“There’s this girl,” I started out, but I could barely verbalize it. “She’s magnificent,” I said, drinking in the facts that I was too stubborn to see before. “And she’s sitting in the grandstand right now, no doubt freezing her tail off.” Jack smiled and nodded, putting his hands on my shoulders.
“I got you. Which one is she?” he asked.
“Her name is Presley. Bright red jacket, black pants. The most beautiful icy blue eyes you’ve ever seen.”
“You know, I’m also in the market for such a woman—” I cut him off.
“Nice try. Don’t go stealin’ her away from me, okay?” Jack rolled his eyes and smiled.
“I’ll try not to. But if she takes one look at me and decides she wants an over-the-hill, chubby, lonely son of a gun over Mr. Handsome athlete, I’m going to run away with her, but I promise to send you a postcard from our honeymoon.” In our weird language, this was Jack promising me that he would go above and beyond for me. And I had no doubt he would.
Several minutes later, we were readying our places. The races were about to start. First up was Gunnar Matthias from Big Horn, Wyoming. He was a few years younger than me but had been the last few years. We’d raced in the same circlesbefore, but I never got to know him personally. This was his first time at the Winter Games, and I was sure his nerves were over the top.
His rider, on the other hand, I’d known for years and had an infectious personality of joy.
“Mark Westerly,” I said, shaking his hand. He was smiling ear to ear.
“Ford! It’s been forever. Though it feels like I see you every time I open a magazine, turn on the television or walk through a sporting goods store. They got that mug of yours sprawled out on every surface!” We both laughed.
“My manager has to work long hours to convince the brands and then me; it’s borderline ridiculous. I’m sorry you have to see me at all out there.” We both laughed. While I was thankful for the brand deals, sometimes, it did feel overwhelming.
“Good luck today; we’re up. See you next time!” Mark trotted off on his horse while Gunnar gave a salute. He was deep in concentration; that much was obvious.
“Good luck to you both!” I hollered back.
Chase and I were set to immediately follow. Any moment now, the cameras would be facing me as Theo McCainwould be audible across every television and live stream in the world that was tuning in. He would say who I was and my past accomplishments. Theo would broadcast my fastest times to date and how I won the Winter Games the last few years. He might hint that it was time to pass on the torch to some younger competitors like he did when he retired from ski jumping after his big Olympic win. 25 years old isn’t old by any stretch of the imagination, but in this game that requires explosive power landing jumps at high speeds, it’s not uncommon to blow a knee and be done early.
The course was spread out in a giant horseshoe shape. It consisted of plastic sticks standing up together called “gates” that skiers had to go through. In addition to making it through the gates, skiers had to grab individual plastic rings that they collected on their arm by putting a hand through them like a giant bracelet. Then, there was a series of jumps, randomly placed, that the skier had to execute while remaining upright. Of course, they had to do all of these things correctly while working the 30-foot rope perfectly, and having the knowledge of what a horse might do.
The anticipation and knowledge of how a horse can and will react to certain things might be the most important part ofskijoring. To be a horseman and a skier is a unique combination, and it’s what’s required for this sport. You also have to have the ability of not toppling over as the horse kicks up snowballs, perfectly formed by their hooves and coming at you like baseballs at a batting range. Once, I took one in the neck. It was not fun.
Thankfully, with all of the fresh snow, I wouldn’t be fighting with spots of mud. Nothing ruins your race faster than a spot that’s been warmed by the sun.
As I watched Gunnar and Mark go through the course, I winced when Gunnar missed going through the third gate. There was a major benefit to not going first because you could see the course with a better set of eyes, but I felt for Gunnar again as he failed to collect a plastic ring. On the last jump, Gunnar took it a little too far to the left and tried to overcompensate by tugging on the rope too hard and wiped out, having the rope pulled from him at high speed.Disqualified.
Next thing I knew, the cameras were all pointed to me. A television screen had my face zoomed in and you could see my cold breath in the air. As the horse got ramped up, knowing it was about to race, our time officially started when I crossed the line ahead of me. The man next to me holding my rope, so itdidn’t get wet, released it to me. I took a deep breath, knowing any second Chase was going to take off. I looked over to the crowd and saw Presley sitting with a fluffy lap blanket, a dozen red roses, and a hot chocolate. How in the world had Jack pulled that off so fast? I smiled and as my face was covering every sports news outlet in the world right now, including the large television that Presley was watching, I hoped she knew that smile was for her.
I had seconds left to get my head in the game. “God, please help me win. For your glory.” The announcer said it was our turn and Chase and Buckshot were out of the gates with more intention and speed than I knew possible. I expertly tore through the gates, grabbing the rings like my life depended on it, and like Chase’s future in Sage Mountain, a place he wanted to call home, depended on it. Because it did. The first jump, I landed perfectly; the torches lit as I rode through a checkpoint while the crowd excitedly rang cowbells in the distance. I grabbed another ring, went through several gates. The second jump, a breeze. I thought of everything and nothing at the same time. I was both holding my breath and breathing harder than I ever had in my life as the horse kicked up ice chunks that were pelting me. This race-—with Presley and my brother tuning into watch; with people that I loved and cared about wanting me to win—I wanted to make it happen more than anything. As we turned and did the last set of gates, I heard Theo McCain say, “and this performance right here is what we’ve grown to expect from Ford Prescott.” His words got in my head for a moment, and I nearly missed the last gate. I nearly tumbled. I nearly wiped out. But I yelled out to God at that very second and felt a renewed strength in my grip on the rope. A stronger will to remain upright. This win wasn’t for me. It was for everyone whom I loved.
The last jump came and I landed it. But I landed too hard. No one knew the difference, but when my skis touched down on that snowy landscape, I felt something happen in my right knee. A slippery spot, and I overcompensated. Still, I didn’t let it hold me back. My body could break, but I was going to keep fighting for those whom I cared about.
When we finished the race, I had sweat dripping down inside of my goggles. My gloves were about to slip off from the sweat inside them. It may have been just a few minutes of a course, but I felt like years had been shaved off my life. But when I looked at Chase, I knew we had just done something huge. He smiled, dismounting from Buckshot and gave me a hug; therings around my arm were the reminder of what was just accomplished. I stood there, feeling my knee as it throbbed.
“They said it was the fastest time in skijoring history!” Jack came to me on the sidelines and kissed me on my sweaty cheek. “You’ve just made me the happiest manager in the world, kiddo!” Chase was already calling his wife. There were still a handful of competitors, so I wasn’t sure why everyone was already thinking this was a win. I voiced that very concern.
“Sure, Ford. Someone could still win. They would just have to beat the current world record for this length of course that you just set.” Jack shook my shoulders. “You are a hero, Ford. You’ve done something huge here. Once the shock wears off, you’ll get it.” Jack went on to talk to Chase.
Theo McCain’s assistant came over and asked if I would do an interview after the Games were wrapped. I thought about it for a moment, having shied away from the press for several months, but changed my mind. Suddenly, everything was clear to me.
“Yes. I’d love to.” She excitedly agreed and told me where to meet him after.
The rest of the competitors came and went while I took respite at the medical tent. From their analysis, my knee had noswelling and full range movement. It was possible I just landed on it too hard, and I was lucky I didn’t tumble from it. At some point, Theo McCain made a statement prepared by the Wyoming Cowboy Skijoring Association regarding the cheating scandal and the measures that were in place now to ensure that it wouldn’t happen. He went on to say that all accusations aside, they had no way to retrospectively prove something, but today everyone, could be assured there was no cheating involved. I was pleased with the task force on hand, and also that we could forgive and forget. It was kind of my new thing.
The rest of the competitors went, with the last one being the strongest contender. I was actually starting to feel a little worried after he took off out of the gate with his speed. He was smaller than me, which a lot of times, the lighter you are, the better, and his horseback rider was very intuitive, like Chase was for me. The skier took each jump and ring, and Chase and I watched in silence as they finished the course. My time was one minute fifteen seconds. This rider was one minute twenty seconds. I let out my breath I’d been holding in the entire time.Lord, thank You.
“I can’t believe it!” Chase yelled. “I’m going to be okay. I’m buying a house, Ford! My family is going to own a home inSage Mountain.” Chase had tears in his eyes. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to make this dream come true. And for winning me $75,000 !” He hugged me.
“Chase, you did just as much as I did for that. You’re an excellent rider. And about the money—why don’t you take this check for yourself? Take the burden off of that mortgage a little.” Chase started bawling and hugged me again.
