Will Halcott has been working his way up to 100 days on skis for years now — a feat all the more impressive for a boy who just turned 6. But it’s not so new, really. When his family moved to Park City in 2022, 3-year-old Will skied 45 days just by accident. The next season, he hit 88 days and kn ew he had to aim higher. “Last winter, Will declared “I want 100!” said Will’s mom, Jennie Halcott. “I said, ‘Well, kindergarten is going to get in your way, buddy. It’s a bit different from preschool.’ So from there, we said, ‘OK, 100 days. We’ve got to figure out a way to do this.’” Now that Will was out of preschool and headed to the kindergarten big leagues, school presented a new obstacle. Jennie and Brandon Halcott took turns arriving extra early to the school and be one of the first cars to leave the pickup line with Will racing out of the doors each day to make it to Deer Valley Resort. The Halcott family races down the Deer Valley slopes. From left, Marie, 8, Brandon with Theo, 2, Will, 6, Jennifer, and Evie, 4. Through hundreds of quick changes in the car and getting comfortable in ski boots, Jennie said there was nothing better than being on the snow with Will. “I laugh because, my gosh, it was so much work! But it was also really special because once you get there and you’re at the mountain and skiing and he’s having fun, there’s nothing better,” said Jennie. “Will’s enthusiasm stayed throughout the whole winter. It’s fun to see that level of motivation in a 5 to 6 year old. He’s not over it now that we’ve reached 100, either. He just loves it.” The weather on the hill sometimes shifted from sunny skies to rain, sleet and snow and back again in just a few minutes. Still, nothing could keep Will down. Through challenges of wind holds or freezing weather that had Jennie questioning why they continued to do this, Will was more than happy to wait it out and get up there no matter what. “All of a sudden the rain switched to snow, the lifts opened up again, and they were back skiing. Will would ski in anything. He really doesn’t care. One time, he fell, got a black eye, and went out the next day without missing a beat,” said Jennie. In the past three years of skiing, Will’s connection to the sport has bonded him to the mountains and to friends, said Jennie. His progression over the seasons owes great credit to Deer Valley ski instructor Devon Delamater, who was paired with Will for a preschool lesson in 2023 and has since become Will’s best friend and ski partner. Devon Delamater and Will Halcott on their first day skiing together in December, 2023. “They requested a fun boy instructor, and I shot my hand up. I hadn’t even seen the kid yet, and that’s how I started skiing with him,” said Delamater. Credit: Photo courtesy of Jennifer Halcott“Will is an insane skier, absolutely unreal,” said Delamater. “But originally, he was unable to turn one way. Jennie just said, ‘Hey, figure that out and he’s golden.’ By the end of that week, he was ripping everything as fast as I was right behind me. He’s such fun to ski with.”With Delamater by his side, Will’s talent and motivation continued to climb the lifts of Deer Valley, where he had skied every run on the mountain before he turned 6. “There’s a couple runs at Deer Valley that you have to hike up to get to the good stuff, and he’s found those. He was hiking up even last season,” said Delamater. “But every once in a while, there were times when things got tough and he’d get frustrated because he was 4 years old and skiing with me and his dad, and he always powered through. He can and will ski absolutely anything.” Delamater spent almost every day of Will’s 100 with him, skiing with the family for a few moments in his free time between lessons. One of the best days this season was when he and Will had an hour to spend together, said Delamater. “We got more than seven runs in that hour. He can really match my speed, and to do that with so little mass is pretty incredible,” he said. Deer Valley celebrated Will’s success with a party and a bolo tie on Saturday. Credit: Photo courtesy of Jennifer HalcottWill hit 100 days on Saturday. Deer Valley staff celebrated him with a banner and a ton of silly string, but you can bet Will was back on the hill for 101 days on Sunday. “It’s very gratifying to see somebody you have taught become the best they could possibly be at their age. We’ve skied together so much that Will skis how I ski. He wants to do the stuff I want to, and that’s a lot of fun. It’s like I’m skiing with a younger version of myself,” said Delamater. Delamater gifted Will an old Deer Valley World Cup moguls bib from last year’s event for his birthday. Will wears the bib every single day he skis now, said Delamater. There is no one else the two would rather ski with than each other. Will even taught Delamater how to cross-country ski at the trails by his house this year. “It was a lot of fun, and then I figured it out and started going faster than him. He had a nice little temper tantrum because he’s literally the most competitive kid alive,” joked Delamater. Will’s competitive side, along with his parents and Delamater’s support, pushed Will to get better and stronger every day. He hated missing out on ski days with the big 100 in mind at all times. “There were really no low moments for Will unless we weren’t skiing,” said Jennie. “I made him get a haircut once after school and he missed a day of skiing. He was so bummed! Note to self: Do a haircut on a Saturday.” Deer Valley gave Will the special 100-day bolo tie on Saturday to celebrate his accomplishment. Will wore the tie to school Monday with pride. Will’s next milestone? The 2034 Winter Olympic Games. “He’ll only be 15 when that rolls around, but there are a couple of disciplines where I think he could make it,” said Delamater. “The world is his oyster. He just loves skiing and that’s the most important thing. You just want your kid to love what they’re doing, and I want it to be fun. He has a great foundation, and certainly a lot of days of practice,” said Jennie. The post Kindergartener reaches 100 days at Deer Valley appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less