Exhilarating Speed

Imagine going 10, 20, 30, then suddenly 50 miles per hour, on snow, with long metal plates on your feet. Think about how amazing and exhilarating it is, the thrill of which even the fastest roller coasters never hit. No one can not put into words how incredible it is. It’s just you, no one else, no one to help you, no one to guide you, its just you and the thrill of getting down the mountain to seeing everyone cheer your name and clap for you. It makes me feel alive.

Sunday January 5th is the first meaningful race of the year. It’s the day where all my tensions are inflated and happiness becomes anxiety. I wake up, get dressed, pack my equipment together, and leave. We begin driving, and you can hear the skis and poles clashing together as we hit little ruts of snow in the road; my tensions increase. A nimble feeling takes over my body and begin to yawn. Yawning is my way of releasing nerves to help me get ready. What slowly appears in the distance is terrifying the enormous white mountains appear in the distance. I become frail and terrified. I walk out of the car with the scent of fresh coffee coming from my body. I open the trunk, grab my bag, throw my skis on my back, and walk to the competition center. I am greeted by all my friends and settle down. I am terrified. I get all my ski stuff ready and prepare for the race. I walk out of the competition center with my friends, grab my skis and hike up to the base of the lift. From the bottom of the lift in the distance I can see

the course. I am petrified. I get to the course and have to inspect it, I try to memorize and remember the course because I need to know what to expect when going down it. They do not let us go into the course; just allowed to slip down the side. After the inspection, I become less frail and scared. I take several deep breaths and smile; my friend looks at me and smiles, we are ready.

I head up to the top of the course, I take my skis off, take my jacket and snowpants off after, grab my poles, and click into my skis. I am determined and ready. I ski my way down to the starting gate, I get into the gate and look down the course. It’s like I am looking into a huge beast that is staring me in the eyes. I legitimately feel sick to my stomach, but I toughen up and get ready. I aggressively slam my skis on the snow many times. The clock begins to beep 3, 2, 1, GO. I have been hit with a massive bolt of lightning, and it wipes my feelings away. I go as fast as I can while hoping not to fall. I am flying and feel on top of the world. It is undoubtedly the greatest feeling in the world. I finish the course and the crowd claps profusely. I feel alive.