Top Of The World With Tom

I know that there are those who where lucky enough to go into the backcountry with Tom, as his alpine (non AT set up) friend and someone who listened to his stories every week, it was something I always dreamed of. I even switched over to Tele's last year after Tom moved to Homer, just so that I could one day be good enough to "live the dream" of knee dippen in the backcountry with my favorite tree hugger "smile"....He always wanted me to make the switch from the dark side, said that he thought I would be a natural. Little did he know, I spent 90% of my time face planting in the powder last year..I figured I could make all my mistakes without him around and that this season I would just be able to meet him on "the pass" and rip it Tele' style out in the backcountry. Honestly, I know Tom and I know he would have been great and supportive if I did head out with him and trigger every avalanche by flipping over my ski tips, but there is something about ripping down a mountain right next to him that I lived for.
My favorite memory of this happened at the resort (before my Tele' converstion). The resort had opened the top face above "High Travers" (sorry Alyeskers, the name escapes me) basically allowing you to ski from the tippy top of the mountain, a 30 rythemic turned, scary pitch that powder fever skiers droll over all season.. The only way up, a boot packing, single lined, ski/snowboad toaten feista. The killer, twas only going to be opened for a few hours and only this one day. Roomers had started the night before but they were told by way too buzzed bar flies at the Sitz (apre ski bar at the base of chair 3). I was hanging out at Challenge, talking with Tom when the word came in, the roomers were true. At that very moment, the powers that be had just opened up a space in time to allow Tom to take a few runs..he looked at me with a smile and said "Let's hit it".. As we rode the chair you could see the line of snow thirsty ants making their way to the top in the fasion of what looked to us like the "Chilkoot Trail", a few min, and a sketch travers later, Tom and I were apart of this almost verticle march to the top. He, being Mr. Backcountry, made it to the top in enough time ahead of me to take in the view, laugh with some friends who were also up there, and be rearing to go (honestly it was only about 3 min) "smile". -that was Tom. Rubber legged but definetly ontop of the world (both physically and emotionally-I was in an amazing place with an amazing friend). I wanted to stay up there forever (wanted the moment to last) but we didn't climb it to make it our new home and I could see Tom was itchen to surf the verticle sea of white that hed been drooling over while waiting for me...I looked down and felt something between my heart skipping a beat in excitement and my stomach tightning in fear, I looked up at Tom and he had the biggest smile on his face..one of those "This is AWESOME,Let's do it!" smiles. At that moment I knew that even with my girgling stomach and rubbery legs, it was "all good" It was evident in a fash of a smile that moments like these are what make life worth living. I put my goggles down and we both jumped in together...screaming, giggling (maybe the giggling was just me), and making turns in waist deep powder side by side.. It wasn't the backcountry but it is what I had with him..Skiing with Tom down that face will be forever one of my life's "BESTS". It was such a monumetal event, I wouldn't be surprised that with every turn, we made a child smile in Africa or disrupted/corrupted the ever present E=MC2. "smile"

If you liked this story and have your own Tom story, please post it, the stories mean so much to all of us.

Tom Memories from Santa Cruz

Lindsey this is the man we knew, your father tearing down the hill from the university on his bicycle, grabbing his surfboard and heading for the last waves of the day. (We never saw him drive a car. His bike was like another appendage) Dad working in our backyard pulling weeds, mowing our lawn and generally telling us the yard needed an overhaul and his father would be shocked at the state of the plants. He would work hard in that yard for a few dollars and a couple of good home-cooked meals and a lot of laughs. And laugh and talk we did! He was smart and fun and attacked life with such enthusiasm and humor. We never saw him without a smile and he always gave the best hugs.

When my daughter, Sarah, was having a “blue” day he showed up with a bouquet of blue daisies. How sweet is that! Our daughter, Nissa, worked at Nelson and Plumlee Flowers in Santa Cruz with your Dad. The two of them and the rest of the flower crew shared many happy hours together. Nissa married and moved to northern Idaho but she and your Dad would try to talk once a year to keep the friendship connection in spite of busy lives and distance between them. Nissa considered your Dad one of her best friends. That was the kind of man he was. Once a friend always a friend.

The last time Rick and I saw your Dad was early after the move to Alaska, before you were born. He and your mom were living in Girdwood and they fixed us dinner. The place they were staying had a covered porch around part of it and I remember the excitement in your Dad’s eyes as he told of the bear visits on the porch. He had such respect and love for the natural world and for humanity. He was a man who lived a whole lifetime in his 38 years. He just got up every morning and said “Hello world! What have you got for me today?” He was a good man, a very good man!

Rick and Cindy Morley, Sarah Nightingale, and Nissa Bombino

Kicking Pebbles

Tom’s mom, Jane, and I thank all of you who have contributed your tributes and stories about Tom to this website. We knew what a great guy he was and of some of his work. But, now, through letters, emails and messages on this website, we are learning so much more about our son that we didn’t really know – about all the great things he accomplished and the many lives he touched and influenced. We would like to hear more, especially from those of you who may be reluctant to speak out, to tell us your stories and experiences with Tom.

One day recently I kicked some pebbles off an asphalt path so that no one would trip on them. It reminded me of something our family always tried to do – to leave a place better than when we found it, even in small ways like kicking pebbles off a walk.

Tom’s life epitomizes this ideal. He left the world a better place for so many people that he touched: the kids at Challenge whose lives were changed by his encouragement and who learned to ski by his good natured teaching and patience; the native “bush” kids out in western Alaska who learned to ski behind him on a snowmobile and later on the slopes of Alyeska above Challenge; the fishing guides at Royal Wolf Lodge whose lives were enriched and uplifted by his determination to have fun; the many men and women at Royal Wolf whose experiences with Tom as their guide became “once in a lifetime” memories; and all of his many friends who were uplifted by his unique humor, insight and inspiration.

Tom kicked a lot of pebbles to pave the way for a brighter life for so many of us.

Russ Beatty

"Beats Sitting On The Couch!"

(Photo; Tom and Challenge client, child NOT connected to letter)

TURNING LIMITATIONS INTO POSSIBILITIES

Excerpts from a Letter to the Editor of the Turnagain Times in May, 2006

I skied with my family today. It's not possible to express how amazing that is. I skied with all my family. Not that remarkable unless you consider that my oldest daughter is severely disabled and must use a bi-ski. All of this is possible because of the folks at Challenge Alaska, a group of people committed to making the mountains accessible to those with the greatest disabilities. Not just the
able among us, but my oldest as well. Everything is possible for her there. Her limitations are flipped into possibilities, her differences celebrated, honored and respected. She is just another kid who wants to ski, to spend a day on the mountain like everyone else.

The dream of sharing the mountains with my wife and kids has been a part of me since I dreamed of such things. The only reason I can do that now is because of Challenge Alaska and a man named TOM BEATTY. He has taught me all the skills necessary to safely tether a bi-ski down the slopes of Alyeska. Lots to learn over the course of the winter; how to load and unload a bi-ski from the chairlift, how to tether it down the runs without causing harm to my own child or the countless others out there having fun. TOM has taught me much more than that. He taught me that my oldest daughter can do much more than her overprotective father ever thought she could. And no matter the weather or conditions, when asked if we should come down for the weekend, TOM always said the same thing, “beats sitting on the couch.”

I have had the greatest winter of my life this year. I spent 25 days on the mountain with my kids, one of whom can't walk or talk. But she can ski like no one I've ever seen before. And the smile on her face at the end of each run could light up an Alaskan winter night. And her siblings see her in a new way now. See her as an equal, as a sister that can do stuff.

So there we are now, my wife and two youngest children bombing all over the hill, my oldest and I arcing a turn toward the bottom. We don't need anyone's help to ski anymore. We can do something by ourselves and that freedom can only be felt by those of us lucky enough to know the privilege of raising a child with differences. Besides, it sure beats sitting on the couch.

Paralympic Dreams

Tom had a passion and vision for developing a paralympic team here in Alaska and was chosen as one of the 12 coaches for the 2005 National Paralympic Academy August 15-18, 2005. (Colorado Springs). I remember Tom coming back totally stoked and inspired from this experience.

National Paralympic Academy
Hosting Student Athletes--By Beth Bourgeois
August/September 2005
Thirty student-athletes with physical disabilities have been selected by U.S.Paralympics,a division of the United States Olympic Committee,to attend the 2005 National Paralympic Academy August 15-18 in Colorado Springs,Colo. Additionally,12 coaches were named to work with the youth during the experience. The National Paralympic Academy is a biennial event designed to recognize excellence in local Paralympic sport programming.This celebration of sport brings together student-athletes (ages 12-18),coaches and program directors from Paralympic organizations across the country to share best practices, discuss Olympic and Paralympic ideals, and to be inspired by Paralympians facilitating the Academy programs. Attendees will also participate in sports clinics,competition and educational seminars. The National Paralympic Academy is a great opportunity to introduce children with physical disabilities to Paralympic sport,”said John Register, Paralympic Academy manager and two-time Paralympian.“By working directly with Paralympic athletes,these students will learn what they’re capable of achieving athletically and, ultimately, increase the number of children with physical disabilities who participate in health and wellness programs in their home state.” Student-athletes were selected to attend the 2005 National Paralympic Academy based on their essays themed “What Ability Means to Me.” The submitted compositions were judged by Paralympic Academy state partners and national Paralympic organizations. Coaches and program directors were chosen by U.S. Paralympics based on their history of success in conducting Paralympic sport programs for youth.
The Paralympic Academy is a three-tier program with state, national and international components. State Paralympic Academies are hosted by sport organizations in each state that specialize in Paralympic programs. The national Paralympic Academy occurs in odd-numbered years at the U.S.Olympic Training Center, while the international Paralympic Academy is held at the Paralympic Games in even-numbered years.

Tom-The Man He Didn't Have To Be

I'm a volunteer at Challenge Alaska and Tom has always been a huge inspiration to me. That guy could do anything, from teathering a bi skier and sharing in the thrill sailing down the mountain, to assisting a heavy client off the snow over and over again with a smile on his face and encouragement in his voice. He was an amazing office manager yet he never seperated himself from the people that he said "were the ones making it happen-the volunteers". People like Tom just don't come around that often but when they do, it kind of reminds us of just how good the world can be and all that's possible within each of us. Thanks Tom, thanks for being the man you didn't have to be...SkiBetty