Snowboarding Surprise by Jake Maddox

Author:Jake Maddox [Berne, Emma Carlson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: athletes; snowboarding; gymnastics; Capstone; chapter books; children’s books; Jake Maddox; SEL; social emotional learning; sports; sports books for girls; sports stories; sportsmanship; snowboarding books for kids; middle school
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2021-05-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

STICK IT!

“Samira, I’ve still got a place for you on the team,” Coach Hosseni said, startling Samira out of her thoughts. Dad was beaming at her. That must have been what they were talking about. “If you want it, of course.”

“Of course she wants it!” Penelope shrieked. “Yay! Sam! You’re back in!”

“Oh! I …” Samira looked down at her jacket and boots. She felt terribly overheated. “Maybe …”

“I just have to know for sure,” Coach Hosseni went on. “I’ve got a girl on the waiting list, and I promised I’d tell her tomorrow if there’s a spot for her. I know she’s very eager, so I don’t want to keep her waiting.”

Penelope grabbed her arm. “Can you stay? Do you want to work out on the beam with me? Please?”

“Go on, honey,” Dad said. “I’ll swing by and get you in an hour or so.”

Fifteen minutes later, wearing one of Penelope’s old leotards, Samira felt like she had stepped back in time. Her snowboarding life was gone. She was facing the beam. Up top, Penelope did a backflip and landed, arms out, wobbling a bit.

“Whooaa,” she called, laughing. “Okay, now it’s your turn. You’ve got this, Samira! I know you can do it!”

Samira mounted the beam, her heart hammering. “I’m nervous about my shoulder,” she called down to Penelope.

“It’ll be fine!” Penelope called up.

Samira took a deep breath and raised her arms, lifting her foot, she swung into the cartwheel. As her weight came into her hands, she felt her shoulder twinge. It held, but she swung her hips too far to the right and stumbled off the beam. As she brushed her hands off, she took a few deep, long breaths.

“That wasn’t bad,” Penelope said.

“Yeah …” Samira made sure she didn’t cry before she said anything more. “Listen, this feels just sort of off. I guess I’m just not used to it anymore. Maybe I need more practice first.”

“Well, sure, of course.” Penelope gave her a little squeeze. “That makes sense.”

Coach Hosseni came up beside them.

“Samira, have you tried any floor work? Let’s see a few back flips,” she said.

With her heart pounding, Samira followed Coach over to the floor mats. Penelope’s leotard was a size too small. It cut into the tops of her legs. She tried to yank it down as she positioned herself at the corner of the huge mat.

“Remember, a strong take off will reduce the strain on your shoulder,” Coach called. “Don’t be afraid of the speed.”

Vaguely, Samira was aware that the others had gathered at the edges of the mat, watching. She took two deep breaths, then ran, arms pumping. She bounded into the flip, arms extended, and then suddenly, everything snapped into place. Her hands thumped the mat, then her legs, knees bent, then hands again, legs, and hands. She heard Penelope call, “Stick it!” and she was done, upright at the corner of the mat.

The others burst into applause as she looked around, panting. “Wow!” Coach called. “This is Samira after a shoulder injury? Way to go!”

“Thanks,” Samira said.

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