Will Lain-Hedden ’26
I carry my skis not just in my hands but in my identity. Their vibrant blue color and orange highlights stand out like a beacon of light while being slayed across a blanket of cold white snow. They are bold, and yet they can’t even speak. Their still, however, say many words. They’re wide, stiff, and heavy enough to feel their presence whenever I throw them into the back of my car, but yet, when I use them, that weight disappears. They allow me to float like I have wings, flying above the noise of the city and stress of school. They carry me into a place much quieter and open. They let me flow down a run with the wind rushing through my helmet, clearing my mind of all negative thoughts. When I ski, those bright, clunky pieces of wood become a beacon of freedom. I didn’t just walk into a shop and pick them out like any pair of skis. I earned them through years of hard work. A discount followed with a sponsorship, but more importantly, it allowed me to recognize something in myself. That I was no longer that scared, hesitant, and unconfident kid. I’ve grown into someone I’ve hoped to become. Proving to myself that all my hard work was worth it. Even though they only get used for part of the year, they live with me always. Even when the light closes on the season, they still shine like a light in my room. In a hot, stuffy classroom during the middle of spring, when school feels like it is coming to a close, I carry the thought and imagine them shooting up snow and allowing me to fly in the air. When the first snowfall lands on the mountains and the cold wind travels through the air, I see them rise and create colors similar to a brisk sunrise. My skis travel with me everywhere, in my car, on a plane, down the run, and in my mind. With them, I feel like I am not just another person in life, but instead, I have a true sense of identity. They carry me through thick winter storms and steep lines, and I carry them with pride. They remind me that something small can be the most powerful form of light. That something heavy can still set you free.