This season consisted of many mixed emotions, from fear and anxiety, to excitement and wonder. A lot of these feelings resulted from coming back from my knee injury. It’s hard enough to compete on the Freeride World Tour (FWT) against some of the best big mountain skiers in the world, let alone try to come back from ACL reconstruction in under 7 months. This season was entirely about overcoming fears, a lower level of confidence, and much adversity.
In November, following my second knee surgery, I essentially gave up on the idea of being able to compete in the 2016 FWT. Luckily, I had such a great support system around me in Jackson to help motivate and keep my head clear and positive. The comeback was not easy, but I was able to set small goals along the way and make it my full time job to get to where I needed to be. My ultimate goal for the season was to be strong enough to compete once again and travel the world, while experiencing amazing different cultures with some of my best friends.
This season wasn’t about winning the world title or even winning a single competition. I knew my limitations. For me, it was about working hard enough to get myself back and stand in that start gate once again. To have everything come together and to have that feeling and pride would be rewarding enough after such a rollercoaster of a year. In the start gate I am able to represent not only myself, but where I came from, my family, my friends, and my sponsors and to me, there is nothing else like that. I had very little hope going into this season, but I learned the value of perseverance and pushing myself beyond what I thought was possible.
With the strength and mental resilience I’ve developed while working out at Wright Training, I was able to have a season doing what I love. I was lucky enough to travel to ten different countries and ski in places I never thought I would ski, while exploring new challenges of the sport that I had yet to experience. Had I let my injury and mind get the best of me, I would have missed out on some of the best opportunities of my life. Crystal and her team at Wright Training were essential in helping my mind and body prepare for this year on the FWT.
