On February 8th, 1998, Ross Rebagliati’s life changed forever when he made Olympic history in Nagano, Japan by winning the first ever gold medal in snowboarding.
One might ask how someone begins on the road to success. Rebagliati says that he wouldn’t have become the man that he is today without the help of a few key people in his life who inspired him and gave him the confidence to reach for the stars. Rebagliati sat down with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver to talk about the importance of having a positive role model in your life.
As a young boy, this Olympian spent his time imagining what it would be like to snowboard with Craig Kelly, the then three time world champion, and Rebagliati’s idol. After high school, the dream became a reality when Rebagliati moved to Whistler, BC where he stayed in his family’s condo to pursue snowboarding as a career. The two met through Kelly’s world freestyle snowboarding camp. In 1988, Kelly took Rebagliati under his wing.
“[Kelly] had confidence in me to be a contender in world snowboarding. I looked up to him in a major way and he showed me that I can make a living out of snowboarding,” says Rebagliati.
He also says that getting one-on-one attention from someone you look up to makes all the difference. Rebagliati commends Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, where volunteer mentors spend quality one-on-one time with boys and girls aged 7-12 who could use a little extra attention and a boost of confidence.
“Snowboarding saved my life. It gave me something to focus on and care about. [Kelly] gave me the opportunity to think beyond what I was going to do next Friday night. He encouraged me to work at a dream,” says Rebagliati, “If it wasn’t for Craig Kelly, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Apart from his childhood idol and mentor Craig Kelly, Rebagliati had another role model to look up to. He says that his grandmother was, and still is, a huge influence on his life.
“It is her philosophies and ways of dealing with difficult situations that have really guided me. Not only did she live through the Great Depression, was a nurse to her mother, and survived breast cancer, she had the strength to go through it all. She’s a survivor and this has had a significant impact on my life.”
While Rebagliati’s mentors vary from pro athletes to incredible women, the mentors at Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver range from university and college students to business executives across the map. Being a Big Brother or Big Buddy is about building a friendship with a boy or girl in your community, spending time with him or her to help raise his or her self-esteem.
At 38, Ross Rebagliati has already won an Olympic gold medal, been inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, written a book: Off the Chain: An Insider’s History of Snowboarding, and has a family of his own. Rebagliati says that along the way, he was fortunate enough to have been guided by so many inspiring people. Just as his mentors helped him on his road to success, he is now completing the cycle by encouraging others to get involved and step up to be the positive influence that many children across the Lower Mainland need.
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver offers volunteer opportunities for men and women that range from one to four hours a week to fit even the busiest of schedules.
For more information about how you can get involved as a mentor, visit www.bigbrothersvancouver.com or call 604.876.2447 ext.236.
