by Tommy Kirchhoff
When you're green, you're growing. When you're ripe, you rot. This is true of all things Zen, especially skiing.
You see, you don't understand Zen. You do it. You go with it. You flow with it. You be.
Check out Le Descente, or Downhill racing. Downhill is fast. While everyday matters are cluttered in reminiscion and anticipation, the downhill is very Zen. You don't think, you do. Instead of contemplating every move of every turn, you meditate and ski from the feet up.
Up until the finish, there is no "time." There is only now. The no mind not thinks no thoughts about no things. The feet, the speed, and the "center" just do.
For many, this is the essence of skiing. Leave your brain at home. Skiing is not a science. It is an artless art. It requires no cognition, only action.
Go fast. Fear nothing but fear.