By Lila Weis, TIWP Student

Freedom. 
It’s like feeling a cool breezy wind blowing on your face.
It’s like straightlining your favorite run.
It’s like riding the chairlift with all of your friends.
It’s like racing them to the bottom.

Freedom.
It’s like eating lunch at the lodge with your teammates.
It’s like getting advice from your coaches after each run.
It’s like being frustrated because you forgot to change your technique.
It’s like improving your time by two seconds.

Freedom.
It’s like singing the Inspector Gadget theme song on the chair with your friends.
It’s like getting to know the kids on your team.
It’s like feeling the soft grip of your skis on the snow.
It’s like seeing the snow fall as you sit inside.

Freedom.
It’s like still being in touch with past coaches.
It’s like the bond you create with your crew.
It’s like the community you’ve been lucky to be a part of for all of those years.

Freedom.
It’s the memory you once had.
It’s knowing you’ll never feel it again.
And it’s knowing that you know you’ll never forget it.