The
atmosphere of the ski hill before the race started was full of energy and trash
talking among all the cowboys who were competing that day.
When I was
driving up, it was so funny I pass this car and the official photographer, Covy
and Rebecca Moore were in the vehicle just jamming out. So, I was thankful I
had saw them on the highway because I am sure I would have gotten lost going to
the hill. It was my first time ever going to Mount Norquay and I had no idea
how it worked. When I parked, it was sprinkling outside and I thought, I have a
couple outfit choices, so I thought I would just bring all of them in a bag and
just leave it in the club house.
It was so fun I saw Miss Rodeo Canada Ali
Mullin just skiing to the bottom of the hill after a run and met up with her to
find out where we could help. I put my stuff down inside and I was one of 4
girls who signed up for the ski race. I was very surprised because from what I
saw the event last year on Facebook, there was way more than four girls. My
favorite part was stumbling around in my ski boots with my hat and crown and
skiing down the hill with my chaps on. There was just something about the pride
of representing my city with hat and crown and then on top of that doing
something that I love doing in my free time in the winter, skiing.
All the
looks from the people skiing the hill who were not involved in the Canadian
Cowboy Ski Race had lots of questions. I had a great time telling individuals
who asked what rodeo Queens do in the rodeo community and provided some more
information on why were at the ski hill with cowboy hats and chaps flapping in
the wind. The event was sponsored by Back on Track in support for the sports
medicine team and had some great recognition for Ty Pozzobon. For those of you
that don’t know, the rodeo community is very tight and they had lost a brother
in the month of January to depression because of multiple concussions. It has
been a very eye opening tragedy that has happened in the sport of rodeo and I
am glad that people are now paying more attention to the safety of these
cowboys.
On another note, I pretty much spend the day with Ali
shredding up the hill and answering lots of questions. When race time came, we
were both very nervous but we made sure we took a practice run before and
thought, “whoa this won’t be so bad.” But when I found out I was going head to
head with the ex-champion from 2014, I was hoping there was some way that I had
a chance. My first race and I got my loss handed to me on a silver platter. I
told myself I am showing up trained and ready to go for 2018! I hope to see
more supporters, cowboys, cowgirls and any others who want to come to the hill
and have a great time and meet some incredible people. I can say this is for sure in the top 10 of my
favorite things I have gotten to do this year, and I hope the list keeps
growing because Emily and I have a busy 3 months coming up!
Yours Truly,
Airdrie Pro
Rodeo Princess 2016
Katie
Hlushak
No comments:
Post a Comment