Legs bent, knees to the chest, squeeze everything as tight as possible, hold your breath, and keep your eyes on the boat.

It may sound like a weird game of Twister, but it was my mantra as I attempted to become a slalom skier. Beginning at the end of last summer I had made it my goal to get up on one ski, to feel like I could pop up out of the water on one ski and be in complete control.