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One Lucky Prize
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\r\nWhat gets someone into cross-country ski racing anyway? A question not usually asked but an interesting one, none the less. It is one thing for kids to go skiing with their parents but another to venture into actually training and racing. I can think back to when that change happened for me. The time when I learned what Junior Nationals were, and maybe, if I worked hard, that I could be there someday.
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\r\nIt all began with a post race raffle. Years ago after the finish of a typical citizen cross-country ski race, when the results were finally in and the awards given out, there was one thing remaining – it was raffle time. Everyone was freezing cold and ready to go home but one thing was keeping us there – the brand new Kestle skate skis. The skis were a big deal because skating was just beginning. Most skate skis at that time were classic skis with the tips cut off. Basically, everyone wanted them. The chances of winning were slim; who ever won these things anyway? But true to form everyone stayed and waited. The name was drawn. You can imagine the dismay of the adults when a thirteen year old girl was called; it was me! I was shocked and confused while my dad pushed me up to the stage to get my prize. The skis were so big I hardly made it off the stage without crashing and poking someone’s eye out. That afternoon my parents took me to the ski shop, we switched them for a pair my size and my cross-country ski racing career began.
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\r\nI was just getting into skiing then, or should I say following my parents to citizen races on the weekend. Because skating was just developing, the idea of having both a skate and classic ski was becoming the norm. At thirteen, what a lucky girl to have a pair of fish scales and a pair of brand new skate skis, yellow bottoms and all. I honestly couldn’t believe I was so cool. My old Trak fish scales that I raced on (these skis even made it through the Kortelopet) started to collect dust as I only wanted to skate. So excited to try them out, it was impossible to sleep. Nonetheless, I started skating every chance I got and it was not long till I beat my father in a race at Jeremy Ranch – I’ll never forget that day, nor will he!
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\r\nI didn’t really know what ski racing was at that point, that was still years away. But unknown to me, I was on my way. Who would have thought that one small event based purely on luck could possibly have changed my future? It’s probably unrealistic to credit my lucky raffle prize with being a ski racer today, but either way I am glad it happened and very psyched to be here.
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Written By: WWagnerDate Posted: 12/31/2004Number of Views: 202
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