RALPH GREEN
Interviewed by Charles K. West
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BOM CEO/Founder Charles K. West talks one-on-one with Ralph Green, the first African American selected to the U.S. Disabled Alpine Ski Team. This is an amazing story about turning tragedy into triumph.
BOM: Tell us how you discovered the world of skiing.
Green: Well, I've always been active in sports... organized sports since I was young. I had an athletic background playing football, baseball, basketball, tennis, track and field. I had a strong spiritual background with much prayer which is a good reason as to how I survived the gunshot wound that was pretty traumatic. Many people know that I was shot in the back, but they don't know exactly how my leg was affected by being shot in the back.
BOM: I could imagine the emotions and pain involved in retelling the story. Are you comfortable with that?
Green: No problem. I was shot in the back and the bullet hit a branch of the aorta and ricocheted off my pelvis and went into my intestine. When it hit a branch of the aorta my left leg became immediately infected. They had to amputate my left leg after a day or two after arriving to the hospital. At first I did not know that disabled sports were even around and no idea of the intensity level to which one could compete. I was introduced to disabled sports through a program called Aspire. Being active with Aspire allowed me the chance to compete in track and field events. She also introduced us to skiing.
BOM: How soon after the incident did you become actively involved with competitive sports?
Green: About a year after getting shot... the next summer I started to partake in disabled sports.
BOM: Did it take some time for you to move forward from realizing the impact of the incident?
Green: You know... initially it was hard while being hospitalized, but I came to the understanding that of all the things that happened to me, being the star athlete at Boys and Girls HS... of all the things... I could be shot and lose a leg. It was traumatic, it was a mental challenge as well as physical, especially knowing how independent I was and not being able to be active as before. I would sit there and try to conjure up ways that I could still play football with my amputation. Although I didn't try, I was introduced to disabled sports and actively competing in Florida and Long Island, NY really opened up the doors to the world of disabled sports.
 Tight corner  Ralph on slalom run |
Green: What led to my recovery was the support from my mom. She let me decide what I wanted to do in life. It was shocking for her seeing me in that situation and just like any other parent, they're not going to know exactly what to do. The most that they could do is have faith in their child and hope that their child makes the best of the situation. And that's what she did. She talked me into going to college for a couple of years and she explained to me not only how it affected me, but also how it affected the community. My mom prayed and helped me get my life in order and prepare to become a better man.
BOM: Describe the type of events in which you are currently competing.
Green: Now I do Alpine skiing and I got into Alpine skiing through Patty ? I didn't know the them at the time, but the National Sports Center for the Disabled were hosting a camp while I began skiing for the first time and they were pretty impressed with what they saw my first day skiing. Although I was falling a good percentage of the time I was skiing a Black Diamond and I made it down the Diamond once. The coaches and camp director were astonished at my run... this was my first day. I'm a visual learner, so I observed a few skiers take the run and I mimicked them as much as I could. This was in the Poconos at Jack Frost Mountains. The National Sports Center for the Disabled was looking to recruit me, but at the time I wasn't really focused on skiing. I was just happy to be out of the hospital and I was at this stage in my life where I was beginning to understand my reality.
BOM: Are there various events in the Alpine category which you compete?
Green: There are four events... Downhill which is the most well known, the Super G, the Giant Slalom, and Slalom. The downhill and super G are technical events with a faster and more open course with gates set further apart from each other. The giant slalom and slalom are more about precision and provide more angles.
BOM: What have been some of your greatest challenges as a professional skier?
Green: The biggest challenge was transitioning to Colorado in 2000 with $300 in my pocket. I was the talk of the team before the shooting and here I was in Colorado not even able to pay the first months rent. But I moved there with a dream and the determination to follow it. I actually moved there years prior in 1996 with the National Sports Center for the Disabled and stayed for three months and moved back to New York with no intentions of skiing. When I moved back to Colorado in 2000, I left New York as a junior at Long Island University working also as a counselor for the Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture in Brooklyn. I came to a point in my life where I was left to decide what I wanted to do in life. After thinking and getting in that zone, I decided that I wanted to become a downhill skier. I told my mom and she was supportive from the beginning... she purchased a train ticket to Colorado. So it was difficult for me to pick up and leave. I called the National Sports Center for the Disabled and they owned condos in Winter Park, CO and they funded some of the cost for renting. When I moved out here it soon became a struggle to train and pay such fees for lodging, training, and other expenses. It became really difficult. I was a night auditor at the Super 8 and I was able to buy food... I didn't need to eat my roommates food (laugh). He was on the US Ski Team at the time and fortunately he understood my situation. He would help me at times and take me out to dinner. We're still friends ‘til this day. We go on trips and stuff as well. It was the most difficult time ever in my career. The following year, I was introduced to the National Brotherhood of Skiers (NBS) and they had specific funds allocated for residential assistance, training fees, and other things. So although I didn't have money in my pocket NBS paid for my training, traveling, and competing on that level. This was before I made the US Ski Team.
BOM: What a prelude to a great career...
Green: Yeah, it was a blessing at the time. You know living in New York in Bed Stuy... in the projects, it was easy to get caught up and that was the problem with myself... I got caught up. We get so caught up in the now focusing on "what's hot" at the time that we don't prepare for tomorrow. When I moved to Colorado, I found myself. I became aware of who I was. I realized that I had an opportunity to do something different and be a pillar of the community. It feels good to visit a school in my community and encourage them to think outside the box. I also tell them that when they compete for jobs they need to understand that they are competing against not just a few folks for the job, but millions of people. When you look at that perspective from a competitive edge it makes it easier to pursue something or be a pioneer. I can be a role model for many of these kids. If I can make it out, coming from Roosevelt Houses then the possibilities are endless for many.
BOM: How does it make you feel knowing that you are competing with other champions from across the world?
Green: Being involved in active sports prior, I know that there is no competitive sport like skiing. In skiing, races are won between hundredths or tenths of a second. It's the only sport that I know where one can go down the slopes at 70 mph with just a helmet and basic equipment. One can get down a slope in a minute. But knowing that I am racing with differences in just seconds against the top competitors... that's the thrill. And it becomes more real knowing that people are watching me as I race.
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Green: Remember I took a four year hiatus from skiing. Although I wasn't skiing, I was thinking about it a lot and mentally prepared myself. So I go out for my first race, mentally ready and thinking I'm going to kick butt on my first run... I crashed (laugh). And to be honest I crashed just about every race my first year. What helped me was that I knew my mistakes and there were veterans that I knew that crash. And although I crashed, I knew my competitors were not better than me. I felt that no one could beat me and I needed to correct my mistakes.
BOM: Reflecting on the shooting incident, moving to Colorado, and now competing in world class competition... what have you learned about yourself?
Green: I learned that possibilities are endless. There are many things that inner city kids aren't exposed to others in a suburban environment take for granted. For instance, let' take mountain biking... for me mountain biking was getting on a mountain bike and riding downtown. When I went to Colorado, it was a different perspective. I would ride up and down hills for about 15 miles. And I learned to appreciate skiing. It's a sport that both and 6 and 80 year old can still participate. I wasn't aware of the skiing opportunities or organizations that promoted the awareness of skiing for kids, but I realized that if I wanted to make some changes in society, I need to go out and promote these things. That's why I have been involved with many media opportunities this year to help promote the awareness of my sport. Also, I want people, especially African Americans, to know that there are some great African American skiers. I've learned that I am an innovator. I want to be a household name. I want kids to know who I am and see something different. It can be one second that can change a student's life.
BOM: Do you participate in other outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, and hiking?
Green: Oh yeah... I bike, camp, and periodically hike. I don't do 15 mile hikes, but I'm out there. I fish out here in Colorado. Although I have my hunting certificate, I haven't been hunting yet... but that's something that I want to do. I am outdoorsy (laugh).
BOM: What advice would you give to someone who is disabled and looking to find a vehicle or outlet to move forward?
Green: First, I would tell them that there are many organizations to support the disabled, especially those that wish to compete. If someone goes through a traumatic event and becomes disabled there are plenty or organizations and resources to turn to such as Disabled Sports USA and the National Sports Center for the Disabled. The possibilities are endless. You can do whatever you set your heart to. You can get a job and definitely become a part of society. You can get on the net and find plenty of information. You'll be surprised at what you can find and people will support you.
BOM: What's on the horizon for 2007?
Green: My goals are definitely ski oriented. My goal is to make the flip or the top 15 out of about 180 other racers at the World Cup. My next event will be the Aspen World Cup which is January 15-22 of 2007. BOM: Ralph, we truly appreciate your time and on behalf of BOM we wish you the best at Aspen and other events on the horizon. I think you have truly made a mark in the world of skiing and have become a champion for hope to many who have faced unexpected misfortune. We wish you the best.
Since the interview, Green competed in the Aspen World Cup and placed 9th in Slalom 15th in Super-G.