I really needed some work this weekend and it fell in to my lap. I have been working in promotions for almost a decade and I hardly have to look for work anymore. I take pride in the work that I do. I am ambitious and I am a very hard worker. I take pride in everything that I do. I got invited to work all weekend for Warren Miller's No Turning Back tour. These stops on the tour were in Boulder, my old home. I got to be a part of the Warren Miller magic in Boulder -- something I remember from really looking forward to in college every year. I've seen some great ski/snowboard films this season and this is one of them too. Go ahead and take a peak at the trailer and then read on.
Snowboarding and skiing to me are nothing short of magical. There is nothing that motivates me quite the same as the winter sports culture and the tight knit community that we are all so very lucky to be a part of. Snow brought me to Colorado. Snow brings my family together for the holidays. There is nothing quite like it. Nothing that even compares in my mind.
As many of you know, I have taken part in competitions over the years and these competitions have been the main drive in my life since college. The competitions as well as snow in general. I took last year off of competition for a few reasons. After living in Dillon (up in the mountains and right in the middle of snow country with multiple resorts nearby) for 3 years, a series of events caused my need to move. I didn't want to move but I knew it was the necessary choice at the time. Everything happens for a reason, but I didn't at that time understand my reasons fully. I needed a change. I didn't know where I was going, I just knew I needed to move. But where to?! I was thinking I would either move to Boulder, Denver, or Eagle County (Vail area). I decided to move where the universe told me to move to.
I started talking to people and applying for jobs. I found myself in Boulder for one reason or another and I met up with my friend Cammie at an old college favorite, Half Fast Subs. When I met up with Cammie, she was with her friend Janina. Janina and I had met at a party years prior and we had made numerous attempts to hang out back then and none of them were successful. When I arrived, it was a meeting of minds that was destined to happen. The girls asked me about my life and what I was doing and I told them about my search. When I told them what my major was in college (Science, Society, & Technology), what I wrote my thesis on (The Effect of Technology on Astronomy in Elementary Education), my love for and experience with children and some of my previous job experience, Janina got extremely excited and urged me to apply to the preschool she worked at. At first I wasn't interested because as I told her, I am not a fan of the politics in public education. Janina then informed me that she worked at a Montessori school and that I wouldn't be involved in the public school system. My interest piqued. I decided I would go in for an interview.
My sisters both went to Montessori school so I knew a little bit about Montessori but honestly, I didn't know much. I went in for an interview at Boulder Montessori School and the more I learned, the more interested in was in becoming an assistant teacher at the school! I decided that my next step was to pursue a certificate in Early Childhood Education. Long story short I got the job at BMS, I started taking classes in ECE, and I moved to Boulder. I absolutely loved what I was doing. In Colorado if you want to get an ECE license, all that you have to do if you already have a BA is take (and do well in) 2 ECE classes and log 900 experience hours in teaching the right age/number of children. I excelled in the classes and started working at the school 2-3 days a week. I absolutely loved everybody at the school -- kids, parents, teachers, and administrators!
Once snow started falling I started to realize that I was in the wrong place. If only I could pick up the school and move it along with the people...seriously, have they invented the teleporter yet?!! With the number of hours I was working each week it would take me 2 years to reach my 900 hours of required experience. I decided that I was going to suck it up and live on the front range until I reached the 900 hours. I figured I would move to Golden and I would be close enough to work at the school and also I would be closer to the mountains. I started searching for a place to live in Golden. I had many potential places/people but they just kept falling through. I was frustrated but determined. As much as I love Boulder, it's not my place anymore. It was fun in college and I have some great friends there, but I need more than Boulder can give me.
My parents came out to Beaver Creek for the 3rd of July week as per usual. Yes, 3rd of July. Best holiday in Avon/Beaver Creek. I don't even care about the 4th as much because the 3rd is always so fun! As far as I'm concerned, the fireworks on the 3rd are much better fireworks than I have seen anywhere else in the USA. I got to spend time with my parents, some of my closest friends (Holly, Doug, Clay, Jessie, and Derek), and a few newer friends that week in the mountains. The mountains were just calling my name and reminding me that I really do belong there. My moving date was at the end of the month and I decided that I had to move up to Eagle County. I didn't know what I was going to do for work but I had to move up to the mountains. I always make it work. I was determined. Instead of delaying my happiness I decided to move up to the mountains and put my energy in a place that demanded my presence.
I have too much to write now and I am supposed to have already checked out of my hotel room. I'll finish up with the initial thought and save the other tangents for another time.
Back to last night (and the whole weekend) at Warren Miller. Watching this movie along with Teton Gravity Research's movies Almost Ablaze and Jeremy Jones' Higher (the third in his trilogy) made me realize that I have different snowboarding goals than I had thought a few months ago.
I do not want to compete anymore. At least not for now. I have better things to do with my time and money. Some are snowboarding related and some aren't. I guess that's not completely true because they all link back to snowboarding in one way or another, some are just more direct than others.
- As I have mentioned numerous times before, I am going to film. I will share my life and my story with the world. I want people who live in other areas and would never get a glimpse into the ski/snowboard culture to be able to see what it's like. From multiple angles. If you are interested in collaborating, please let me know.
- I am helping to inspire at-risk youth to make positive decisions for healthy and successful lives through snowboarding. I started working with the non-profit SOS Outreach this year and I am very excited to be making a positive change in the lives of these children. If you are interested in making a donation on my behalf to SOS outreach, please check out my fundraising page!! Any and all donations are beyond appreciated :)
- I will get more in to backcountry riding. I will do heli drops. I will skin up a crazy huge mountain. I will feel very small when I look at the huge mountains around me. I will get away and be one with nature.
- I will get better at skiing again. I will be a triple threat eventually...I will tele and ski as well as I snowboard. My main drive for this is that I have decided that I need to learn how to do the newer hybrid sport of speedriding (aka speedflying).
- I am going to move to South America for one of our summers (winter down there) for a plethora of reasons. I will be immersed in a new [to me] culture. I will learn Spanish. I will ski/snowboard in Chile/Argentina. I will learn more about myself. I will get rid of a good number of my material possessions.
- Once I have completed some of these other stepping stones, I will open up my non-profit. My goal is 3-4 years at the latest. I will make a huge difference in the lives of others and specifically in the Aspen Valley.
I will finish my 900 hours of experience so that I have my ECE certificate as well. I do not and will not give up on my goals and dreams, I will make a difference. I know what my purpose is and I am very motivated. There's no better time than now.
Everything happens for a reason. There are no coincidences.
Life is the journey, not only the destination.
And with no further adieu I will step out on to the slopes and I will connect with the mountain. The season is upon us and it is my time to shine!
Love and light!
Peace, love, and happiness ALWAYS!!
XOXOX <3 Summ
