During the celebratory Sierra Nevada’s after the announcement of the qualifying among some of snowboards top big mountain athletes, it still hadn’t sunk in that I would have to compete against them the next morning. Although many others of equal caliber were knocked out for falls or tomahawks, it was hard for the judges to finally decide on a cut off list what broke the men’s field from 60 participants to 27. For most of the men, they have been in this position before, making qualifiers on one or more of the stops during the last five years, but for me it was a first.
I was supposed to show up and compete against local favorite Tyler Anderson, Jedediah Doane, Jacob Levine and Brian Selmer. There was also, Timi Carlson, Mark Carter, Kyle Clancy, Sammy Leubke and Alex Yoder. Names I have seen in videos and magazine for years. Names that were coming up in the top three on the pervious stops. Names of really good snowboarders. I didn’t sleep well.
The morning showed more promise with 5” more of snow and clouds slowing lifting to reveal Mt. Baldy in the morning sun. However, it would be a fleeting glimpse that the athletes would have liked to continually count on as the day wore on.
As the men waited for the announcers to congratulate Shannon on her victories, the men on top were watching the weather roll up the valley like gray smoke, consuming everything in it’s path. Local Tyler Anderson threw down two huge 360’s that were repeated by Mark Carter and after a few more restless clouds, the window was open and they were calling me to drop in, 3…2….1. Dropping.
All the adrenaline and worries, anxieties and fears kind of leave in that instant with confluence of instant decision-making and mental alertness that I rarely experience. Jump, jump, turn, big turns, push out, slash, jump, trees, aim for, slow down, can’t see, jump. Two more. Slow it down, make this. WoW. Pull it together, stick! Sluff, One More. Two walls, roll, don’t’ jump, roll. Rock! OHH, Oh, I’m still standing! YYeahh!!!
1:36:40 was all it took. All the worry and stress for just under two minutes.
We all know the risk of riding big mountains and I’m glad that I had the opportunity to do so with my peers that I respect and admire. After talking with fellow athletes we all has the pit in our stomach, fire in the chest that makes us want to give it our all. It may be our new born baby, girlfriend or wife that we are laying down those lines for. It may be our friends or sponsors for the opportunity to keep riding and doing what we love. After all it is the love of snowboarding that put us up at the starting gate to start with and continues to put me on top of big mountains still.