Skiing is not just a sport, it’s an art. It’s a dance between the skier and the mountain, a symphony of speed and control. And no one understands this better than Toni Morrison.
Morrison once said that “if there’s a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” The same can be said about skiing – if there’s a line you want to ski, but it hasn’t been skied yet, then you must ski it.
Skiing is all about pushing boundaries and breaking limits. It’s about finding new lines down uncharted mountainsides and experiencing the rush of adrenaline that comes with taking risks. But at its core, skiing is also about discipline and technique.
As Morrison wrote in her novel “Beloved,” “definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.” In skiing, too often we get caught up in defining ourselves by our equipment or our accomplishments. We forget that what truly matters is how we approach each run – with focus, intentionality, and respect for the mountain.
For Morrison, writing was always an act of conscious creation. She believed in crafting stories that were honest and authentic – stories that spoke to universal truths even as they explored deeply personal experiences. Skiing requires this same level of intentionality; every turn on every run should be approached with mindfulness and purpose.
But perhaps most importantly, skiing requires courage. As Morrison wrote in her essay collection “Playing in the Dark,” “the function of freedom is to free someone else.” When we push ourselves outside of our comfort zones on the mountain – whether we’re attempting a new trick or navigating through challenging terrain – we inspire others to do the same.
This idea of transcendence through challenge runs deep in both skiing and literature. As Morrison once put it: “I tell my students…when you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
In skiing, we empower others simply by showing them what’s possible. By pushing ourselves and taking risks, we open up new lines of possibility for those who follow in our tracks.
Of course, skiing also has its share of setbacks and failures – just like writing. As Morrison wrote in her novel “Song of Solomon,” “You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.” In skiing, this means letting go of fear and doubt in order to fully embrace the thrill of the ride.
But even when we fall (as all skiers do at some point), there’s always a lesson to be learned. Skiing teaches us resilience and perseverance; it reminds us that failure is not an end but merely a step on the path towards growth.
At its best, skiing is a communion between man and mountain. It’s a way of tapping into something greater than ourselves – something wild and untamed yet deeply rooted in our own human experience.
As Morrison once said: “The function of art is to provide what life does not.” The same could be said about skiing. While everyday life may be filled with routine and predictability, on the mountain anything can happen – from unexpected snowstorms to sudden drops in temperature or visibility. But these challenges only serve to make each run more exhilarating; they remind us why we ski in the first place.
Skiing requires discipline, technique, courage, resilience – all qualities that Morrison embodied throughout her life as both a writer and a person. And while she never wrote specifically about skiing (at least not as far as I know), her approach towards literature offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to push themselves beyond their limits on the mountain.
So whether you’re a seasoned pro or a novice skier just starting out, remember to approach each run with intentionality and focus. Embrace the challenge, and don’t be afraid to take risks. And above all else, keep in mind Toni Morrison’s words of wisdom: “The function of freedom is to free someone else.”