When You’re At The Top,

WHEN YOU’RE AT THE TOP, people are always looking to knock you off. That was the case in the women’s wakeboard finals at the 2003 Gravity Games.

Fighting choppy water on Lake Erie, Florida boarders Tara Hamilton and Leslie Kent looked to dethrone 2002 champ Emily Copeland-Durham. But the Colorado 20-year-old proved once again that the Rocky Mountain state can turn out more than just great snowboarders and skiers.

On her first pass, Copeland-Durham put together the trifecta by going solid on her heelside tantrum, scarecrow, and heelside back roll. But the Colorado girl saved her best for last. Her second pass featured a nifty KGB (wrapped back roll with a backside 360). She threw another tantrum and nearly grinded the entire length of the super slider. Those big tricks combined with a mixture of rotations, jumps, and consistently solid landings gave Copeland-Durham her second straight Gravity gold. Hamilton settled for her fourth Gravity Games silver.

EXTRA < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

POINT Being the best at something feels great. Everyone looks up to you. But they also want to beat you. Sitting at the top of your sport, activity, or class puts a big target on your chest. That’s because everybody wants to be the person who beat you. Sometimes the status can make you perform better. But other times it may make you feel that you want to lose so you don’t have to deal with the pressure.

No matter what you do—even if it’s something you’re not good at—God wants you to try your best. The Bible says we should act like we’re performing for God, not ourselves, no matter if it’s in a test, an athletic competition, or a job.

GOAL! Have you ever felt like you wanted to do poorly on purpose? Maybe you’ve felt too tired to do your best and just wanted to give up. But that’s not what God wants. He desires that you make the most out of your talents and work in a way that honors him.