The ramp dropped away, narrowing in perspective, and the kicker at the end of the
flat looked like a wall, interfering with my ability to see the water. Jumpers on
the ramp must commit to the jump before they can see the landing area, so you might
call it a leap of faith.
I decided not to worry about the second flip,
until after completing the first one
Knowing that once I turned my skis down the ramp, I wouldn't be able to turn back,
I made a conscious decision. I decided not to worry about the second flip, until
after completing the first one. I trusted that my skills and my judgment
would still be with me after the first layout, so I just decided to take that leap
and tackle the challenge.
Just as the engineer doesn't wait for ALL the lights to turn green, before pulling
the train out of the station, we, too, have to move forward, one light at a time.
Any risky endeavor gives people reason to pause or delay. Whether it's launching
a new product, entering a new territory or undertaking a new career, we all have
doubts or second thoughts. But if we've done our homework, we really shouldn't wait
until the task seems easy or success is guaranteed. Waiting for all the lights to
turn green at the same time is futile. That moment never comes. Inevitably we'll
need to take that leap of faith.
With a little hop-turn, I was beyond the point of no return, my tips pointing down
the fall line. My stomach dropped and I began to accelerate as the wind whipped
around my face. I was already committed, so any change of heart would have been
both useless and counter-productive… even dangerous.
I was soon airborne and upside-down. I watched the swimming pool water come into
view overhead, and gradually, as the world oriented itself around me, I found myself
still almost 30 feet above the water. I had plenty of time to add another somersault,
so I held position, but bent at the hips and knees just a little, and began the
second rotation. I got a peek at the pool as it swung into view again, and spotted
my landing point. I pulled my tips around and landed skis first. SPLASH!
I was beyond the point of no return, my tips pointing down the fall line. My stomach
dropped and I began to accelerate…
What a thrill! I was overcome with a sense of joy, a personal satisfaction at facing
up to a worthy adversary, and just doing it! I was happy, not just for the satisfaction
of survival, but rather the triumph over my fears.
Thanks to my gymnastics background, and the hard work of training, I placed third
in my first-ever World Cup appearance, and by 1993, was ranked third in the world
and qualified onto the 1994 U.S. Olympic Team.