Hasn’t 2008 been great for vintage sledders so far? And to think, winter is just 5-6 months away.
Last year at Live on Skis, all the attendees were fortunate enough to meet Forrest Hess. A remarkable young man who is fighting some tough physical challenges. Forrest just graduated from High School, and he’s looking forward to doing a lot more sledding. But I think he captured a lot of what vintage sledding is really about with this post on the Bull Sessions, written shortly after his graduation ceremony:
Eight years ago, I would have never thought that this day would come. The day that one chapter of the book is closed, and another opens wide.
Eight years ago, staring with my young eyes at something that would change my life. A snowmobile! This sled happened to be a 1979 AC Jag 3000 F/C, that I bought with my own money. I worked everyday for a whole summer to pay my mom back. An amount that I can now make in a 40 hour week. That machine was everything to me. My parents initially thought that my grades would suffer because of it. On the contrary, they improved. It was something to aim towards. Something that was my drive, my release.
Since that warm April day back in 2000, a lot has changed. My mind and body have matured and I have learned lessons that are invaluable. Doctors have told me things that I thought I would never make it through. However, I knew that I still had my snowmobile. Through everything, I still had it. As my collection has expanded and contracted, it has still been my anchor.
Two years ago, after coming out of surgery, the first question was, “when can I ride”. Naturally I was told to wait two weeks. That is when something else amazing occurred, I became a member here. Since then, the same scenario has reoccurred. The highpoint of my life so far has been LOS 2008, without a doubt. Snowmobiles again have saved me. Life is 95% a mental game, you have to keep focused to win.
Never have I let some stupid disease stop me, or rule my life. I looked out ahead, with a burning passion. And to quote the keynote speaker at today’s commencement ceremony, “if you never get carried away with something, you should be carried out”. What a wonderful quote that is about life and our passion for different things. To bring this ramble to a close, I will say this. Life has taken it’s course on me. Sometimes the weight has been too much to handle. But, the light at the end, my beacon, has been my sleds. Always there for me, never rejecting me. A safe haven.
So, I thank you all as I embark on a new journey. For holding me in place, and showing me the importance of life is greater that what is initially visible. Thank you so much.
With true sincerity, Forrest Hess (See you at LOS 2009)
Here’s quick little slideshow.. photos from events in 2007-2008 including Waconia, Hall of Fame Classic Sled Reunion, Rock Rapids Race, Sauk Centre race, Eagle River Race, LIve on skis 2008, Ironwood race, Jon Carlson’s collection, Hall of Fame grand opening, 2008 Ride with the Champs, Bemidji races and more. Thanks to Brandon Johnson for a lot of the really great photos.