Thrill Seeker: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports
To everyone who was ever my student you know who you are
Introduction What if you could Fly over trees and fields soaring through the air as if you were a bird Swim underwater past dozens of thousand-pound sharks Spin off a snow-covered jump rotating into a double flip and landing with perfect precision Unthinkable Impossible Not to the women in this book These are women whose determination grit and courage have propelled each of them into lives of extraordinary risks and rewards But what drives them What makes Faith Dickey bal ance on a narrow band of webbing thousands of feet in the air How does Kristin Knight Pace travel by dogsled through some of the coldest and most hostile wilderness on the planet Does Brittany Leavitt ever think twice before she scrambles up a near vertical rock face with nothing but her own strength to power her to the top The women in this book are not superhumans and they’re not fearless They experience doubts and are often uncomfort able even afraid The difference is that they have learned to vii
Introduction assess their uncertainty If there’s a real and legitimate dan ger they will make a rational decision to stop However being frightened of the what-ifs doesn’t count Instead Bethany Hamilton will take on a killer wave using its crushing force to surf a ride that is as exhilarating as it is life changing Angela Hawse will trek to the top of the world’s highest and most treacherous mountains to earn a breath of the most pristine air on earth And Lizzie Armanto will attempt a mind-boggling kickflip pushing aside the possibility of failure and going at it until she gets it right How do they do it And why Maybe their motivation comes from achieving something that makes them feel ultra-alive perhaps it’s because not doing it would be like living life from behind a curtain Each of these action adventurers comes from humble roots None had it easy and none had lives without struggle and personal sacrifice Yet each is an inspiration a bull’s-eye of audacity and bold resolve To every reader of this book Buckle up for a wild and thrilling ride May you feel inspiration and awe as you pedal vault carve run fly steer and plunge your way through these real-life adventures What do you long to do Three two one Go for it viii
