Born and raised in the southern part of China, I have always enjoyed staying in the sun. Trees here never turn yellow and ice and snow are rarely seen, even during the coldest days in winter. Because of this, winter sports were not much of a factor in my life.

It was not until the age of 10 that I had my first experience of winter sports in Harbin. Years since, though I have forgotten details, I can still remember the feeling putting on skis for the first time.

It was a freezing day in December. Wearing heavy equipment, I wondered why people even considered skiing fun. I thought of the summer events we mostly think of when we think about sports. We use words like "free", "powerful" and "fearless" to describe athletes who play those games. But what about winter sports?

Following my instructor, I put on my skis and started to move. Surprisingly, the skis no longer felt clumsy in the snow, and every move created momentum for the next one.

"You are ready to go downhill," my instructor said after hours of training.
"My legs are heavy," I complained to my instructor.

"Soon you will be able to feel like a flying bird. Nothing will be heavy anymore," he replied.

Minutes later, we were at the top of the slope. I made slow moves at first, which soon turned faster and faster. Nervous and frightened, I grabbed the ski poles tight, screaming as the wind blew wildly through me.

I tried my best to control my skis. All of a sudden, they became tame, gentle as a pair of horses leading the way.

I raised my arms slightly, as if the ski poles were wings. The wind was still blowing, but now it felt like a giant hand lifting me up. I started to understand what my instructor had just said, "when you are skiing, you are as free as a bird".

That day I realized winter sports are as freeing as their summer counterparts. Humanity is strong, and it is perhaps the bravest part of the human heart that motivates people to go outside on a freezing day to play and put their athleticism to the test.

Yang Shudi is a student at the College of Foreign Languages and Literatures of Fudan University.

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