GS Gates

By Cassie

"Three, two, one, go!" My whole body tenses up when I hear the announcer's deep voice.

I push off the wooden platform and onto the slippery snow as my legs are shaking. I instantly wonder why it has to be so icy on the day I'm racing. I head to the first gate nervously. I try to turn early just like my coaches have been telling me to. I turn too early and loose some speed. I get mad at myself as I go towards the next gate.

As I go around the two red delay gates, first I think about how I'm so short, I'm almost the hight of the short gates. Then,I think about a girl who is a great snowboarder and I have my mind set to beat her. On that thought, determination fills every inch of my body and I start going faster. I dig the metal edges of my board to make sharper turns.

Only one thought is going through my head now. I have to beat her! I look down at the snow and I can see how fast I am going. I want to slow down but then I remember I'm in a race. I look up just in time to go around another gate. I look to the next one. It's blue, I turn left.

I can now see the finish line and my heart floods with relief. I tuck down to pick up more speed and go through the finish line. Hoping I did better than the girl I wanted to beat, I take off my board and walk nervously to the scoreboard. I jump in excitement as I see my name placed before her's!