When it comes to learning a new skill, we all have to start somewhere. Eli Shoe of Rogers, Arkansas, is only 17 years old, but he has already become a skilled mountain biker. The teen started a YouTube channel called NWA MTB to showcase great trails and connect with other athletes near his home. His channel is so popular that he recently celebrated a huge milestone: 5 million subscribers!
Eli was out on the pro course one evening when he heard a child crying. He made a beeline toward the sound, discovering a little boy who had crashed his bike. Without hesitating, Eli offered the boy encouragement and urged him not to give up.
“Everybody crashes sometimes, OK? It’s part of it. So don’t be afraid,” he said. He handed the little boy a sticker for his helmet, and the boy stopped crying immediately. “You just gotta get back out there,” Eli concluded.
“One of the things I have learned throughout my MTB experience is that us bigger riders have a massive impact on the little shredders,” Eli wrote later. “It’s important that we use our influence in a positive way to teach these kids that everyone falls and gets hurt sometimes and that it’s totally normal when that happens. These are the riders of our future so be kind to them!”
Not only did Eli show compassion when this boy needed it, but he also encouraged him never to give up – just because it was the right thing to do! Watch Eli in action in the video below, and be sure to share this story.
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