DISTRACTION \\ Ashton Irwin [completed]

E L E V E N

Chapter 11

February 18th, 2014

I waited anxiously at the starting gate while watching the TV as yet another racer blew out. So far, there have been five people to actually make it through the course, and seventeen have either blown out or crashed. This is really weird too, because it is the GS race, and this one isn't known to be difficult at all. Even though I was watching, I had no clue what the cause of the blow out or crashes were. The officials have added more snow to the course, thinking it was too much ice, but that wasn't the case as people continued to blow out. I just hope I can finish the course; thats all I really want. 

The beeps started, awakening me from my thoughts and I leaned back, bracing myself for this run. 

Halfway through the run, I figured out what was wrong: The way the gates were positioned, made it seem more like a slalom course than a GS, which doesn't work for our skis since they’re not formed for that. I bent my knees to try and make the turn, but I didn't work. Just like the other skiers, I blew out.

I shook my head in disappointment and kept my face straight to try and hold in the tears. Thats really not fair for us to try and make those turns when our skis cannot even cooperate with us.

At the bottom of the hill, I met up with the other racers who were giving my sympathy looks. 

“It’s more like a slalom half way though,” I stated as they agreed, clearly understanding the problem too. 

“It’s bullshit. We already spoke to the officials but they refuse to reset the course and let us go again, saying that if five people can make it though, then we should have,” Mikaela complained. 

“Yeah, they even said that Mikaela should have made it since she’s a World Cup Slalom champion and she should have been able to make those turns,” Linsey grimaced, clearly not liking the way they treated her teammate.

“Thats outrageous!” I exclaimed while looking around for an official to flip off. When I spotted one, I raised my hand to flip them off but Mikaela stopped me, “You don't need any more bad press. I’m so pissed about this though. I really was hoping you’d pull through, Sophia.”

I nodded my head in agreement and cheered for the athletes that had won medals. In the end, only eight people made it through the course, but the times weren't good since they had to slow them selves during the tricky part.

Such bullshit.

=+=+=+=

“What the FUCK was that?!” My dad screamed while pushing the door to my changing room open.

“There was no way that I could have made that turn with out pulling something. It was like a slalom course was thrown into the GS one, and my skis couldn't handle it,” I explained to my seething father.

“She’s right. If she would have made that turn, she would have for sure torn something in her knee, and she would be out for Slalom on the 21st. She made the right decision, John,” Coach Anthony explained while placing a hand on my dads shoulder to calm him down. My dad simply shook his head in anger and walked out of the room to cool off. 

=+=+=+=

“I don't care what Anthony says, Sophia! You’re on house arrest, and that’s final!” My dad screamed at me before shoving me in my room and slamming the door shut before shoving a chair under the handle to make sure I couldn't escape.