Leo Schor recently earned a medal in a ski race. But, that’s not news to his family, because Leo has medaled in many other competitions.

Skiing is just natural for Leo. His parents first met on Mount Snow. Leo started skiing before he was two years old, and he has been on many New York slopes and even those in Utah. He still has a lot more to experience and accomplish, and he has the time. Leo just turned 13.

His most recent medal was bronze and he won it in the skiercross division during the Empire State Winter Games in Lake Placid. The medal odds were against him. A crash during a trial-run cost him the option to choose his starting position for the four-at-a-time, side-by-side races that included several jumps. Plus, his very first skiercross competition came only two weeks earlier.

But, Leo Schor certainly doesn’t lack the confidence in his ability. His goal was just to get on the podium. He’s done it before, he did it at Lake Placid and he will do it many more times. Leo just might be a name to remember for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.

The Lake Placid competition involved 1,140 athletes of different ages across more than 10 different winter sports activities. The names of the participants mostly are unknown except to their small circles of family, friends, coaches and competitors. But, don’t be surprised when, within the next few years, you learn that a couple of rising young athletes competed in the 2014 Empire State Winter Games.

It is good to see that so many of our young people have the drive to compete. It also is refreshing and encouraging to learn that many of them already have confidence in their game.

Jim