Frigid February wind whipped across senior Hannah Landman’s goggle-cladded face. Her signature blue and yellow spyder speed suit stood out against the white expanse of the hilltop, offering little warmth as the temperature dropped into the negatives.

But Landman had never felt hotter as she stared down the only thing standing between her and her goal, a simple ski hill scattered with blue and red gates.

She stood in the starting gate ignoring the doubts that crossed her mind and shook off the disappointment she felt after her first run in the state competition slalom course.

Landman had been more motivated than ever for her final ski season, and as she pictured the track in her head for the hundredth time that day, she felt ready.

The starting beep went off, so did Landman. She went from a light-hearted, rarely serious senior, to a fierce competitor with an intense drive to win.

Her yellow Volkl skis skimmed over the surface of the snow and she hit each gate with skillful precision established over countless bitter hours spent practicing at Mulligan’s Hollow alongside the rest of the ski team.

But this time, she was the only Buccaneer skier to advance to the state competition and Landman felt an obligation to give it her all.

She wanted to do well for for her team that couldn’t be there, she wanted it for her coaches that made her into the skier she is, she wanted it for her father who has never been anything but encouraging she wanted it for the younger teammates that looked up to her and most importantly,she wanted it for herself who has competed at state for the past three years but never quite hit her mark.

She channeled her motivation into speed as she barreled down the hill. But when Landman charged across the finish line at Boyne Highlands on Feb. 23, an unsettled feeling seeped into her bones. She wished she would’ve gone faster, she wished she would’ve prepared more, she wished she would’ve done better.

Landman made her way over to the leader board with a heavy heart and dashed hopes. Next to her name was the taunting time of 36.63 seconds- 2.24 seconds slower than her first run. But when her eyes climbed the leader board she saw only one time faster than her own.

At Landman’s final high school ski race, after four years, she finally hit her mark and claimed the title of the second fastest girl’s slalom skier in the state.

“Wherever i end up, I will be skiing,” Landman said. “And I want to be skiing competitively.”