Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

     It’s the first of July, early summer. The very heart of ski season has begun and while some areas have been going strong for months, others are still struggling through bad weather that will not go away. But generally, this is peak season in the Northern Hemisphere, when skier’s hit their stride.

     The early season soreness is long gone. The timing is back. We’re working on new techniques, trying new equipment, getting into new rope lengths, pushing and coaching each other. Getting ready for a long and strong summer.

     We’re also taping hands, filing calluses, wrapping knees and ankles, icing sore necks and backs. Yes, it’s also the heart of injury season.  So far, no one in our club has escaped some type of injury. We have two cases of shredded hands, two with bruised feet, one pulled rotator, one bad back, and one case of bruised ribs.

     We’ll fight through these injuries in pursuit of our goal, not because we’re tough or immune to pain, but because we don’t want to give back those buoy’s we worked so hard to get. We’ve made too many steps forward to take a step back. We have tournaments to prepare for, personal goals to meet, and yes, egos to stroke.

     Once we reach these goals will we be content? No. There’s another loop on that rope, tempting us, enticing us, even daring us to push it farther, to risk even more pain and injury. And we will do it. Why? Because we have to. A course skier is never content. There’s always one more buoy to be made, the next loop to get to, and another tournament to compete in.

     And at the end of the season we won’t remember our sore muscles and battered bodies. We’ll remember how far we got this year and spend the winter training and planning on how we can get even more buoy’s next year.  And then we’ll start all over again, realizing we took two steps forward this year and then one step back.

Gordon Slingerland

Gordon is a regular contributor and can be found carving buoys in his spare time.

Do you agree, disagree, or have something to add? Post your comments on the discussion board.

If you would like to contribute something to On The Platform Click Here and include your subject of interest.

BACK

		Contact
Terms of Use		Advertise on Aquaskier		Privacy Policy