By: STUDENT ATHLETE INCOMING
Day 1
Dear Diary,
I’ve always wanted to try a sport where I could get over my fear of heights and gain some core strength. Skydiving was on my list, but I’m not sure it counts as a sport . . . because it’s not at the Olympics, and it’s usually advertised on tourist brochures at the airport as a sightseeing situation.
Day 2
Dear Diary,
I signed up for springboard diving lessons. So far so good . . . but I tried getting too fancy during the free jump at the end. Everybody else in my group just practiced “jumping like a pencil.” Not me — I’m afraid of pencils and scantrons after taking two summer semesters in a row.
Day 3
Dear Diary,
The dive tank looks ridiculously inviting, but I’m learning the hard way that water hurts when you overrotate the hard way. Luckily, if you just smile really big when getting out of the pool, everyone assumes the CLAP of water surface tension breaking had nothing to do with me. It was applause!
Day 4
Dear Diary,
I’m enjoying how niche this sport is because I TOTALLY sound like I know what I’m doing. Which I TOTALLY do. Know what I’m doing, that is. It takes me so long to trek up those wet stairs, and only a second to plummet down to water-level. If anyone sees me flop, at least it’s only a flash. Zero witnesses here. I’m starting to dread the sit-ups part of conditioning because my spine feels like it’s even closer to the surface of my skin than usual, but I’m pretty sure everyone thinks I’m all red from the sun!! No impact-redness here.
Day 5
Dear Diary,
I put “DIVING ❤️SFU” in my Instagram bio. SFU doesn’t have a diving team, but it’s a little sleight of hand to suggest I am part of something very, very special. It’s not stolen valour because I’ve invested so much time and even secured multiple accessories — including a participation award and a special quick dry towel. I guess it’s pretty awesome that I don’t need a swim cap or goggles. I AM the machine, baby!!!!!
Day 6
Dear Diary,
That 5 m diving platform feels like the CN Tower. Diving makes me look differently at all the skyrises populating the landscape on my commute to class. If I lived in one of those new Burquitlam condos, I’d probably be so bored of the view because I regularly reach such great heights at my local dive tank. My fear of heights totally dissolved, just like the huge splash pattern I used to make.
Day 7
Dear Diary,
I wish there was an Olympics this year so I could chime in with my very executive two cents. Last summer, I was getting chip crumbs all over myself while critiquing an athlete’s form. To be honest, I will probably do that again this year, but with an insider understanding of how FRICKIN’ EASY it actually is. So easy that coach gave me the best rookie award. My own private Olympics is going to be cliff jumping this summer. Then, I’ll go to the actual one — wherever they hold them.
