Today at my home mountain, BIG MOUNTAIN, MT, we had the annual NATE CHUTE BORDER CROSS. Nate was a well known snowboarder from the Flathead Valley who took his life and this race is held every year in his honor. Snowboarders who spend their time shredding Big Mountain all season and pros who race and compete for a living all came out and threw down in one of the most exciting events that our mountain has to offer, and this year with even more energy to back it with the event being a dedication to our friend Aaron Robinson
now....Even though it isn't open to skiers it always gets me excited when the big race gets closer. A lot of friends fell and even more of them made it to the finish and it was such a fun race to watch. This year however, had an entirely different feeling then it ever has before..The excitement and the adrenaline from the race gave such an incredible energy to the day and you could feel it every where.
yes i loved it all but this is what really got me.....
When the race had finished and the winners were crowned, all the boarders (and few skiers that were along for the ride:) made their way to the top of the mountain and gathered, as friends, for what is one of the greatest memories i have ever had on skis....
The snow had been falling all afternoon and i'm talking big nasty flakes, and as competitors and spectators all came together the snow started falling even harder, and faster too. Friends from all over the country felt ease and comfort in the presence of some of the most inspiring and wise words i've heard in a long time, all about friends that have taken their lives and friends that have had their lives taken from them. memories of Aaron were shared and thoughts of living life to fullest were shouted, everyone cheering after every comment, loud and proud and with everything they had in them. then we all shared a moment of silence.....
after the feelings had settled and all the words were absorbed, 120+ people cheered together one last time and sent it down the mountain in the biggest mob i have ever been a part of. EVERYONE shredding so hard for Aaron and all of the friends that we have all lost.
The feeling that I experienced this afternoon is something that cant be put into words....it was such joy
so please friends, remember how lucky we all are. To laugh. to love. to hope. to breath. to be.
AND TO SKI
Shred your hardest and push yourself to your highest potential in everything you do
you've been given an incredible gift of life....dont take it for granted
honestly just thought that you folks might actually understand where i'm coming from with this
for you my friends...the coolest community i've ever been a part of
