It’s been more than a week since I realized that I wasn’t going to compete in the
Triple S
(let’s see, technically I did compete but in the Open, not in the official competition).
Getting to Cape Hatteras was a bit of an odyssey, but if everything in life was easy it wouldn’t be fun!
–Malaga-New York by plane.
-Taxi from JFK to the city.
-Overnight in New York.
– Overnight in Norfolk.
– 3 hours drive to Cape Hatteras.
The day I arrived I sailed and the rest of the week it rained practically every day. I was dying to start the Open. The wind prediction is pretty bad, which meant we would be put in to compete with jetskis. I still stayed super positive and eager. I never imagined that it would really happen, that I would have to compete dragged by a jet ski on the Triple S. A shame I have to spend a lot of time and effort training to get to the other side of the world and compete in something you’ve never done in your life. Jo…
I promise you that few times in my life had I been so nervous, my gut hurt a pass until I entered the water. Everything disappeared and concentration to the fullest.
After 3 obstacles out of 5 I was quite clear that my options to compete in the most important competition of the year were over. I still held something like 2% hope, just in case.
They announced the results, what a stick… Although I already knew it, one of my friends gave me a comforting hug burst into tears. Honestly, I was shattered. I literally felt like I had been broken into a pile of pieces. I felt horrible and disappointed. I felt frustrated that I had to cross half the world to get here and not be able to demonstrate the “tricks I had up my sleeve”, I felt stupid for not being able to do it better than I could. I guess I have many years to live to fulfill one of my dreams in this life, to compete in the Triple S.
Luckily there are friends (thanks for being there guys, you know who you are) with those typical talks that make you feel a little more person. A whole day wallowing in pain was what I needed to start being a person again, it was time to go out into the water to train again.
Clarification: This text is not to give grief to anyone, I do not intend it. Everything happened as it happened, period. I’m just narrating how it all happened for me. If it’s too dramatic, I’m sorry… What would life be without drama and passion? 😛
Wait, it wasn’t all going to be bad! Having come here has made me understand a little better how these types of competitions work, it has allowed me to take pretty cool photos with the best photographers (which I hope to be able to show them soon) and, above all, I have been able to spend time with friends and I have been able to train a lot in the incredible spot they have in OBX.
I’m dying for the 2017 SSSto arrive.
See you in the water,
Julia