Mountains have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From an early age I can recall waking up in the tent as sunlight warmed my face. Bounding up boulder fields and dodging Douglas firs are skills as fundamental to me as reading and writing. I still remember the first day my dad took me backcountry skiing. I was nine years old, with feet so small I had to skin up on my nordic skis. Now I’m fifteen, and have been racing with my local team, Silverfork Skimo, for two years. This sport has quickly become my winter obsession and I can’t wait to do more.