Hello Hurricane {English Translation}

28. Daniel - Innsbruck - Day of competition

Absently, he stared at the mountain range directly in front of him. Clouds had caught in the mountain peaks. He took another deep breath and ignored the icy air that passed through him. One last time, Daniel checked to see if his helmet was in place and the binding was properly rigged. He adjusted his goggles, and stared at Alex on the trainer's tower, and waited. A brief grin crossed his face. Then he saw the Norwegian flag sink and he pushed off. Was getting carried away by the speed, the adrenaline that flowed through his veins. Sharpened each of his senses. And though his lips were already numb because of the icy wind, he could still feel the tingling sensation.

Uncertain, hands ran through his hair. Got caught up in them. Sent shivers down his back. Dazed, Daniel let himself be pulled down until Domens lips were clumsily pressed against his. They took him the air to breathe. Brought butterfly swarms to fly. Gently, Daniel opened his lips and deepened their kiss. Hesitantly he let his hands wander, to press the Slovenian a little closer to his body, while the icy wind unsuccessfully dragged at their bodies.

Wide-eyed his eyes he stared at the take-off, which came closer and closer every tenths of a second. He had to hold himself back, had to wait for the right moment. Then he felt the increasing pressure. Felt that his entire body was pushed into the radius while at the same time feeling that he was riding uphill. That was the sign. The edge firmly in view. Now he could allow his body to push off. To catapult himself into the air. To fly. To lose the ground under his feet.

A branch crashed to the ground. Startled, Domen and Daniel darted apart. Stiffened, breathing heavily, as reality struck them. Panic lay in Domens expression. Taken by surprise, Daniel stared back. "You ... kissed me," he exclaimed in disbelief. He touched his lips with his hands as if checking to see if what had just happened wasn't just some crazy fantasy.

"I have to go." -

"What? Domen! No! Wait! " He yelled after Domen, wanted to hold the Slovenian back, because he had to know what that meant. "You can't just run away and leave me!" He started to run. Run after his neon-green hope. Fully pumped with adrenaline. Like a firework that had been thwarted in the middle of the explosion.

Gusts of wind whipped him in the face. Cursing Daniel tried to boost his legs, because in the headwind it felt like, he didn't move from the spot.

And just as Daniel wanted to scream through the forest again, he saw a red jacket flashing between the tree trunks. Reminding him, that everyone could hear. That everyone could have seen them. Frustrated, Daniel let Domen run away from him, although he had just burst his hope, which was buried under cement, with a single kiss. Without asking Daniel if he really wanted that. Uncertain Daniel looked around, while his heart was running a marathon.

Full of risk, Daniel leaned forward. Opened his skis. Leaned himself against the wind, which would give him wings. He stretched his arms slightly backwards to keep his balance. To not tilt forwards and do a crash landing. It was roaring in his ears. His pulse, the wind, the dull roar of the crowd fused with each other. Relentlessly, he kept his system closed. Determined not to get out of his rhythm.

"How do you come up with the idea to start this competition?!", Sullenly Anders threw his skis into the corner. He didn't care about the cameras around them. His trial round was anything but good. The combination of tailwind and Innsbruck made Anders always discomfort.

Shivering, Daniel pulled the zipper of his jacket up to his chin. Searching the crowd for neon green jackets. Everything was unreal. Every time he was unsure of not having dreamed, he unconsciously searched with his eyes for Domen. In the jumper's accommodation. In the lounge. Outside on the drain. Down in the spout.