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- 12 Year-Old Blind Skier Shreds the ‘Big Couloir’ Completely by Feel
By Barclay Idsal • Updated on 12/28/2020
12 Year-Old Blind Skier Shreds the ‘Big Couloir’ Completely by Feel
Like his life's journey, Jacob Smith's road to the bottom of Big Sky Resort's Big Couloir has been far from simple. At the age of eight, Jacob's parents began to notice that their son's eyesight was deteriorating.
Related: Ski.com's Guide To Big Sky Resort's Triple Black Diamonds
Upon further inspection, an eye doctor noticed his optic nerve was bleeding, and later, a team of medical experts confirmed that he had a meningioma or a brain tumor that required immediate removal. After surgery, Jacob kept his head up and despite being legally blind, continues to ski with his family. With them as loyal guides, Jacob made his dream of skiing the Big Couloir a reality.
*Video courtesy of Big Sky Resort
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Barclay Idsal
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