There is one of those A-head stories in today's Wall Street Journal that is a gem. It fits the season, and certainly is appropriate for being published the week of the Winter Olympics, which will give us snow boarding AND curling. Pick your own highlights.The story is about snow-shovel racing. It is nothing new, even from the standpoint of being done on ski slopes and involving ski lifts. It is how wonderful it is described that sets the story apart.
Miquel Bustillo does a fine job of dispensing some great imagery:
How to assume the starting position. There are several steps that end with prayer.
How the sport has gotten back to it origins. "We don't need an aircraft carrier net anymore to stop people from crashing into the resort." Thoughts of safety, spurred by lawsuits, have restored some sanity.
Techniques of steering. Think trying to direct a cannonball after it's left the cannon. (At the recent Millrose Games I witnessed Chris Cantwell win the shot put with a heave of over 70 feet. I had great seats and watched the arc of that toss from nearly track level. The shot put is not something you want to be in the way of when it lands. And it will land where it wants.)
Misuse of education money. One competitor once blew his student loan money on a modified shovel. (Dear Mr. President, it's not just Vegas that gets the money.)
Injuries do occur. Once a competitor broke his jaw, leg and back in three places; cracked his sternum, and bruised his heart.
All types of people can take part in the competition. A 72-year-old-retiree two years after open-heart surgery has taken part "lusting for adrenaline."
Adrenaline can be good for a stopped heart, but not if it's been cracked open by someone or something other than a highly skilled surgeon in an ideal setting.
Read the full story. But not while sitting on a shovel.
http://onofframp.blogpsot.com/
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