Trevor Matczak

Bowers
Comp MWF 10am
19 Feb 2016
The Power of Thought
On a cool spring day in Keystone, Colorado, I peer out to the mountain tops and am
overcome with the awe of the states natural beauty. The effortless sway of my hips translates to
the shift between my toes and heels as I euphorically carve down the trail. Fresh scents of
evergreen, and a crisp breeze of pure air push against my face, and all in that one moment, I am
at peace. With my boots laced up tight, and my feet strapped to my board, I experience pure
bliss. This is my first trip to Colorado, let alone to any real mountains. I was more than ecstatic
for this journey to the Rockies, but what I didnt know is I would come back home with
something much more powerful than just memories- I came back with a new approach to, and
perspective on, life.
Since age six, Ive been shredding powder with a piece of wood strapped to my feet just
about every winter. I could feel excitement surging through my veins as I stood at the bottom of
the mountain on our first day there. After a nice brief warm up, and a few practice runs to get our
legs under us, I was feeling more than ready. I looked around the mountain range, soaking up my
surroundings, closed my eyes as I took a deep breath of the early morning air; then peered into
both of my brothers eager faces, declaring its time baby.
The natural feel of my surroundings, availability to venture off trail, and large course map
made way for a wide variety of boarding, and the day was a non-stop blast. It wasnt until the
early afternoon that my brothers and I decided to take on the terrain parks, and with great vigor

did we do so. Taking most of the morning to pump our egos up, virtually nothing would get in
our way of taking the mountain for everything it had to offer us. After a few gos at the terrain
park, I had my eye on one specific jump that I wanted to conquer. A large ramp with a fat gap in
between the take-off and landing area had my mouth drooling, and it was about time to go big or
go home. The thing was, I was a long walk from home, and I had no intention of buying myself
an early plane ride home, so I happened to be left with but one option.
Approaching every jump with intent, and focusing hard especially on a smooth landing, I
suffered from one petty failed attempt after another. Growing up I always had a problem with my
attitude and competitiveness in sports, with snowboarding being an exception. Except in this
moment, anything stepping in between me and my desire to conquer this course was highly
frowned upon. After a ridiculously close attempt at a grab, my brothers kept up with encouraging
me to overcome this obstacle, and keep working it out until all the wrinkles were gone. This
time, I take a few extra seconds to gather myself before heading down towards lift-off. This time
down I felt something different, something I felt I might have been missing before and had just
found, I was supremely determined that this was the one boy was I wrong. As I exit the lip of
the ramp, the toe edge of my board catches, and I go tumbling into the air wondering how I am
going to manage this landing and also keep my head. As gravity pulls me down, I realize I am
going to land upside down and I prepare myself for impact. Smacking down onto the mixture of
packed snow and ice, my arm went numb, my neck got hot, and my dignity was absolutely shot.
I sat there not writhing in pain, but agonizingly disappointed in myself to the point that I was
about to be done for the day. I move to the side of the run so I can sulk out of the way of
everyone else whos days seem to be going just as planned. Disgusted with myself I swiped my
goggles off of my head, and was just about to head down the mountain to call it a day, as I heard

the gliding crunch of snow approaching behind me. I thought at first this would be one of my
brothers but remembered they had taken off down the trail before me. A stranger with a familiar
jacket rode by me and spoke to me:
Yo brotha, gnarly tumble you took right there. Just wanted to say Ive been watching
you the past few times youve came down and youre right there! I can see it in your eyes
right now that you want to give up- but just remember this: things in life are going to get
you down, its how you express your will to overcome these changes by the power of
thought that will define you as a man.
After those quick words that I will not soon forget, he swayed his hips and proceeded
down the mountain to continue his day. The kind words came as a shock, and the words spoken
rang with intense volume in my mind. I realized that everything is perspective. There are a
countless number of determining forces in each of our lives that attempt to govern how we actreligion, government, family, along with all other trials and tribulations- but it is how we
ourselves decide to take the situation at hand, make the best of it for our own happiness and
freedom that defines us as the people we are. After my brief epiphany I sat and realized that I had
forgotten I may potentially be broken at the moment, so after collecting and examining myself, I
presented myself with a choice: ride down and do not come back, or come back a new man.
Standing tall, yet again, again at the top of the run amidst the deep afternoon of a colorful
spring day in the mountains, I took a deep breath. The effortless sway of my hips empowered the
shift between my toes and heels as I euphorically carve down the trail. Fresh scents of evergreen,
and a crisp breeze of pure air push against my face as I near my jump. Steady, focused, and
enthused I begin to climb the ramp and fly freely into the air. And all in that one moment, I was
at peace.