Boy, 8, gets gold medal

Eight-year old Larsen Stone McCarroll had the fastest time in The Kittredge Fun Cup “Boys Eight and Older” ski competition on March 16 at Mammoth Mountain, earning him his first gold medal.

Two weeks prior, he had the second-fastest time of all 88 members on his ski team, called the Mighty Mites, contributing to a first-place win for his group.

“I was surprised because it’s my first year [on the team or in a competition],” he said. “I felt really happy and proud of myself.”

McCarroll is ranked at level four — the highest on the team — which is made up of boys and girls, ages 6 through 8.

He began “skiing” when he was 20 months old — still in a diaper and with a pacifier — when his mother would guide him down the slope between her skis during weekend trips to Mammoth.

It wasn’t long before McCarroll was swooshing down by himself, demonstrating a strong affinity for the “extreme” sport.

“I want to be a champion skier when I grow up,” he said.

“Astronaut” is his second career choice.

Intense speed and freedom are two things McCarroll said he likes best about skiing.

“When you ski, it feels as if you were free and had nothing to worry about except for trees and people,” he said.

He also appreciates the scenic landscape Mammoth offers.

“When I look at the trees, it looks beautiful. They have a lot of snow, and it glitters. I like riding on the gondola because you can see the minarets [big pointy mountains] and lakes.”

McCarroll will graduate to the Might Fives team next year, which will require five hours of skiing each day on weekends, every weekend during the winter season.

He plans to spend the rest of his time “free” skiing.

Right now, he’s looking forward to the spring and summer months so he can enjoy other hobbies like tennis, Jiu Jitsu, swimming, piano, reading, arts and crafts, and ocean camp.

McCarroll lives in Laguna with his parents, Peter and Lisa, and 4-year-old twin brother and sister. He attends Anneliese’s Manzanita School, where he is in the second grade, and enjoys math, science and art.