Logan Sargent - Fort Loverdale

Vacations

After the whirlwind of celebrations and media appearances following the Olympics, life settled into a new rhythm. I returned to my training regimen, fueled by the memories of Beijing and the desire to continue pushing my limits. But amidst the intense focus on snowboarding, I also made time for the people who mattered most to me.

One day, I received a call from my best friend, Sophie. "Hey, Victoria! I've got an idea. How about a post-Olympics getaway? You, me, and some sun, sand, and relaxation?"

The thought of a beach vacation sounded like heaven after months of snow and competition. "That sounds amazing, Sophie! Where are we going?"

"Fort Lauderdale, Florida! I've found a beautiful beach house right by the ocean. We can unwind, catch up, and just enjoy being away from it all," she said excitedly.

I couldn't resist the temptation. "Count me in! Let's do it."

A few weeks later, Sophie and I found ourselves on a flight to Florida. The warm breeze and scent of saltwater welcomed us as we stepped off the plane. It was a stark contrast to the icy chill of the snow-covered slopes back home.

The beach house was everything Sophie had promised and more. Nestled between palm trees, with white sand stretching as far as the eye could see, it was a slice of paradise. We wasted no time diving into the clear blue waters and soaking up the sun.

As we lounged on the beach, sipping tropical drinks, Sophie turned to me with a grin. "Can you believe we're here, Victoria? Just a snowboarder and a photographer and/or amateur snowboarder trading in our boots for flip-flops and their lenses for sunglasses."

I laughed, feeling the weight of the past months lifting off my shoulders. "It's incredible. I almost forgot what it feels like to relax like this."

We spent our days swimming, sunbathing, and exploring the vibrant city of Fort Lauderdale. It was a welcome break from the intensity of competition, and I cherished every moment of it.

One afternoon, as we strolled along the beach, we spotted Lucile Lefebvre, my competitor from the Olympics, sitting alone near the water's edge. She looked lost in thought, gazing out at the horizon.

"Isn't that Lucile?" Sophie whispered, nudging me.

"Yeah, it is," I replied, feeling a pang of sympathy for her. Despite our fierce competition on the slopes, I couldn't help but admire her talent and determination.

"Should we go talk to her?" Sophie asked.

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, let's go."

We approached Lucile, who looked up, surprised to see us. "Hey, Lucile. Mind if we join you?" I asked.

She shook her head, offering us a small smile. "Not at all. Please, have a seat."

We settled down on the sand beside her, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves.

"How have you been, Lucile?" Sophie asked, breaking the silence.

"I've been okay. Just trying to process everything, you know?" Lucile replied, her gaze returning to the ocean.

"It's been a wild ride, hasn't it?" I said, understanding exactly what she meant.

"Yeah, it has. I still can't believe it all happened," she admitted.

"We saw your previous runs at the Olympics. You were incredible out there," Sophie said, nudging me in agreement.

"Thank you. It means a lot to hear that," Lucile said, a hint of gratitude in her voice.

"We were just talking about taking a break from snowboarding and work and enjoying some time off," I said, changing the subject. "You should join us. There's nothing like a beach vacation to clear your mind."