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 

continued on page 30

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.

