By Noah Goldmann
Like as in a still frame picture of an arctic ocean scene, perfectly formed and smooth bumps lie before Mandy like frozen, white waves. From among them, like the masts of distant and formidable corsairs, two ramps rise above the bumps and ominously tempt Mandy to leave the relative comfort of the mogul course. Mandy tries to remain calm and composed before this scene, but struggles. She thinks back to how she got to this moment, to this place.
Every weekend for the past three weeks, Mandy has gotten up at dawn, driven 100 miles, and braved cold, snow, wind, crowds, expensive food, altitude, and upending falls to train and perfect her craft. She’s missed out on pirate parties, nights out on the town with friends, and quality time with her boyfriend. After she battles these unforgiving, alternating waves of snow, she will return to her hotel and finish the homework that she would normally have worked on during the day.
Why has Mandy chosen a less conventional path through college than the average student and sacrificed so much fun and stability? She made this potentially unlikely choice because the allure of competing on skis compels her onwards, downhill, and through the air. She is the quintessential, un-sung, non-varsity student athlete. With no scholarship fueling her and only a small, vague hope for a lengthy, profitable, or well-known professional career, Mandy’s motivation is simple and pure: she loves to improve and compete in her favorite sport. She is willing to deviate away from many of the joys of a college life in order to pursue her passion for competitive mogul skiing.
Mandy’s constant athletic quest represents even more than the temporary joys and sorrows of her various victories and defeats in her competitions. Mandy is a quiet heroine like so many others who pursue their sport for the simple and pure reason of being true to themselves. In a sporting world flooded by corporate sponsorships and so many other potentially corrupt forces, it is imperative that the world pause and uphold examples like Mandy. One must honor her honest dedication to her sport, her willingness to sacrifice for a greater purpose that offers no other reward but her joy of skiing and the satisfaction of personal progress, and her courage to put her health, time, and confidence on the altar of competition. Perhaps if society celebrated more examples like Mandy, we could find entertainment in their quests and stories without so much of the negative influences that arise from the presence of corporate influence and fame.
Like as in a still frame picture of an arctic ocean scene, perfectly formed and smooth bumps lie before Mandy like frozen, white waves. From among them, like the masts of distant and formidable corsairs, two ramps rise above the bumps and ominously tempt Mandy to leave the relative comfort of the mogul course. Mandy tries to remain calm and composed before this scene, but struggles. She thinks back to how she got to this moment, to this place.
Every weekend for the past three weeks, Mandy has gotten up at dawn, driven 100 miles, and braved cold, snow, wind, crowds, expensive food, altitude, and upending falls to train and perfect her craft. She’s missed out on pirate parties, nights out on the town with friends, and quality time with her boyfriend. After she battles these unforgiving, alternating waves of snow, she will return to her hotel and finish the homework that she would normally have worked on during the day.
Why has Mandy chosen a less conventional path through college than the average student and sacrificed so much fun and stability? She made this potentially unlikely choice because the allure of competing on skis compels her onwards, downhill, and through the air. She is the quintessential, un-sung, non-varsity student athlete. With no scholarship fueling her and only a small, vague hope for a lengthy, profitable, or well-known professional career, Mandy’s motivation is simple and pure: she loves to improve and compete in her favorite sport. She is willing to deviate away from many of the joys of a college life in order to pursue her passion for competitive mogul skiing.
Mandy’s constant athletic quest represents even more than the temporary joys and sorrows of her various victories and defeats in her competitions. Mandy is a quiet heroine like so many others who pursue their sport for the simple and pure reason of being true to themselves. In a sporting world flooded by corporate sponsorships and so many other potentially corrupt forces, it is imperative that the world pause and uphold examples like Mandy. One must honor her honest dedication to her sport, her willingness to sacrifice for a greater purpose that offers no other reward but her joy of skiing and the satisfaction of personal progress, and her courage to put her health, time, and confidence on the altar of competition. Perhaps if society celebrated more examples like Mandy, we could find entertainment in their quests and stories without so much of the negative influences that arise from the presence of corporate influence and fame.