Touching zero

Up in the air….

[Posted from Tim's blog at www.touchingzero.com]

There comes a moment, on the slopes, as in life, when it all needs to come together – a moment when everything you’ve learned, everything you’ve practised, must come together, locking in with the terrain, the conditions, the light… and your own courage and self belief.

Beyond the open piste, beyond cruising on easy blue runs, it’s time to push yourself to a new challenge, to step beyond the simple, the easy, the straightforward.. and push forward into something new. It might be a tree run, a jump, a rail, a black run… something that moves you out of your comfort zone, that pushes the envelope. Yet anything might happen. A tree root, a rock, an unexpected obstacle, another skier… the only thing to expect is the unexpected…

No matter how much you prepare, anything might suddenly change your plans or divert you from the line. All that you can do is plan your route, line yourself up and let yourself fly… pushing yourself beyond comfortable speeds, exploring new terrain, moving beyond the realms of your current experience and letting yourself overcome the fear. You know that whatever comes up, you’ll find a way of handling it, you’ll find a new route, a new line, recovering your balance – and know you’ll land the jump . . .

And even if you don’t, even if you catch an edge and roll down the slope in a tumble of board, snow, gloves, goggles and flailing arms and legs…. you’ll still get up, brush the snow off… and try again.