The wind at the top of the mountain felt way sharper than expected from anywhere else. Canada.
The Olympic slope on the mountains with sharp winds of snow, carrying the roar of thousands of fans gathered below. The only girl from the Dominican Republic was faced with the challenge on a new environment and climate. The sky was dark, but the mountain glowed like it had its own sunrise. At the starting gate stood Valeria Cruz snowboard strapped in, Dominican flag stitched into the sleeve of her jacket.
She closed her eyes for a second. From the Caribbean heat to freezing mountain air. From palm trees to pin trees. Small indoors training facility in Santo Domingo to the biggest stage in sports in freezing air. The Olympic Games!
Valeria had dreamed of this moment since she first saw snow at seventeen years old from a training trip abroad, she remembered falling tons, her teammates laughing as she struggled common where she was from. People told her it didn’t make sense at all. “Why don’t you choose to do softball?” they would say all the time. She didn’t want to be easy though; she wanted to make history.
Tonight was the biggest competition of her life, the women’s snowboard slopestyle final. She’s currently in third place; a medal was within reach. One run left! In doubt standing in the cold feeling adrenaline from previous rounds she’s overheard. “She’s lucky to even be here.” Not skilled, but lucky.
Years of training, Valeria had fought not just the cold, not just fears of massive flips and jumps but also the judgments and stares of others. She faced the attention of being one of the only Caribbean girls who is of color and a who has a different language barrier. They act as she doesn’t belong in their world of snowy mountains and winter traditions. She envied the athletes who grew upon real mountains. Who trained every winter since childhood. Who didn’t have to travel across the countries just to find snow and gain experience. But envy was dangerous and can never do good in the long run in sports, especially the Olympics!
Her turn was next. She bent her knees and put on her safe gear and glided down in speed, giving her momentum for a flip in the air. She wanted gold, meaning having to attempt a trick she’s only done twice in D.R. as she approaches the move, she had the same doubts on her mind about the stares and talk.
But they didn’t have her story, her struggles and the obstacles she had to face to be here. She did the impossible flip in the air and came down with striking landing. The crowd went silent before cheering as loudly as possible. The numbers flashed: 95.10. From third…second. First! Loud cheers and cameras were facing her as she was blown with shock, as all the effort and training came in handy. Not luck, skill. Envy had almost distracted her, but she turned that into motivation being the first in women snowboarding to represent Dominican Republic.
Her journey from heat to snow, from doubt to confidence, she overcame all of it. Standing next to the others, her gold medal rested on her chest, cold and heavy. She smiled.
