Why do we do sports that cause us so much pain? For the third
time this season I find myself miserable and on pain killers hoping to relieve
the irritation of another skiing accident. And yet the idea of stopping skiing
hasn’t even crossed my mind, well until I started writing this it hadn’t and
even so I pondered more why that thought had not yet crossed my mind more then I
pondered actually giving up skiing! I thought
that it might be the feeling of fresh powdery snow blasting me in the face as I
manoeuvred through a foot of snow, the thrill of jumping off a cliff that would
normally break someone’s legs, the camaraderie of chatting with friends about
an epic run or perhaps the lifestyle of being a lover of mountains. All of
these things make skiing (or snowboarding for that matter) an absolute
addiction for those of us dedicated to mountain winters. But why do we endure
the pain that so often does come with this great sport? What makes the pain of
injury worth that great powder day? This is not something I can fully answer
myself. I have my own reasons for going back day after day. Importantly because
I feel that each day only gets better than the previous and if I have injured
myself, it means next time I venture out onto the slopes I’ll be a better skier
and I’ll be able to face that narrow couloir without side-slipping down the
steep parts, I’ll be able to dominate the moguls and cruise through the trees without
stopping.
Each day on the mountain brings me closer to my goals; closer to
knowing the mountains, closer to nature and closer to myself. When faced with a
steep tree run, nothing is important but you, the mountain and survival,
hopefully with an element of fun. Life is put into perspective. Sure you might
end up with a bloody nose, a twisted back, a pole in your shin but it will be
worth it when you remember the pillow you bounced through, the face shots from
knee deep snow or even just the fun you had helping a friend learn to ski. Pain
is temporary, sure it hurts while its healing but once its healed it difficult
to remember the level of pain, to bring back those horrible memories of being
stuck in bed and barely able to move. However it’s never difficult to bring
back the feeling of elation from hitting that jump and landing it, the memory
of snow washing over your face as you make those perfect lines down untouched snow.
So I guess that’s what makes skiing worth all the pain. Pain is temporary,
memories last a lifetime!
Each day on the mountain brings me closer to my goals; closer to
knowing the mountains, closer to nature and closer to myself. When faced with a
steep tree run, nothing is important but you, the mountain and survival,
hopefully with an element of fun. Life is put into perspective. Sure you might
end up with a bloody nose, a twisted back, a pole in your shin but it will be
worth it when you remember the pillow you bounced through, the face shots from
knee deep snow or even just the fun you had helping a friend learn to ski. Pain
is temporary, sure it hurts while its healing but once its healed it difficult
to remember the level of pain, to bring back those horrible memories of being
stuck in bed and barely able to move. However it’s never difficult to bring
back the feeling of elation from hitting that jump and landing it, the memory
of snow washing over your face as you make those perfect lines down untouched snow.
So I guess that’s what makes skiing worth all the pain. Pain is temporary,
memories last a lifetime!