The Dreadful Loveliness

There is nothing more lovely than being forced to wake up in negative fourteen degree weather. And then being forced to train gates in it. And then being forced to strip down all jackets to a skin tight speed suit. I might as well be wearing a bikini. And then being forced to do it all over again the next day. And again the next day, and so on until the season ends. It's quite lovely you see, depending on how you define the adjective "lovely."

Look how "lovely".

If you are feeling a little slow on this fine winter night, I will be the kind person I am and end your confusion. This is an example of "sarcasm": the use of irony to mock or convey contempt. If you are still struggling to catch up, I will put it as simply as possible. In reality, all those "lovely" things I said before are not so lovely at all. As a matter of fact, I would describe them as the exact opposite: dreadful. With a capital "D".

I have a confession to make. I am not physically forced to participate in the sport of skiing each day. However I do it anyway. Why? I do not know. It must be one of those "interesting passions" we humans sometimes find ourselves caught up in. I feel astounded when I find myself at the top of Park City Mountain Resort each day in negative fourteen degree weather wearing nothing but a thin speed suit. (so practically nothing). But then I continue to run our course for the next two hours.

Man, I am a weirdo.

A couple of my fellow ski racers gettin' ready
to embrace the "lovely" outside world.

There is no other sport that is more weather dependent than ski racing (except for maybe sailing). For instance, say a huge gust of wind blows when you are running a course, setting you back a good second or two. This was purely the wind's fault therefore it doesn't matter at all. You could seriously have some once in a lifetime outstanding run, but then the wind completely wrecks it for you three gates to the finish. I guess it is best to keep Mother Nature on your side. Nonetheless, ski racers are probably some of the toughest athletes. We train through snow. We train through rain. We train through scorching heat. We train though thunder. HOWEVER, we do not train through lightning.

Sometimes I pray for lightning.

Don't tell the coaches I said that... Our little secret!

I am a ski racer. I should be tough. But once the temperature reaches the point where my coaches tell me not to leave the building without my face fully covered, or that moment when I have to pop blisters on my toes from the early stages of frostbite, I just can't deal any longer.

So Mother Nature, I know you are reading this because I have been requesting cold temps so our mountain can make artificial snow; you obviously granted that wish. You know how tough ski racers are. We are able to adapt to most of your mood swings, but this one is just a little far out of our reach. So, do you think you could possibly just bring us out of the negative temperature zone? It doesn't make our sport feel very lovely at all!