Federal agents are executing warrants at Twin Cities daycare providers

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

As kids, Para ski racer Meg Gustafson followed the lead of her older brother as they explored the mountains on family vacations.

. As a visually impaired athlete, the 16-year-old Gustafson relies on her sibling, Spenser, to guide her through the course at the 

It’s a bond forged by years of skiing together in Minnesota and Colorado, and strengthened by honesty — they’re not afraid to share their true thoughts — and, above all, trust. Because they inspect the course together, go over a game plan together and then Meg follows the orange blur — Spenser wears that color of snow pants and jacket to stand out — 

“We try to keep the brother-sister rivalry out of the relationship before and during the race. But after the race, sometimes it comes out," the 18-year-old Spenser said with a laugh. “We’re very close on and off the slopes, and this has only made us closer.”

On Thursday, the duo turned in their best performance yet — taking fifth in the giant slalom in the visually impaired classification. They close out their Paralympics with a slalom on Saturday, which is Meg’s best event and one where she could bring home a medal. She was also sixth in the downhill, seventh in the Alpine combined and eighth in the super-G.

For them, it’s all about communication. She listens to his instructions on the course via their Bluetooth headsets.

“Just blocking everything out except for your guide and the snow underneath your feet is definitely a big part,” Meg explained. “I think that being brother and sister helps our relationship because I’m not afraid to criticize our dynamics. But I’m also open to him and all of his suggestions.”

Genetic disorder affects the ligaments in her eyes

Meg was born with a genetic disorder that affected the ligaments in her eyes and gives her tunnel vision. She had a fully detached retina at 12, which required four surgeries, and another two operations on the other eye. She said she has seven degrees of vision, which is why their guide-athlete tandem is a little different.

“I prefer him straight in the line of where I’m going to ski because I can only either focus on him or the gate. I cannot see both at the same time,” Meg explained.

What that means is Spenser skis about a gate ahead of her. He hollers instructions, too, simple cues like, “left-footed hairpin,” to signify a challenging set of upcoming slalom gates.

“I’ll remind her to stand tall and get her hips up, stuff like that,” Spenser said.

His mission is simple: Don't mess up. Because if he gets too far ahead, they can be disqualified. And if he falls, her run is over as well.

“I can’t crash. I can’t lose a ski,” Spenser said. “I have my bindings probably turned up way too high, because I’m too scared of losing a ski.”

Laughed Meg: “Yeah, I think that’s when the sibling rivalry would really come out.”

They grew up skiing at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Minnesota. For vacations, they frequently went West to the slopes of Colorado. She’d always try to keep up with Spenser.

The family eventually moved to Colorado, with both taking part in ski racing and both members of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail. Meg competed against able-bodied racers.

They were introduced to the Para skiing community through Erik Petersen, the competition center director at the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park.

From there, the tandem quickly ascended. Meg won seven FIS races in the lead-up to the Paralympics. Her brother has been helping guide the way.

“It’s definitely a collaboration,” Meg said. “Ultimately, if he skis a different line than I take, I’m typically going to follow him. I rely heavily on his line. So if he says this is the fastest line, I am going to trust him on that and follow his line.”

Although they listen to each other, they're not afraid to voice their opinions.

“Definitely can be antagonistic,” Spenser cracked about their relationship. “But I think the sibling combo is one of the more effective combos of (visually impaired) guide-to-athletes. You’re not afraid to tell the other person what you think, which is important. And they also know the athlete. They know what’s going to push them too far and what’s not going to be the best for their performance.”

Spenser has ski-racing ambitions one day, too. He’d like to compete in college. But this has been a “super-cool experience to be here,” he said.

“It’s incredible that I get to compete with my big brother," Meg said. “It's a great experience.”

Sports

Olympics and Paralympics

Homepage

The Associated Press

Author

Para ski racer Meg Gustafson competes at the Paralympics with her older brother Spenser guiding her down the mountain. Meg is visually impaired, so she follows Spenser’s line and listens to his calls through Bluetooth headsets.

Visually impaired skier racer Meg Gustafson chases Paralympic medals with her brother as guide

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox