You get one shot at a course. You train in the gym all summer and fall for this one run. You freeski, drill, and train throughout the winter for this one run. You tune your skis for thousands of hours a season for this one run. You make one miscalculation and it’s over. Your day is finished. If you’re not weary, your entire season could be jeopardized. You make one mistake and all the money your parents have exhausted are wasted. This is the reality of ski racing. In what other sport, can all your preparation be so quickly foiled? You can ski to the best of your ability, but be foiled by the fact that you didn’t wax the right temperature wax. It is truly a brutal sport. But, I love it.

It takes a truly special type of person to be successful at ski racing. You have to a bit masochistic. You have to be willing to wear a spandex suit in winter conditions while wearing ski boots that are three to four sizes smaller than your shoe size. You have to be willing to accept that on any given run, you could catch an edge at high speeds and blow out your knee. You have to accept vomiting in the gym. You have to fight fear and be willing to push past your comfort. This sport is not for the faint of heart. Without it, I would not be who I am today.

Video of me crashing

I live for vomiting after a workout. I live for taking a gnarly crash and living to tell the tale. Most of all, I live for laying down a good run. Ski racing has taught me that “you can’t always get what you want”. It has taught me mental prowess. Above all, it has taught me that hard work trumps all. Without ski racing, I would not be at Middlebury. I would not be willing to push myself in the gym and the classroom. I may not be the strongest student at this institution, but what I lack in knowledge, I make up for in sheer ability to work hard. It takes courage to be a great ski racer. It takes courage to lead a great life. Ski racing has created the building blocks for my future success regardless of what my results are.

Thanks,

Murph