Throwback Thursday: Leigh Cuttin' the Slopes

My favorite sport growing up was volleyball, but when I was 12 I went with my dad's side of the family out to Red Lodge Montana. Skiing was the first sport that I tried that terrified me. It might have been because my dad took me straight up the mountain and tried to just explain it to me. Obviously that didnt work. Then to get down he had me hang onto his shoulders and put my skis between his while we slowly made our way down. The feeling of having absolutely no control over your speed and feeling uncoordinated was awful. I watched my cousins zip and weave and leave me in the dust. There had to be a better way and I was determined to fly with them. Thankfully there were lessons and I was in the next available class. I learned the basics of snowplowing and how to have control. That made me feel safe and from there I slowly developed the skills necessary to make it on the green runs on my own. I remember it was the sheer determination of wanting to know how to do something that pushed me to learning so quickly. I remember there being a slight mind shift in my mentality after my first skiing experience of pride and accomplishment at really understanding and getting something new. I gained a whole new level of confidence in myself. By the end of the weekend I had dumped the snowplowing and I was cutting the powder with the cousins on the blue runs. From there my love of skiing took off and upon returning home I would dream about it for weeks.

It's a gift to be able to move and do things with our bodies. What they are capable is amazing. Like learning how to ski I love learning new movements and skills at crossfit. It gives me that same fear/satisfaction feeling after accomplishing something new. When I see a new workout posted I envision myself doing the movements and I get excited. I'm so thankful for the experiences I had as a kid that helped me developed the mindframe to push myself. Crossfit is now my go to to get that mental high! I love it!