No matter how hard you are about to slam into the ground, or how much pain awaits you on impact, there always seems to be a split second where we are granted a moment to ourselves. A moment to reflect. It’s as if time freezes. Nothing else exists. Nothing else matters.
Of course there are times when the only thing in our mind is fear, regret, and maybe scattered images of our childhood as we lose all hope of avoiding a bone shattering disaster. But in those times when we truly embrace the ride, no matter how it flows, we find something much different. It’s in accepting the moment, the split second of the moment, that we experience the clarity, the peace, and the true rush of life.
As time slows almost to a stop, it’s as if a book is opened up that holds all the secrets of life. We see things as they are. The busy, crowded world we live in suddenly seems quiet, simple, and beautiful as we, for a moment, are able to look past the flaws and imperfections that cause us so much stress and frustration. Having accepted the chaos of the moment and the possible injury that may follow, a door is opened and we are able to see past the hate, and the anger, and the tears that we hold deep inside.
Then the moment ends. Time violently returns to its proper speed as pain jolts through your body until you slide, roll, or tumble to a stop. The dirt clouds up around you and slowly drifts back down. You breath, and realize you haven’t for a while. You hear, and realize how silent it seemed just moments before. You smile, and realize you loved every second of it, especially that split second.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
It really is a rush to do a mental checklist after a spill. legs working? check. arms working? check. fingers still there? check. etc.
Then you stand up, get back on your board, and keep riding.
Awesome article! Great website!
April 10th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Dude. that was epic. i know that feeling, but dont look forward to it as much as u seem too. it happens every time i go down a bigger hill than usual and try a 180… any tips?
July 11th, 2008 at 8:58 am
wow, I could only wish in my moment of silence flying through the air before shattering my back I thought of the beauty of life and had peace. In my moment, I knew my life would never be the same and would be changed for ever.
Sometimes that moment of peace, seeing the beauty of life and where life makes sense…comes later. After the anger, rage, depression, sadness and pain is gone or lessened. Where you picked yourself back up…get a pat on the back and realized how greatful you are you can get back up and get on your board. sometimes that is not the same day but that day is sweeter than any other day I have ever felt. And on that day, comes the moment life falls together, life is truly peaceful. In that moment of strapping in, sounds drown away…only hearing the clicking of your bindings, your heart beating, your every breath, then taking off, everything feels like a dream not in slow motion, but surreal…hearing the bearings squeak and creak down the hill and then you come to a stop. All you can do it stop, close your eyes and soak in that ride, the best ride of your entire life.
I only hope that after injuries people get a moment like that to some degree.
May 6th, 2009 at 8:13 am
And after that moment we all come out a better, changed person, and you start to respect the smaller things in life and you realize that life itself is just great!
good article
November 1st, 2009 at 9:03 am
THats soo deep
April 13th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
wow that was deep
April 23rd, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Wow, that brought back memories.
June 3rd, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I love that other split second, when you are perched at the top of a new run, and the fear rises inside you, and like flipping a switch you have only two options, you roll forward, and deal with what comes, or you back out, and more likely than not regret it forever. I love that feeling, that second where your whole world boils down to ‘roll, or not roll?’, where there is nothing else in the world, and you can feel your mind perched on the tipping point.
I crashed on a run earlier, a steep left turn on an off camber, I turned too sharp and got hurled off the board. I found that split second, I heard the tires tear loose, and then, I was suspended in a weightless infinity…the only thing better is the feeling you get as you stand up, and the fear rises, and you get back on, finish the run, and crush that nervousness and weakness down again. Triumph tastes so sweet when you have got back up, and done what you set out to do with the added fear of the crash stacked against you.
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Soon. Just waiting on a few details on trampaboards’ end. In the mean time feel free to email me about orders and I can work with you one on one.