
preschool at Hillel Day
School in Farmington Hills.
Eli thinks he’s friendly and
funny. Hillberry agrees.
“He’s extraverted,
confident, charming and
engaging,” she said. “And he
has drive, determination and
positive energy.”
Hillberry saw all those
attributes on display when Eli
served as principal for a day
during all four of his years at
Lone Pine because he raised
the most money each year for
the school PTO’s fundraising
fall fun run. Eli raised more
than $4,000 combined,
mostly hitting up his father’s
friends for donations.
“Eli wore a suit when
he was the principal for a
day. He was dressed to the
nines,” Hillberry said. “Most
students who are principal
for a day hover around me
and want directions. Not Eli.
He didn’t just grab a key fob
and walkie talkie. He took
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Eli and Sol Cogan at Highland
Peak (12,392 feet above sea
level) in Aspen, Colorado. It takes
about 45 minutes to hike the 782
vertical feet to get there.