My Passion

3. First round, first difficulties

,,Lucas, focus..." I whispered to myself under my breath, what was very fast. ,,Boys. Don't forget that there is a little bump on the steep part. You have to transfer some weight on the heels of the skis, but you also have to push into the ski boots, so that you don't get out of the position and speed," coach said, as we were all listening to him. Little Alex was sitting in the snow next to Atle and Sebas, Alex was quietly talking to Henrike, Timon, Leif and Rasmus were stretching, and I was leaning on my ski poles with my eyes closed, and I was breathing out the excess air from my lungs.
,,You all will do great. You're the Nordic vikings," he chuckled and we all giggled. ,,Henrik go get ready. And Lucas, follow him," coach said and Henrike grabbed my shoulder as we were leaving to the start bunk, to put on our skis. ,,You okay?" he asked. ,,Yea. Just nervous," I exhaled. ,,It'll be okay. Don't worry," he smiled, putting on his gloves and skiing glasses. ,,I know," I said, and we both put on skis in the same time. There, in bunk, were some members of our team. Like mental coaches, physiotherapists, condition coaches.
,,You got this Henrike! Go! Go! Go!" I heard them screaming as he started his first round. I took deep long seemingly sharp breath in. I moved myself a little to the start bar and I closed my eyes. Whole track appeared in front of my closed eyelids.
,,Okay Lucas. You're up next," someone said, with me opening my eyes, beating with my fist on my chest, tapping ski poles together. Henrike was already at finish. I stuck my ski poles into the black rubber, that was behind the starting pole and together with timer, I started counting down the last seconds to the time, when I would go on my first lap. Last ten seconds. Five seconds. And...
,,Vamos Lucas! Go! Go! Go!" they screamed and it all started. It all felt good. I was feeling awesome. I was passing poles with the speed of a lightning. Until that little bump on the begging of the steep part. My skis crossed together and I almost fell out of the track. ,,Ugh!" I yelled, trying to earn back my speed. With small amount of energy, I skied down the hill to the finish. When I crossed the finish line, I quickly looked on the board with results.
,,+1.25?" I gasped out. Camera man aimed his camera on my face and I forced out a fake smile. Waving to the fans, I left the slope and got lost in the finish. I unpinned my skis, putting them together. I gave them to some team member in the finish and managed my way to the leader's chair.
,,Luc. What happened there? Are you okay?" Henrike came down from the chair, hugging me. ,,I don't know what happened. I was focusing on that bump so much, that I messed up there. But I'm okay. Thanks for asking," I gave him his hug back. ,,It'll be okay. Keep your head up," he patted my back and ended our hug. ,,Oi! Norway boys! Move a little farther away! I want to sit on my chair!" Marco screamed and we both looked on the board. ,,-0.65? How?" Henrike asked. ,,Told you. I'm the greatest of all time," he laughed and we left.
,,I can't with him already," I huffed. ,,Don't focus on him," Henrike rolled his eyes. Zan from Slovania crossed the finish line, loosing to Marco for just +0.25. ,,Alexis is starting. Come look," Henrike called and I left my thoughts. He passat the steep part correctly. ,,Looks like the steep part was only my problem," I exhaled. ,,Lucas. Stop. Don't drag yourself down. It'll be okay. I promise you," he patted my back as Zan approached us.
,,Hey guys. How are you? Lucas, I'm sorry about that mistake. Don't worry," he said. ,,Thanks. Means a lot. You did great," I smiled and looked on the board. ,,Whoa! Alexis ja in front of Marco for just -0.10! That's so cool!" I gasped out in major shock. ,,Looks at him," Henrike laughed. ,,Who?" I giggled.
,,Alexis. Look how happy he is," Zan smiled. ,,He is. He deserved it," I chuckled. ,,What is this?!" I heard Marco screamed. I couldn't hold back my laughter, so I bursted out laughing. ,,Congratulations Alexis! You did great!" Henrike smiled as Alexis rushed into finish. ,,Thanks," he smiled, leading his way to leader's chair.
,,Linus lost +1.00," I exhaled. ,,Don't worry. You won't be last," Zan said, leaving. ,,Loic messed up. He fell out of the track," Henrike gasped out. ,,Atle's going. I hope that he will do great," I said. With stopped breath, I was watching his every move. The steep part came and he passed it perfectly. ,,Look. He is going to be on the podium!" I gasped out. He crossed the finish line, loosing with Alexis for +0.60. ,,That's great! I'm happy with him," I smiled, running after Atle. ,,Buddy! This is great! Fourth place in first round? Amazing!" I called as I trapped him in my embrance. ,,It is! BUT what happened to you? Coach was a bit mad about it," he exhaled, hugging me back.
,,I don't know. And I can handle some critisism," I frowned. ,,Manuel is starting. I don't think that he will be in front of you. His main discipline is slalom," Henrike said as he hugged Atle. ,,I know. I'm not worried about that," I giggled with little smile. ,,+2.30. He is behind you," Atle said after a while, when Manuel arrived into finish. ,,I knew. Who's going now?" I asked. ,,Marco from Austria," Alexis breathed out.
,,How was summer Alexis? Good trainings? Some new memorial with team? Family? Friends?" I smiled. ,,It was great. Many new memories with family and friends. And we actually went to Norway with team. We trained there for two weeks. And then we went to Spain on vacation. Sand. Beach. Relax. You know. But I haven't seen you, Atle and little Alex at Norway. We saw rest of the team. But you three were nowhere to be found. Where have you been?" he asked. ,,We were almost all break at USA. At Copper mountain Colorado. Then we went home for two weeks, and then we spend some days at Bahamas. And for the end back in  Norway to train some more for this season," I explained everything. ,,Wow. Sounds so fun," he chuckled. ,,It was," Atle rushed to us, nearly causing me falling of my legs.
,,Hey! What's the rush Atle?" I laughed. ,,Coach Sam wants to talk to you," he said. ,,Oh. I'm coming. Stay with Alexis and talk to him. You know. Colorado, Bahamas. Tell him some of your favorite memories. I'll be right back," I smiled, leaving after coach Sam, Who was somewhere in finish. ,,Lucas!" someone screamed, with me turning around to see, Who was calling my name. ,,What's wrong coach Sam?" I asked, coming towards him.
,,I need to talk to you. It's because of your round. Head coach was pretty mad about it. Because he told you to focus on it. And you messed up," he said. ,,I know. I was just focusing on that so much, that this happened. I am aware of what I did wrong. I'll get better look out on it for second round and I'll make sure that I won't mess up," I exhaled.
,,Are you aware?" he asked. ,,Yes, I am. Don't worry about it anymore," I frowned. ,,Okay. We're gonna focus on that later. I hope that you'll get into second round with these +2.00," he seemed worried. ,,I will. I know it," I chuckled softly. ,,Okay. Go back to what you were doing. And make sure you'll watch rest of the lads," he laughed and I left. ,,What was it about?" Henrike asked as I connected into small group of seven racers. ,,About my round," I smiled, because I greeted Manuel, Linus and Marco from Austria. ,,Hey Lucas," Manuel smiled back and we started talking.
,,Rasmus is starting. After him is Timon, then Luke from USA, then Leif and then Alex," Atle chirped as he was looking at his phone. ,,You got a startlist there or something?" Zan bursted out laughing. ,,I do," Atle chuckled. I looked up on the board. ,,Thirteenth place. Hmm..." I exhaled. ,,You're not last," Manuel laughed and I giggled, ,,I'm not. Sure. Thanks."
,,Don't be sarcastic," Atle laughed. ,,I'm not. I'm kind of sad," I quickly moved my eyebrows up and down. ,,Nooo..." Henrike growled.
,,What?" I asked. ,,Rasmus didn't finished," he frowned. ,,No that's pity," Atle exhaled. ,,Come on Timon, come on!" I screamed cheerfully. ,,Let's go Timon!" Atle called. Watching his every move, I almost stopped breathing. Crossing the finish line, he came last with loosing to Alexis for +3.07. ,,Well, now I'm not last," Manuel chuckled. ,,Hey. That's not nice," I made grimase on him. ,,I know. Won't do that again," he chuckled.
,,Linus?" Atle asked out of blue. ,,What's up Atle?" He turned to him. ,,Wanna get coffee?" he laughed. ,,Oh yes. I'm barely standing on my feet," he giggled. ,,Can we join?" Manuel asked as rest of the boys nodded. ,,Yep," Linus chuckled and they all left. Beside me and Timon, Who just arrived into space of finish.
,,Hey Timmy. What happened on the track?" I greeted him with a question. ,,I messed up on that steep part. And then I almost fell out of the track. So that's what happened," he forced out a fake laugh.
,,Come here," I exhaled, hugging him. ,,What do you think? Will coach be mad?" he asked. ,,I don't know. We will see after first round," I said. ,,Luke Winters, twelveth place," I stared at the results board. ,,Hmm...we're going down buddy," Timon giggled. ,,That's true," I laughed, yawning.
,,Have you saw what happened to Leif?" coach Sam called on us. ,,No?" I asked. ,,He's out of the race," Timon breathed out. ,,What?" I got surprised. ,,True," Luke appeared out of nowhere.
,,Oh hey Luke. Wanna watch Alex's round with me and Timon?" I asked. ,,Yep. But then I'll connect to River," he chuckled. ,,Alex is starting," Timon laughed, his eyes pinned on a track. ,,Come on Alex, come on!" I chuckled. Watching his every move, my breath suddenly got faster. ,,Breathe Luc. Your face is getting red," Timon patted my back with me releasing the excess air out.
,,Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, eleventh place!" organizator James called into a microphone. ,,See you boys!" Luke waved at us, getting lost in the crowd. ,,See ya!" I called at him, looking at the board again. ,,Little Alex is starting Timon," I reminded him. ,,Oh yeah. I almost forgot. And then Sebas got number thirty. Doesn't he?" he asked. ,,Yep. Now focus," I frowned, watching little Alex, making his way down the slope.
Crossing the finish line, his final loss was +2.60. ,,Where are the rest of the boys?" Timon asked after a while. ,,In the coffee shop, getting coffee," I said as I approached little Alex near us. ,,Do you wanna go?" he turned on me. ,,Sure. Might as well, wait on Alex. He would love to join too," I smiled. All of us three grouped up into small group and we went after the rest...

Oh my God, finally. I'm so happy that this chapter is finally out! Enjoy🇧🇻🇧🇻🇧🇻
Loads of love
~S.