No Regrets
by Zyre Austin
Senior Thesis Paper
May 15, 2012
“Fear is temporary regret is forever”
-Anonymous
Many people have to consider following their dreams, or following a path that will hopefully lead to financial security; these two options split into three different paths. Most seem to choose financial security rather than taking the risk of failure chasing their dream. Dreams don’t always pan out financially, but making a dream come true can fulfill a void that no amount of financial security can buy. If you ever plan on being happy and satisfied with your future job then following your dreams is the only way to go. My dream is to win the Olympics in women’s Halfpipe Skiing, it might seem like a huge dream but I’m going to make it happen! If you want something bad enough and you believe that it can happen, chances are it will, if you work hard for it.
There are three basic paths I could choose to take in life that would define my future; the military, a college education, or chasing my dream. Each of these options has both benefits and liabilities. The military, for example, has the benefits of paid education, a wide array of disciplinary skills, social security benefits/ insurance/ set income, and the opportunity to serve your country.
Although there are many benefits, the military does have its downfalls. There is a high chance of injury or death during battle, 1 in 5 will suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and in some cases other mental issues. Not to mention, if you happen to break the rules as a troop it could result in dishonorable discharge leaving you with nothing to show for. (cited http://winoverptsd.com/wp/tag/combat-veteran-ptsd-statistics/)
Going to college seems to be the most popular choice amongst kids my age. When you have graduated and own a degree, you’ll be a more educated intellectual individual. College students are known to have time management and disciplinary skills which are crucial life skills. There are many advantages to getting a degree, but will those things be worth the sum of student loans in the end? Chances are that I would need to have a job during college to pay for basic expenses like books and food. If I were to be working as well as going to class, I would simply not be able to find time to study for exams or work on homework. It would be overwhelming to handle all my class work and a job.Many students do find the time to do both but in many cases that means sacrificing any social time. I would find it very difficult to live with a random person in a dorm and be distracted by parties. Even though some people find this lifestyle to work, I am sure this would not be a happy lifestyle for me.
“The worst failure is the failure to try”
-Anonymous
Following my dream would make me happier than any other route I would consider taking. As an athlete I would have to stay in shape which would be a long term benefit. If I do make it to the Olympics I would be an inspiration for others to follow their dreams as well. Winning major competitions all winter long would produce a pay check more than enough to be financially stable.
If I don’t do well in competitions than I’ll be putting in way more money than I will be getting back, putting myself into debt. Skiing is a very dangerous sport with a high risk of injury or even death; if I injured myself badly enough it could end my career so a back-up-plan is definitely something to think about. Being involved in such a progressive sport I have to always be learning new tricks and pushing myself so I can never take long breaks. As an athlete your body can only take so much for so long so the longevity of this career is limited, but if I do well during the time I have, I believe it will ensure my future. Knowing that I will be happy doing something I love, there is no other choice for me but to follow my dream of becoming an Olympic champion in halfpipe skiing.
"If you are going to be a successful duck hunter, you must go where the ducks are."
-Paul "Bear" Bryant
The number one question I must ask with any pursuit is: is it realistic or attainable? If the average Joe said “I want to be a pro surfer” at age 19 but has never seen the ocean or done very many physical things chances are it’s probably not going to happen. However, if Joe felt this dream in his heart and was actually going to put everything into making it come true, even if he never achieved it, he would still be happy trying. As Alfred Lord Tennison one said “it is better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all” metaphorically, not trying to follow a dream is the same as never loving because you are not giving into what your heart desires. What is the most realistic path for me?
Can I follow the strict orders the military enforces? Am I willing to risk my life in the line of duty to save others and protect my country? No, I am not. However, I respect others that are passionate about doing so. I can’t say that I would be enthusiastic showing up to college classes on time or living in a dorm with people I don’t know. How can I be so sure that all the boring time I will have invested will land me my dream job because chances are for me it won’t? I can proudly say I do have the skills to be an Olympian one day but the hard part is climbing the steps to success. It takes support financially emotionally and physically. Will I be able to make it to all of my competitions? Do I have the equipment I need to ski? Yes I know I can do these things because I have a drive in me for skiing that I don’t have for anything else.
Each one of these paths can lead to a successful future. In the military you are able to prove yourself and be promoted to higher rankings as well as earning badges of honor. For example my uncle Don Villemaire earned the Distinguished Flying Cross badge in the Coast Guard for saving lives in a hurricane. Saving a life in the line of duty is something special that you can’t get doing anything else but serving your country, and a feeling nothing else can bring. College can lead to many beneficial career opportunities as well as higher job satisfaction. According to proto-knowledge.blogspot.com: “ Higher job satisfaction
➞In 2008, about 60 percent of people who had attended college – whether or not they’d completed a degree – reported that they were very satisfied with their jobs. Only 50 percent of high school graduates and 40 percent of high school dropouts could say the same. People with job satisfaction were three times as likely to say that they were very happy.” “Fewer social costs
➞High school graduates are three times more likely to live in poverty than college graduates, and eight times more likely to depend on public assistance programs
➞For every female high school student who goes on to attend college, society saves $48,600 over her lifetime. For every African-American male who goes on to finish college instead of dropping out of high school, society saves $294,000.”
(Cited:http://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-10-benefits-of-college-degree_29.html)
“Your gona take beatings. It’s written in our DNA. You go down…You get UP. It’s That simple.”
-Travis Rice
You might not think skiing would be a hard job, that I’d be taking the easy way out, but I can tell you you’re wrong. Being a professional athlete is a mentally, physically, and emotionally demanding job that takes everything you have. There are no short cuts and no doing anything half-assed. The only person I’ll let down is myself. For instance, in a normal job a sick day is somewhat of a relief you get to go home and relax; being sick and having to take a day off can mean the difference between 1st place and 2nd, so unless it’s something serious you can bet I’ll tough it out. Injuries are the biggest encumbrance I’ve had to push though, I tore my ACL, MCL, Meniscus, and got a micro fracture in my knee; fallen on my face several times, and had many other crashes that all hurt very bad but never enough to break my spirit. Skiing is a job that takes a substantial amount of dedication. I have to get up every day early and train whether I’m going skiing or just working out, it’s something I have to do to be one step closer to reaching my goal. When you think about it I’m really putting in as much work and discipline or more as I would joining the army or being a good college student.
My mantra is “With effort and time ANYTHING is mine”. In the beginning of this year was when I really decided I wanted to go to the Olympics, and when I started putting in the right amount of work to get there. Jumping into the professional world of skiing was not as smooth as I would have hoped. fortunately the let downs I have faced lead me strait to success. Being unprepared has been the biggest hinder on moving forward, if you don’t have what you need to get the job done then you’re just another day behind. It’s important not to think anything is going to be easy, if you approach it that way you’re setting yourself up for failure. The transformation of lifestyles was surprisingly one of the hardest parts for me to do.
“Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional”
-Buddha
I can’t say it wasn’t difficult being alone every day without a coach or a friend to help me at first, because it was. I jumped into a world that I knew little about and had much to learn; this is a world where it takes time to earn respect, and knowing people is a way in. I went from being late to school and most of my classes to getting up at 5 and driving 90 miles to ski and train all day and driving back in the afternoon. It was hard when I stopped seeing my friends and talking to them as much, not being able to have a normal senior year and hearing about what I’ve missed. What I’ve gained is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I Kept hearing “ you have to believe in yourself if you want anyone to believe in you” and one day it clicked. I didn’t use to believe in myself like I do now. My first competition of the year was the US. Grand Prix World cup, It’s a serious event that all the pros are in. I looked at who I was competing against and instantly got discouraged; I was skiing next to Sarah Burke, Jen Hudak, and Anaïs Caradeux just some of the biggest names in my sport. I felt like I was going to get dead last and I was so embarrassed to even ski in front of them. When I didn’t get last and ended up somewhere in the middle I was surprised because I didn’t have many tricks, and knew that I did well for my first comp, it lit a spark for the rest of the season. That spark started a fire, I really started believing in myself and truly seeing how close I am to making my dream come true, and that’s when I knew I couldn’t stop or ever give up.
"Once you agree upon the price you and your family must pay for success it enables you to ignore the minor hurts, the opponent's pressure, the temporary failures."
-Vince Lombardi
Skiing is expensive. I never realized how much this dream of mine would cost my parents; and how much it has cost other parents with kids sharing my dream. This year my parents have spent over $ 13,000 on my skiing alone. Equipment, travel costs, competition fees, you name it. Competition fees ranged from $85-$275 each, my skis cost about $500+ $450 bindings, poles, $75, not to mention tuning my skis before each comp.All the little things add up to a large cost! In my situation I’ve experienced canceled competition after flying all the way to VT and having to pay to reschedule flights and rebook hotels. But the largest cost a parent has ever had is losing the life of their child.
Unfortunately this ski season Sarah Burke, 27 of CAN. A pioneer in Freesking and an inspiration to many passed away in a halfpipe accident. Her death reminded me and my parents how dangerous this sport actually is and they even both asked me, “Are you sure this is what you really want to do?” and my answer was and still is yes the reward is worth the risk. I can honestly say that i am willing to face death living my dream, that alone affirms that this is the right path for me to take. I am not willing to risk my life for anything other than pursing what I love; Halfpipe skiing. When I’m skiing I live everyday, like it’s the best day of my life, like it’s the last day of my life knowing that is greater than any fear of danger I might have.
"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
-Muhammad Ali
As I said earlier, “if you don’t have what you need to get the job done then you’re just another day behind.” In the beginning of the season I would forget little things like my boots, gloves or neck-gaiter. Forgetting things was a serious setback for me because I would end up driving all the way to the mountain and not even being able to ski. You can’t be a professional runner and forget your shoes. I have never been a “cookie cutter” individual, and I've made my fair share of bad choices.So once I learned my lesson a few times I pretty much got it t hank goodness. “Getting it meant following through on commitments, being professional, and ultimately growing up. Being responsible is a trait that will, get you far in life, you can not achieve anything great without knowing what it is to be responsible.
Its just as important to remember to take care of my body. If I don’t remember to feed myself and stay hydrated then it can be as bad as not skiing at all; when my body isn’t nourished then I’m so much more likely to injure myself. Keeping my body in shape in the off season is a major thing to do because if I let myself get out of shape than its like I have to start over when the season comes back around. Hence, if I want to be an Olympic athlete than remembering the little things is just as important to my future as anything else.
Getting someone to help me has been the hardest part. Like I said skiing is extremely expensive and I’m not so sure I can do it by myself. Acquiring sponsors is a difficult process because the different companies are being bombarded with all sorts of letters asking for sponsorship so standing out is key. A short and simple letter or visual presentation is what a sponsor is looking for, but they also want to know a lot about you so finding a balance is the answer. I am currently in the middle of applying for sponsorships to the companies I would like to represent, Salomon Skiies, Marker Bindings, Smith Goggles, Scott Poles, Bern Helmets, Monster Energy, KIND bar, and hopefully others. I have been writing letters to them but a lot would like to see video and that has been the most difficult part because I don’t have any “good video”. I have video from before I could do certain tricks and its not worth sending when I know I can ski better than what I’ve captured on film. here is an example of one of the letters i have written:
Dear Salomon,
My name is Zyre Austin, I’m 18 and from Glenwood Springs CO. I’ve been skiing and competing since I can remember, my goal in life is to win the Olympics in women’s halfpipe . This past season, ( 2011-2012) was my first full year competing in the pipe and the best year of my life! I really surprised myself with my success, I ended up winning the USSA Junior Nationals and doing pretty well in most of the other competitions I entered. In the beginning of the season I started off at # 51 on the Association of Freeskiing Professionals world rankings list*, and since then I have moved up to #19 in the world and #6 in the US, all without a coach. I plan on competing in the top tours again and all of the important competitions including the Dew Tour ,World Cup, US freestyle Championships and the AFP world championships. This year I skied The Salomon Pro Pipes and I am absolutely in love with them, the only problem now is they have defiantly seen better days, especially after such a dry season! The truth is I NEED a ski sponsor and I wouldn’t want to ski for anyone other than Salomon. Any help that Salomon could give me to help me get where I want to go would be greatly appreciated, I plan on standing on some important podiums and I would love to represent the company! Thanks for your time and consideration,-Zyre
Getting a coach has been a difficult process, I haven’t seemed to achieve yet, but that has in no way stopped me from pushing my self. Not having a coach, I would go to Woodward at Copper. Woodward is and indoor training facility with Snowflex* jumps into giant foam pits and trampolines. After the people at Woodward started to see my face a lot they realized just how self-motivated I was and began to take an interest in helping me get to where I want to go. I started learning new things on the tramp that I thought I was months away from learning. When I would learn something new at Woodward it pushed me to be better on skis, and most of all it made me believe in myself more. In the beginning of the season I was ranked # 51 on the Association of Freesking Professionals World Rankings List (the AFP) and since then I have moved up to # 19 in the World and #6 in the US. And I did that by myself with the help of the people that truly care about me.
*http://www.snowflex.com/.
As hard as it was looking for help, it was easy to find it where I didn’t expect it. My parents have of course been my biggest support. My single mother is a business owner that works hard so that she can support my dreams and my dad has invested most of his earnings into my dream as well. Even one of my moms clients were able to donate to my cause actually helping me get to my last completion in VT. On my way to VT I landed in MASS, where I have family I had never met before, and they were more than willing to support me as well. It was so nice to know I could find reinforcement where I didn’t think to look.
The bottom line is I love skiing with all of my heart. When I'm skiing nothing else matters. Not very many people can say they had the best day ever at work. I treat skiing like its a job beyond compare, because it truly is. NOTHING in the would can give me the gratification skiing does its a high exceeding any other. Its inspiring to see my colleges getting the same self fulfilment and living their dream. There is vibrant energy you can see on a person who is authentically blissful from doing what they love. Lastly, I would like to reiterate what proto-knowledge.blogspot.com said, “ People with job satisfaction were three times as likely to say that they were very happy.” When I know that skiing is what makes me happy and the thing I’m going to put my all into why would I even consider another route?
Works Cited:
http://winoverptsd.com/wp/tag/combat-veteran-ptsd-statistics/
http://www.todaysmilitary.com/military-benefits?campaign_id=SEM2012:on:google:benefits_general-benefits_of_military:broad
http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=33755
http://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-10-benefits-of-college-degree_29.html
http://www.motivatingquotes.com/winningq.htm
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
http://larae.net/write/transition.html
by Zyre Austin
Senior Thesis Paper
May 15, 2012
“Fear is temporary regret is forever”
-Anonymous
Many people have to consider following their dreams, or following a path that will hopefully lead to financial security; these two options split into three different paths. Most seem to choose financial security rather than taking the risk of failure chasing their dream. Dreams don’t always pan out financially, but making a dream come true can fulfill a void that no amount of financial security can buy. If you ever plan on being happy and satisfied with your future job then following your dreams is the only way to go. My dream is to win the Olympics in women’s Halfpipe Skiing, it might seem like a huge dream but I’m going to make it happen! If you want something bad enough and you believe that it can happen, chances are it will, if you work hard for it.
There are three basic paths I could choose to take in life that would define my future; the military, a college education, or chasing my dream. Each of these options has both benefits and liabilities. The military, for example, has the benefits of paid education, a wide array of disciplinary skills, social security benefits/ insurance/ set income, and the opportunity to serve your country.
Although there are many benefits, the military does have its downfalls. There is a high chance of injury or death during battle, 1 in 5 will suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and in some cases other mental issues. Not to mention, if you happen to break the rules as a troop it could result in dishonorable discharge leaving you with nothing to show for. (cited http://winoverptsd.com/wp/tag/combat-veteran-ptsd-statistics/)
Going to college seems to be the most popular choice amongst kids my age. When you have graduated and own a degree, you’ll be a more educated intellectual individual. College students are known to have time management and disciplinary skills which are crucial life skills. There are many advantages to getting a degree, but will those things be worth the sum of student loans in the end? Chances are that I would need to have a job during college to pay for basic expenses like books and food. If I were to be working as well as going to class, I would simply not be able to find time to study for exams or work on homework. It would be overwhelming to handle all my class work and a job.Many students do find the time to do both but in many cases that means sacrificing any social time. I would find it very difficult to live with a random person in a dorm and be distracted by parties. Even though some people find this lifestyle to work, I am sure this would not be a happy lifestyle for me.
“The worst failure is the failure to try”
-Anonymous
Following my dream would make me happier than any other route I would consider taking. As an athlete I would have to stay in shape which would be a long term benefit. If I do make it to the Olympics I would be an inspiration for others to follow their dreams as well. Winning major competitions all winter long would produce a pay check more than enough to be financially stable.
If I don’t do well in competitions than I’ll be putting in way more money than I will be getting back, putting myself into debt. Skiing is a very dangerous sport with a high risk of injury or even death; if I injured myself badly enough it could end my career so a back-up-plan is definitely something to think about. Being involved in such a progressive sport I have to always be learning new tricks and pushing myself so I can never take long breaks. As an athlete your body can only take so much for so long so the longevity of this career is limited, but if I do well during the time I have, I believe it will ensure my future. Knowing that I will be happy doing something I love, there is no other choice for me but to follow my dream of becoming an Olympic champion in halfpipe skiing.
"If you are going to be a successful duck hunter, you must go where the ducks are."
-Paul "Bear" Bryant
The number one question I must ask with any pursuit is: is it realistic or attainable? If the average Joe said “I want to be a pro surfer” at age 19 but has never seen the ocean or done very many physical things chances are it’s probably not going to happen. However, if Joe felt this dream in his heart and was actually going to put everything into making it come true, even if he never achieved it, he would still be happy trying. As Alfred Lord Tennison one said “it is better to have loved and lost, then to have never loved at all” metaphorically, not trying to follow a dream is the same as never loving because you are not giving into what your heart desires. What is the most realistic path for me?
Can I follow the strict orders the military enforces? Am I willing to risk my life in the line of duty to save others and protect my country? No, I am not. However, I respect others that are passionate about doing so. I can’t say that I would be enthusiastic showing up to college classes on time or living in a dorm with people I don’t know. How can I be so sure that all the boring time I will have invested will land me my dream job because chances are for me it won’t? I can proudly say I do have the skills to be an Olympian one day but the hard part is climbing the steps to success. It takes support financially emotionally and physically. Will I be able to make it to all of my competitions? Do I have the equipment I need to ski? Yes I know I can do these things because I have a drive in me for skiing that I don’t have for anything else.
Each one of these paths can lead to a successful future. In the military you are able to prove yourself and be promoted to higher rankings as well as earning badges of honor. For example my uncle Don Villemaire earned the Distinguished Flying Cross badge in the Coast Guard for saving lives in a hurricane. Saving a life in the line of duty is something special that you can’t get doing anything else but serving your country, and a feeling nothing else can bring. College can lead to many beneficial career opportunities as well as higher job satisfaction. According to proto-knowledge.blogspot.com: “ Higher job satisfaction
➞In 2008, about 60 percent of people who had attended college – whether or not they’d completed a degree – reported that they were very satisfied with their jobs. Only 50 percent of high school graduates and 40 percent of high school dropouts could say the same. People with job satisfaction were three times as likely to say that they were very happy.” “Fewer social costs
➞High school graduates are three times more likely to live in poverty than college graduates, and eight times more likely to depend on public assistance programs
➞For every female high school student who goes on to attend college, society saves $48,600 over her lifetime. For every African-American male who goes on to finish college instead of dropping out of high school, society saves $294,000.”
(Cited:http://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-10-benefits-of-college-degree_29.html)
“Your gona take beatings. It’s written in our DNA. You go down…You get UP. It’s That simple.”
-Travis Rice
You might not think skiing would be a hard job, that I’d be taking the easy way out, but I can tell you you’re wrong. Being a professional athlete is a mentally, physically, and emotionally demanding job that takes everything you have. There are no short cuts and no doing anything half-assed. The only person I’ll let down is myself. For instance, in a normal job a sick day is somewhat of a relief you get to go home and relax; being sick and having to take a day off can mean the difference between 1st place and 2nd, so unless it’s something serious you can bet I’ll tough it out. Injuries are the biggest encumbrance I’ve had to push though, I tore my ACL, MCL, Meniscus, and got a micro fracture in my knee; fallen on my face several times, and had many other crashes that all hurt very bad but never enough to break my spirit. Skiing is a job that takes a substantial amount of dedication. I have to get up every day early and train whether I’m going skiing or just working out, it’s something I have to do to be one step closer to reaching my goal. When you think about it I’m really putting in as much work and discipline or more as I would joining the army or being a good college student.
My mantra is “With effort and time ANYTHING is mine”. In the beginning of this year was when I really decided I wanted to go to the Olympics, and when I started putting in the right amount of work to get there. Jumping into the professional world of skiing was not as smooth as I would have hoped. fortunately the let downs I have faced lead me strait to success. Being unprepared has been the biggest hinder on moving forward, if you don’t have what you need to get the job done then you’re just another day behind. It’s important not to think anything is going to be easy, if you approach it that way you’re setting yourself up for failure. The transformation of lifestyles was surprisingly one of the hardest parts for me to do.
“Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional”
-Buddha
I can’t say it wasn’t difficult being alone every day without a coach or a friend to help me at first, because it was. I jumped into a world that I knew little about and had much to learn; this is a world where it takes time to earn respect, and knowing people is a way in. I went from being late to school and most of my classes to getting up at 5 and driving 90 miles to ski and train all day and driving back in the afternoon. It was hard when I stopped seeing my friends and talking to them as much, not being able to have a normal senior year and hearing about what I’ve missed. What I’ve gained is something I wouldn’t trade for anything.
I Kept hearing “ you have to believe in yourself if you want anyone to believe in you” and one day it clicked. I didn’t use to believe in myself like I do now. My first competition of the year was the US. Grand Prix World cup, It’s a serious event that all the pros are in. I looked at who I was competing against and instantly got discouraged; I was skiing next to Sarah Burke, Jen Hudak, and Anaïs Caradeux just some of the biggest names in my sport. I felt like I was going to get dead last and I was so embarrassed to even ski in front of them. When I didn’t get last and ended up somewhere in the middle I was surprised because I didn’t have many tricks, and knew that I did well for my first comp, it lit a spark for the rest of the season. That spark started a fire, I really started believing in myself and truly seeing how close I am to making my dream come true, and that’s when I knew I couldn’t stop or ever give up.
"Once you agree upon the price you and your family must pay for success it enables you to ignore the minor hurts, the opponent's pressure, the temporary failures."
-Vince Lombardi
Skiing is expensive. I never realized how much this dream of mine would cost my parents; and how much it has cost other parents with kids sharing my dream. This year my parents have spent over $ 13,000 on my skiing alone. Equipment, travel costs, competition fees, you name it. Competition fees ranged from $85-$275 each, my skis cost about $500+ $450 bindings, poles, $75, not to mention tuning my skis before each comp.All the little things add up to a large cost! In my situation I’ve experienced canceled competition after flying all the way to VT and having to pay to reschedule flights and rebook hotels. But the largest cost a parent has ever had is losing the life of their child.
Unfortunately this ski season Sarah Burke, 27 of CAN. A pioneer in Freesking and an inspiration to many passed away in a halfpipe accident. Her death reminded me and my parents how dangerous this sport actually is and they even both asked me, “Are you sure this is what you really want to do?” and my answer was and still is yes the reward is worth the risk. I can honestly say that i am willing to face death living my dream, that alone affirms that this is the right path for me to take. I am not willing to risk my life for anything other than pursing what I love; Halfpipe skiing. When I’m skiing I live everyday, like it’s the best day of my life, like it’s the last day of my life knowing that is greater than any fear of danger I might have.
"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
-Muhammad Ali
As I said earlier, “if you don’t have what you need to get the job done then you’re just another day behind.” In the beginning of the season I would forget little things like my boots, gloves or neck-gaiter. Forgetting things was a serious setback for me because I would end up driving all the way to the mountain and not even being able to ski. You can’t be a professional runner and forget your shoes. I have never been a “cookie cutter” individual, and I've made my fair share of bad choices.So once I learned my lesson a few times I pretty much got it t hank goodness. “Getting it meant following through on commitments, being professional, and ultimately growing up. Being responsible is a trait that will, get you far in life, you can not achieve anything great without knowing what it is to be responsible.
Its just as important to remember to take care of my body. If I don’t remember to feed myself and stay hydrated then it can be as bad as not skiing at all; when my body isn’t nourished then I’m so much more likely to injure myself. Keeping my body in shape in the off season is a major thing to do because if I let myself get out of shape than its like I have to start over when the season comes back around. Hence, if I want to be an Olympic athlete than remembering the little things is just as important to my future as anything else.
Getting someone to help me has been the hardest part. Like I said skiing is extremely expensive and I’m not so sure I can do it by myself. Acquiring sponsors is a difficult process because the different companies are being bombarded with all sorts of letters asking for sponsorship so standing out is key. A short and simple letter or visual presentation is what a sponsor is looking for, but they also want to know a lot about you so finding a balance is the answer. I am currently in the middle of applying for sponsorships to the companies I would like to represent, Salomon Skiies, Marker Bindings, Smith Goggles, Scott Poles, Bern Helmets, Monster Energy, KIND bar, and hopefully others. I have been writing letters to them but a lot would like to see video and that has been the most difficult part because I don’t have any “good video”. I have video from before I could do certain tricks and its not worth sending when I know I can ski better than what I’ve captured on film. here is an example of one of the letters i have written:
Dear Salomon,
My name is Zyre Austin, I’m 18 and from Glenwood Springs CO. I’ve been skiing and competing since I can remember, my goal in life is to win the Olympics in women’s halfpipe . This past season, ( 2011-2012) was my first full year competing in the pipe and the best year of my life! I really surprised myself with my success, I ended up winning the USSA Junior Nationals and doing pretty well in most of the other competitions I entered. In the beginning of the season I started off at # 51 on the Association of Freeskiing Professionals world rankings list*, and since then I have moved up to #19 in the world and #6 in the US, all without a coach. I plan on competing in the top tours again and all of the important competitions including the Dew Tour ,World Cup, US freestyle Championships and the AFP world championships. This year I skied The Salomon Pro Pipes and I am absolutely in love with them, the only problem now is they have defiantly seen better days, especially after such a dry season! The truth is I NEED a ski sponsor and I wouldn’t want to ski for anyone other than Salomon. Any help that Salomon could give me to help me get where I want to go would be greatly appreciated, I plan on standing on some important podiums and I would love to represent the company! Thanks for your time and consideration,-Zyre
Getting a coach has been a difficult process, I haven’t seemed to achieve yet, but that has in no way stopped me from pushing my self. Not having a coach, I would go to Woodward at Copper. Woodward is and indoor training facility with Snowflex* jumps into giant foam pits and trampolines. After the people at Woodward started to see my face a lot they realized just how self-motivated I was and began to take an interest in helping me get to where I want to go. I started learning new things on the tramp that I thought I was months away from learning. When I would learn something new at Woodward it pushed me to be better on skis, and most of all it made me believe in myself more. In the beginning of the season I was ranked # 51 on the Association of Freesking Professionals World Rankings List (the AFP) and since then I have moved up to # 19 in the World and #6 in the US. And I did that by myself with the help of the people that truly care about me.
*http://www.snowflex.com/.
As hard as it was looking for help, it was easy to find it where I didn’t expect it. My parents have of course been my biggest support. My single mother is a business owner that works hard so that she can support my dreams and my dad has invested most of his earnings into my dream as well. Even one of my moms clients were able to donate to my cause actually helping me get to my last completion in VT. On my way to VT I landed in MASS, where I have family I had never met before, and they were more than willing to support me as well. It was so nice to know I could find reinforcement where I didn’t think to look.
The bottom line is I love skiing with all of my heart. When I'm skiing nothing else matters. Not very many people can say they had the best day ever at work. I treat skiing like its a job beyond compare, because it truly is. NOTHING in the would can give me the gratification skiing does its a high exceeding any other. Its inspiring to see my colleges getting the same self fulfilment and living their dream. There is vibrant energy you can see on a person who is authentically blissful from doing what they love. Lastly, I would like to reiterate what proto-knowledge.blogspot.com said, “ People with job satisfaction were three times as likely to say that they were very happy.” When I know that skiing is what makes me happy and the thing I’m going to put my all into why would I even consider another route?
Works Cited:
http://winoverptsd.com/wp/tag/combat-veteran-ptsd-statistics/
http://www.todaysmilitary.com/military-benefits?campaign_id=SEM2012:on:google:benefits_general-benefits_of_military:broad
http://militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=33755
http://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-10-benefits-of-college-degree_29.html
http://www.motivatingquotes.com/winningq.htm
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
http://larae.net/write/transition.html
resume
Zyre Austin
1430 Grand Ave Glenwood Springs CO, 81601
(970)-456-6985
[email protected]
Work Experience
I have worked for the Aspen Meadows as a temp a number of times and I really enjoyed it. I served drinks and did coat check a few times as well.
l Personable & Outgoing
l Show up on time
l Hard worker & love to please the costumer
l Work well under pressure
l Handle all tasks with care
Hot Jobs TTP INC. (Aspen Meadows) Carbondale CO, 81623
l Temp banquet server
l Coat check
Education
l Yampah Mountain High School Glenwood Springs, CO
l Graduating May 29th 2012
l I finished early and took the winter off of my last year of high school to compete and ski professionally. I am looking for a full time summer job as a source of income while I am unable to make a living skiing.
Achievements/Awards
l Won the Junior National Championships for women’s halfpipe skiing
l Ranked #19 in the World & #6 in the US. For Women’s halfpipe skiing on the Association of Freeskiing Professionals World ranking list
References
Theresa Waller (970)618-2735
l Worked for Theresa for a few summers as a child care taker
1430 Grand Ave Glenwood Springs CO, 81601
(970)-456-6985
[email protected]
Work Experience
I have worked for the Aspen Meadows as a temp a number of times and I really enjoyed it. I served drinks and did coat check a few times as well.
l Personable & Outgoing
l Show up on time
l Hard worker & love to please the costumer
l Work well under pressure
l Handle all tasks with care
Hot Jobs TTP INC. (Aspen Meadows) Carbondale CO, 81623
l Temp banquet server
l Coat check
Education
l Yampah Mountain High School Glenwood Springs, CO
l Graduating May 29th 2012
l I finished early and took the winter off of my last year of high school to compete and ski professionally. I am looking for a full time summer job as a source of income while I am unable to make a living skiing.
Achievements/Awards
l Won the Junior National Championships for women’s halfpipe skiing
l Ranked #19 in the World & #6 in the US. For Women’s halfpipe skiing on the Association of Freeskiing Professionals World ranking list
References
Theresa Waller (970)618-2735
l Worked for Theresa for a few summers as a child care taker
Autobiography
My name is Zyre Austin, I’m 18 and I was born In Glenwood springs CO and I still live here. . My bests friends name is Ashlee (Ashley) Burns I call her Shlee and never spell her name write on purpose , my other BFF is Tanner Jeffyres and I have 3 dogs, a pit-bull named Tony, a pom-a-poo named Rock-z and a toy poodle (rock-z’s mom) named Sheena. My mom’s name is Khaleelah Austin and my dad’s name is Dan Villemaire they can’t stand each other, but I’m used to it. My parents broke up before it was discovered that my mom was pregnant so my parents haven’t been together as long as I’ve existed. When my mom was about 7 months along she started dating a guy named Steve and he was there when I was born so he became my 2nd dad
At 11 months old as soon I could walk well my parents, being very into skiing put some boots and skis on me and pushed me down a hill and that’s when I started skiing. Steve always likes to joke and say I skied before I was born because my mom skied the day before she had me. Skiing has and always will be a part of my life; I have been competing since I can remember. I ski raced throughout elementary school , and in middle school I started doing mogul competitions but I didn’t really like doing it as much but I knew I liked going off the jumps on the mogul coarse. That’s when I discovered park skiing and so in 8th grade I went to a ski academy school called in Minturn middle school and I had so much fun doing it.
My freshmen year I unfortunately tore my ACL, MCL, Meniscus, and got a micro fracture in my knee skiing and had to have surgery . after my surgery it really set my skiing back and messed with my head a little but my Jr. year (2010-11) I started to get my fire back and I competing in my first few Halfpipe competitions and I knew that’s what I really wanted to do. So this year in 2012 I got all my classes out of the way before ski season so I could take the winter off and seriously compete for a full season. I did better than I ever expected I went form # 51 on the Association of Freesking Professionals World Rankings list to # 19 in the world and # 6 in the US. And now I’m surer than ever I can make my dreams of winning the Olympic gold and X Games come true!
At 11 months old as soon I could walk well my parents, being very into skiing put some boots and skis on me and pushed me down a hill and that’s when I started skiing. Steve always likes to joke and say I skied before I was born because my mom skied the day before she had me. Skiing has and always will be a part of my life; I have been competing since I can remember. I ski raced throughout elementary school , and in middle school I started doing mogul competitions but I didn’t really like doing it as much but I knew I liked going off the jumps on the mogul coarse. That’s when I discovered park skiing and so in 8th grade I went to a ski academy school called in Minturn middle school and I had so much fun doing it.
My freshmen year I unfortunately tore my ACL, MCL, Meniscus, and got a micro fracture in my knee skiing and had to have surgery . after my surgery it really set my skiing back and messed with my head a little but my Jr. year (2010-11) I started to get my fire back and I competing in my first few Halfpipe competitions and I knew that’s what I really wanted to do. So this year in 2012 I got all my classes out of the way before ski season so I could take the winter off and seriously compete for a full season. I did better than I ever expected I went form # 51 on the Association of Freesking Professionals World Rankings list to # 19 in the world and # 6 in the US. And now I’m surer than ever I can make my dreams of winning the Olympic gold and X Games come true!
Self direction: pushing my self and training consistently
Skiing every day takes a lot of self-direction especially in my case. In the beginning of the season before I met anyone I would get up every day at 5 A.m. and drive to Copper Mountain 90 miles away to ski half pipe. When I was done skiing I would go to Woodward at coppers training facility and work on air awareness and polishing my tricks. Woodward is and indoor training facility with snowflex* jumps into giant foam pits and trampolines with pits as well(it also has a skate parks). I didn’t have a coach so I didn’t really have anyone to motivate me but myself , my parents and the people I was meeting at Woodward.
After the people at Woodward started to see my face a lot they realized just how self-motivated I was and began to take an interest in helping me get to where I want to go. I started learning new things on the tramp that I thought I was months away from learning. When I would learn something new at Woodward it pushed me to be better on skis, and most of all it made me believe in myself. When I started believing in myself was when I started to do well I kept hearing “ you have to believe in yourself if you want anyone to believe in you” and one day it clicked.
“If you’re not first your last”
- Ricky Bobby
"Nobody remembers who came in second." Charles Schulz
Anything below Gold [1st] makes you hungry to be better. I’ve never been as happy as standing on the top of the junior nationals podium. When I knew my hard work and dedication was finally paying of it made me realize I was that much closer to standing on the Olympic and X games podiums. It takes a lot to do something instead of just talking about it but “Anything worth having is worth working for”.
After the people at Woodward started to see my face a lot they realized just how self-motivated I was and began to take an interest in helping me get to where I want to go. I started learning new things on the tramp that I thought I was months away from learning. When I would learn something new at Woodward it pushed me to be better on skis, and most of all it made me believe in myself. When I started believing in myself was when I started to do well I kept hearing “ you have to believe in yourself if you want anyone to believe in you” and one day it clicked.
“If you’re not first your last”
- Ricky Bobby
"Nobody remembers who came in second." Charles Schulz
Anything below Gold [1st] makes you hungry to be better. I’ve never been as happy as standing on the top of the junior nationals podium. When I knew my hard work and dedication was finally paying of it made me realize I was that much closer to standing on the Olympic and X games podiums. It takes a lot to do something instead of just talking about it but “Anything worth having is worth working for”.