23k

Among 16,000+ skiers this weekend, I attempted a challenging, yet very fun race on the Birkie trail. I took part of the American Birkibiner Race-the largest nordic skiing race in North America. Instead of attempting the 54 kilometers of the full Birkie (Well, since I am not 18 I couldn't even attempt it), I skiied the 23k Kortelopet. I have never raced anything longer than a 10k. I was a little nervous. It proved to be very fun. Having the satisfaction of passing hundreds (literally) of skiers, while racing made me feel pretty good, the only drawback was that I started in wave 6, which made full on racing the course challenging as the trails were pretty chopped up. But it was deffinetly still fun! I finished in 1 hour and 38 minutes (contrary to the Birkie results, which has my results listed wrong). I got 2nd place overall in my age group! The only prize I got for doing so well is a very sore body! Ohhhh well! It was worth it!
With the Birkie, I completed 6 years of high school nordic racing. In those six years, I have lettered 5 times (I got my first letter in 8th grade); made all conference 3(?) times; All section 2 times; gone to State 4 times (twice on the relay, and twice individually), won the Mesabi East Invite (biggest high school race in North America) JV skate race by 1 minute, and have been part of 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place Minnesota State Teams. I would say it was a pretty good 6 years! Besides all of the accomplishments I achieved, I have made some fantastic memories, fabulous friends, and had some fast skis. I am looking forward to the day when I can teach my kids the joy of skiing.

Until Next Time,

Miss Sass A Frass

Friends are for Forever

I never truely believed the quote, "Laughter is the best medicine" until I encountered it's healing properties this last month. 

This month was met with some heartache and tears as I did not make the sections team (again). Although there was some unfair decisions made by my coaches, I have learned to respect them and be a team player. Even though I was sad and frustrated I continued to show up to practice, wax my friends' skis, and be a good captain. God strategically put people in my life that week month to encourage, support, and pray for me. Just to name a few:

Zach

He came and cheered me on, the blistery, frost-biting (I have it on my nose to prove the windchill of the day) day of conference. Although some of his cheerings made me mad ("you can go faster" is not encouraging cough!) seeing him out there cheering for me made my day and did make me race faster. Afterwards his sympathy and his positivety while putting up with tearful and self-pitying Mikayla easily gives him the "Best Boyfriend of the Year" award, plus taking me to Cherry Berry to drown my sorrows was a plus too! I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend! :)

Sarah & Rachel

They truely showed me how laughter can heal. I had a sleepover with them the same week of Conference and I could not remember the last time I had laughed that hard. It was so nice to have friends around me to be silly and goofy with! Plus it was my first major sleepover with friends in months, which made it even better! They helped remind me of what is important-relationships and laughter, the key ingrediants in life. I commented to my mom the day after the sleepover, "It is so weird how two nights ago I cried myself to sleep, and last night I literally laughed myself to sleep." Those type of friends are irreplacable. 

My Mom

My mom proudly braggs that she has never missed a single one of my ski races. Some might say that's crazy and she has no life, but I think it's her obvious act of love and support of me, and that means so much to me. She has been there to hold me when I cry, or when I clap my hands in victory. She is my #1 fan and no one can replace her. Her constant words of "You are a winner in my book" and "I am so proud of you" has helped me toughen up, smile, and brave those people who I would rather avoid. She has given me that courage to keep pushing forward. 

A lot of others have also been instumental in my life the last month, most importantly God. Through him, I found the strength to put on a smile, throw my head back, and hopefully be an example to others through this last ardous month. I am so blessed and I can never quite express that enough. So count your blessings, thank God daily for what he gives you, and praise him for helping you whether the storm.

Until Next Time,

Miss Sass A Frass