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Prologue

“It’s quite a day here at the X Ga tea with those from other countries—and the conditions are excellent Lots of powder, with light wind It’s going to be an incredible night here at the Men’s Snowboarding SuperPipe Eliet started”

“Me neither, Mike There is so much talent in this co to predict who’s going toto take the top three seats at the end of the weekend”

“I knohat youfor over a decade and I’ as it is right now This last year, these boarders have pushed themselves—pushed their bodies and the sport—until the results are spectacular I expect to see tricks today that no one even thought possible a year ago That’s howevery season, every day”

“Absolutely, absolutely Of course, there are a few favorites that we’ve got to root for here in the SuperPipe Z Michaels has been shredding the snow this year and if I have to pick a favorite to take ho to be him”

“I agree But he’s not the only one to watch Luc Jennings has a really good shot atwith Ash Lewis”

“I don’t know about that If you’d talked toit out for the top spot here at Aspen But with the tragedy that’s recently befallen Ash … he’s shaken Ihis parents like that And with his little brother still hospitalized, it’s just ato anyone, anytiht as he started his quest for Olyold? It sucks, man It just sucks”

“It really does He’s such a sick boarder and such a great guy He’s been with his brother pretty much nonstop since the accident, even missed most of the Olympic trials to sit by his bedside He made the team anyway—based on his perforiven hirieve But from what I understand the coaches laid down the law He needed to be here today or lose his spot on the Olympic team”

“That’s harsh, but understandable These gae, and it’s a shot for boarders froo head-to-head before the Olympics Still, I’m not sure how ready Ash is for the SuperPipe The other co used to the pipe and the slopes, but Ash flew in just a couple of hours before the slopestyle competition this afternoon—”

“Corabs e of the announcers “We need to get going”

I know he’s right Just like I know the last thing I need to be doing right now is listening to what the announcers are saying aboutin those sad voices, like they pity

I don’t need their pity I don’t need anything After all, I’, in one piece

And alive

Don’t forget I’m alive Not like my parents who died in a car crash on the way to see me board at the Olyan, who’s in a coma in the hospital back in Salt Lake, broken into a thousand different pieces