Durango Nordic skier, Wiley Corra, was recently awarded the Jon "Zeke" Zdechlik Memorial Award by Rocky Mountain Nordic. Each year this award is given to a youth skier in Colorado who demonstrates sportsmanship, spirit, and commitment to Nordic skiing and its community. Here, Durango Nordic head coach and program director, Tad Elliott, tells us more about Wiley and what makes him the perfect recipient for this honor.
Photo from Gunther Ott
Wiley Corra is appropriately named. He is always on the move and actively involved in whatever is happening around him. While he is a fan of good-natured mischief, he is also a superb listener, responsive to instruction and feedback, and highly self-motivated. His gregarious nature and willingness to learn make him a great recipient of the Zeke Memorial Award.
I am Wiley’s current cross-country ski coach. His two previous coaches were my twin brother, Evan, and younger sister, Paige. We all grew up in Durango, Colorado and were involved in sports similar to the ones Wiley enjoys. My relationship with Wiley, however, did not start off as one between coach and athlete. Though I am 14 years older, we were friends long before I coached him. This is just Wiley’s nature; he is interested in everyone and makes the effort to get to know the people around him.
Even as a little dude Wiley was one of the most talented athletes his coaches encountered. Cross-country skiing is his claimed favorite sport, but he also excelled at kayaking, mountain biking, and running. While his dedication to sports has yielded him consistent podium results, his athletic accomplishments aren’t what have left me and my siblings in awe of Wiley. It is his attitude and wisdom beyond his years. He celebrates his victories with humility and accepts his setbacks with grace.
Photo from David Pickner
Three years ago, Wiley was involved in a freak accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury. The accident diminished his coordination and it has been a long, hard road back. What hasn’t diminished, however, is Wiley’s unwavering positive attitude and kindness. I will never forget my first da of coaching the team. Instead of running at the front of the group with his high school peers, Wiley was in the back of the group with one of the youngest members. They cast a stark contrast, strapping six-foot-tall Wiley running next to little, four-foot-tall Betty. Wiley spoke to her as a friend and teammate, asking Betty how she was doing and what her goals for the season were.
As a coach it is hard to watch a kid who used to do backflips on skis stumble and fall - a lot - because his right-side neurons are still finding new pathways. His elbow, knees, and butt take a beating, but he just winks and says they are getting stronger. For example, while running last fall, Wiley tripped and face planted right in front of me. I gasped and watched as he instantly started doing push-ups. He regained his composure, stood up, and apologized. He said he just had to get in a quick strength set.
Photo from Crested Butte Nordic
Wiley has a generous spirit and sincere interest in others. During hectic days at events, I am usually unable to watch all the races. Fortunately, I can count on Wiley to always update me on how each member of our team, as well as our competitors, are doing. He knows everyone’s goals, encourages them in achieving them, and is able to tell me if they met that that day or not.
Ever since he was a little kid, he has loved numbers and been highly self-motivated. Unable to sit still while waiting for food at restaurants, he would ask his parents to time him as he ran around the outside of teh building. He would remember his time and try to beat it on their next visit. Now at ski races, Wiley evaluates every aspect of each course - how long it is, the elevation gain, his past results, and snow conditions. He then sets a time he wants to beat. At the biggest race of the year, Wiley, who had won the event before, finished last. Rather than feeling disappointed, he walked up to me grinning from ear to ear. He had just beaten his time.
Congratulations Wiley!
