Is Santa Cruz the Best Spot for Young Athletes to Thrive?
It was an honor to be mentioned in this article about why Santa Cruz produces top runners/athletes, and I’d like to commend Steve Palopoli for writing it, and for nailing the reason—it’s about community. To expand on his premise, I’ll share that in my case, I didn’t just excel at a young age because I lived in an area that is geographically inspiring and has the best weather possible for someone who thrives in the outdoors. Those things definitely mattered, inclusive of all the time I spent at the beach each summer with the Jr. Lifeguard Program (Santa Cruz City) and as a Jr. Guard Instructor (shout out to Jr. Guards!). But the people who surrounded me are the reasons I excelled.
If you have a motivated kid and want to ensure they have their best experience in sport at a young age—surround them with optimal role models—and that includes you as a parent. My parents supported anything I wanted to do (which was a LOT), then were hands off in how I executed. They saw I was highly motivated, so they gave me free reign. No pressure, just support. There were many key people who guided that process and are the reasons I continue to thrive today, not only as an athlete but as a thinker: Ken Peterson, Gregory George Brock, Peter Newell, Jack Dufour, so many more teachers and coaches in the Santa Cruz County area as well as all the instructors I had in Jr. Guards.
I don’t see my early interactions with these great people as luck, or that somehow the planets aligned for me. As a motivated kid, I sought out those whom I could sense supported what I was up to and challenged me to be even more (that last point is super key). I was driven, and I allowed myself to be buoyed by those who encouraged but challenged me to step up even more. You want your kid to excel at what they love? Give them a healthy yet challenging village in which to do their thing, then let them call the shots.
Shout out to Diane Delucchi and Kathy Ferraro, who are also mentioned in the article and who are both huge movers and shakers in our community. You ladies inspire me!
I know this sounds like a shameless plug, but I would LOVE for all named here to read my book, Dirty Inspirations. YOU are one of the reasons that book was written. I can’t thank you enough. Big love to you all!
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