Season Recap: X Games 15

When I got my invite for the winter X Games, I was so happy just to be going that I didn't even think about the possibility of getting on the podium.  As a halfpipe skier, X Games has been the highest level of competition in our sport since I've known what skiing is.  So, naturally, it has always been a dream of mine to someday compete with the best in the world under the lights in Aspen's pipe.

Aspen's pipe, by the way, was the nicest pipe I've ever skied. Every lap was just so much fun that I never even thought about being nervous. I was stoked to be there and I was loving every minute of it. After qualifying for finals in 4th, I didn't think things could get much better.

My family and friends flew into Aspen the next day, just in time to watch me in finals. With two older brothers and one very excited sister, I'm pretty sure I had the loudest fans. Even with my headphones on, I could still hear them screaming at the bottom before I dropped in for every run. In finals I layed down one of the best runs of my life, and after skiing consistently all week, I was beyond stoked to walk away with the silver medal at my first ever X Games.

I think being in that mind state of living in the moment, and just knowing that I was lucky to be there, helped me ski better than I've ever skied before. I ski because it's fun, but sometimes that seems to get lost on competition days or stressful training days, so being able to take everything in and enjoy it was really nice for me. And of course, having my best friends and family there to share it with me, made it that much better.