...extreme sledding...

I think I might have a crush on Shaun White.

In fact, I might have a crush on all extreme sporters. I find their passion, commitment and sheer bravery incredibly intoxicating.

So in honor of Shaun White, the start of the Winter Olympics and the sudden snowfall that swept the St. Louis area, Andy and I trekked to Art Hill for some night sledding. Situated just outside the Art Museum and overlooking the Grand Basin, Art Hill has been the place to sled in St. Louis for over 100 years.

All kinds of people line the hilltop each winter to race toward the hay bale barriers. On this evening, there were only a few sledding stragglers that remained from the day, so the hill was fairly empty. With packed down snow and temperatures that had dropped into the teens, we were anticipating a slick ride.

Seeking to get my “extreme” on, Andy and I created some sweet sledding moves to spice up our adventure. Like:

The Superman – while lying on your stomach, hold your arms out in front of you as if you are Superman flying. This is my favorite because it offers the most control.

The Dead Man – while lying on your back, cross your arms over your chest and let go, allowing the sled to take you where it will. This was, by far, the fastest.

The Spinning 360 – while seated, do not stop the saucer from spinning around and around as you plummet down the hill. Screaming is acceptable, but beware of the disorientation that ensues.

Bowling for Sledders – if you're barreling down the hill, it is their responsibility to get out of your way. If they don't, 10 point for the little ones, 20 points for the big ones.

The Surfer Girl/Boy – while standing on the sled, try to go as far as you can without falling off. I think Shaun would have been impressed with our skills.

In between our storied runs, we warmed ourselves by one of the massive bonfires, where we met a nice British chap who immediately offered us a slog of his whiskey. He was kind and conversational. But even by the fire, we couldn't sit for long, and we parted ways to continue our adventures. (His adventure was spying and photographing owls.)

Back to Shaun White. My crush began after watching a 44 minute Hulu program called Shaun White Russia Calling. It chronicles Mr. White's progress toward the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the ups and downs he experiences through that process. What moved me most about the program was his humanity and how deeply I could relate to him.

I tended to see these men and women as superhuman, without fear of what might happen. But I couldn't have been more wrong. These men and women face down their fears everyday. Some battles are won; others are lost. But what sets them apart is there commitment to pressing on.

What fears are you currently facing down? Watch that Hulu program for some inspiration from Shaun White. Then remember to cheer him on in Sochi.