Cole workman

I have spent the majority of my life in a small rural town called Forest, Virginia. As a child, I spent most of my time playing sports. I could not settle for one so I tried them all – soccer, basketball, football, lacrosse, cross country, golf, and even track.

Growing up in a small town leaves you with little to do, which is why sports were such a big part of my life growing up. I may not have been able to go to the mall – we didn't have one – but I could always meet with my nine other buddies on a cracked basketball court surrounded by grassland for some pick-up basketball.

I was twelve years old when I went on my first ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and discovered my favorite sport of them all. When I strapped on my boots and clicked into my skies it was love at first sight. I loved the freedom that came along with skiing, the ability to go everywhere and anywhere on the mountain with little to no restrictions, fly through the air off of jumps, and travel at high speeds down the sharp decline of the mountain face. I related to the small ski towns, and felt the overwhelming sense of community within.

Because good skiing could only be found across the country, the sport allowed me to escape my small town and travel to places that I otherwise would have never been – including Utah, California, and Whistler. I am now nineteen and my love for the sport has only grown. I have been able to see and experience more of the world through skiing than any other sport. The combination of travel and experience is why I love skiing so much and is why it will forever be a part of my life.