Planning a line from your drop-in is one thing. Riding it is another.

I’d never knock prior planning or hopeful speculation. I indulge in both constantly. But in the wise words of Oscar Wilde, “To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.” Be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice; the only constant is change. Embrace the uncertainty of each descent, for flowing with the fall line and its features might be the difference between a clean top-to-bottom or rag dolling down proverbial peaks.

Forcing our will upon the might of mountains often doesn’t work in our favor. We can’t always stop the sluff, but we can learn to mitigate its risks. Furthermore, matching our modus to more natural motions might lead to possibilities we never knew existed from the top looking down. In terms of missed turns, flying left of one’s originally intended line really can be a good thing. This is where adaptability with a dash of optimism comes into play.

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