Sophomore Emily Peng builds speed, bracing for takeoff, and with the swish of snow underneath her skis, lifts off the ground. Suspended in the air, cold wind whipping her face and adrenaline rushing through her body, she completes a 360-degree spin. After nine years of skiing, the sport has become one of Peng’s favorite sources of accomplishment and enjoyment.
“I feel like it’s nerve-racking, but it’s really rewarding after you land the trick you want to land, even though you were really scared in the beginning,” Peng said. “Once you get over the fear, it’s great.”
Peng began skiing at the age of six, when her father enrolled her in ski school. Although she was initially reluctant to attend, Peng stayed consistent with practice.
“I think in the beginning, I didn’t want to do it because I was small and cold and I didn’t want to be there,” Peng said. “But I feel like once I got good and it felt easier, then I enjoyed it more because I wasn’t on the ground so much.”
As Peng became a more proficient skier, she began to notice other skiers practicing advanced tricks and spins. Captivated, she began trying out some of the tricks for herself. Although Peng had no coach, she managed to develop her skills by imitating other skiers.
“I didn’t really start tricks until last year, but I found it really interesting, so I decided to give it a try,” Peng said. ”I just watch other people, and I try by myself.”
Peng’s improvement wasn’t smooth. One of the biggest challenges she faced was her fear of trying a new skill. Yet with persistence, despite fall after fall, Peng was able to overcome this mental block.
“I just tell myself to go for it,” Peng said. “If I fall, I fall. Because falling is low-key not that bad.”
In order to make it to ski resorts on time, Peng wakes up at 5 to 6 a.m. on Saturdays, where her parents then drive for four hours to a ski resort. After a day packed with skiing, Peng and her family start the return journey home at 4 p.m. While the schedule can be exhausting, she finds ways to balance skiing with school by scheduling her homework for Sundays.
Peng loves skiing for its excitement and freedom. Her favorite trick is the 360, which requires her to take off in the air and complete a full circle before landing.
“The better I get, the more enjoyable it is,” Peng said. “And it’s just really nice being in the mountains.”
Peng plans to continue skiing throughout high school, honing her skiing skills and enjoying every moment in the mountains with her family.
