Cool News
6th grader reports on freestyle snowmobiler |
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AmSnow Note: This is from the Hood River News' Young Voices Section. Colette Zack, daughter of HMK's Kirk Zack, a sixth grader at Hood River Middle School wrote this article and it was published by the Hood River News.
By Colette Zack
Joe Parsons, 2009 double X-Games Gold medalist for snowmobile Speed and Style and Freestyle was coming to my school! Really! At first I could not believe it, but as it set in I was overjoyed! It all started when I was four years old when I met several freestyle snowmobile athletes at an event in Idaho. Not long after I met Chris Burandt, the winner of the first Freestyle X- Games Gold in 2007! Throughout the years I met awesome people in the winter sports competitions and to me they all became great friends!
My dad, Kirk Zack, is the owner of HMK and an awesome father who has provided me with love, support, and amazing opportunities! In case you are wondering, HMK stands for Highmark, as in the highest mark you can make on the mountain! His company designs snowmobiling attire and most recently outdoor gear! My dad sponsors a lot of the professional snowmobilers and athletes in the business. I was introduced to snowmobiling ever since I can remember, even our dog tags along! As I met more and more people in the industry I made up my mind that I wanted to share these awesome people with my friends! By 2006 I had been to Alaska and witnessed my first real competition and had spoken to Chris, and told him a bit about what I wanted to do!; Chris agreed that sometime he could probably come to my school and talk about what it takes to be an athlete! A few years have passed and neither of us found time, but as my dad talked to some of our most recent athletes from Winter X-Games it was very clear who was coming, Joe Parsons! I spoke to Joe on the phone and he was just as excited as I was!
I am in sixth grade at Hood River Middle School so there are quite a few kids in my graduating class, 150 to be exact. Joe also visited my brother Colson's third grade class at May Street elementary!
The night before Joe Parsons had arrived at my house with his girlfriend Bailey! We roasted marshmallows and had a blast! I got to know him and he was really cool and fun too!
The next day as everyone piled into the auditorium I knew what I had been looking forward to all these years and it was happening! Joe talked to everyone about the work involved to be an athlete, from proper gear to training.
He also answered questions, plus everyone got his autograph! Joe was also kind enough to let all of us touch and hold his two well earned gold medals. When I asked what it felt like to win and have the medals placed around his neck, he simply placed the medals around MY neck and said, "How does that feel?" I was speechless all I could manage was "COOL!"... It was great to see all my friends as excited as I was when I first heard Joe was coming. After it was over, one of my classmates came up to me and said, "Thank You so much! I watched the X-Games and I never thought I'd get to meet someone in it." From that point on I knew that it wasn't just fun for Joe and me. It was what I hoped for and everyone had fun with Joe at our school, especially my teacher who is planning on framing her signed picture! Thanks Joe for hanging out with me and visiting HRMS!
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