When we hear someone utter the words “Black Diamond” we think of the expert level ski slopes and our heart rate increases and our breathing quickens, as we get excited and nervous, with a rush of adrenaline. These are the same feelings that are instilled in us when we hear someone mention the New Zealand All Blacks. This extraordinary rugby team is analogous to the black diamonds on the ski slope and it is always exhilerating to see them play.
The words “extremely difficult” and “for experts” defining the black diamond label on the slopes can also define professional rugby and any team faced against the All Blacks. A black diamond is the expert level slope on the mountain, and often the steepest and narrowest. Once a person has the ability, expertise, and courage to ski down those slopes, they will have such a sense of accomplishment that they’ll want to have another go and then try other black diamond slopes on different mountains, in order to constantly challenge themselves.
Professional rugby players constantly seek to challenge themselves too. Richie McCaw and his teammates have mastered the “black diamond” in rugby and are always looking for ways to become better rugby players and progress continued development of their rugby skills. When another rugby team faces the challenge of playing against the All Blacks, it’s a new challenge each time and they always aspire to win, knowing the potential risks to accomplish such a feat.
Dangerous is a word often associated with rugby as well as black diamonds on the ski slopes. The All Blacks players are not short on numbers of injuries, with a few notable examples from the 2014 season. The worst injuries in terms of recovery time were broken bones, including Dan Carter’s fibula, Ma’s Nonu’s arm, Conrad Smith’s thumb, and Sam Cane’s knee. One of the most severe injuries was Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s torn cruciate ligament. Although not an exhausive list, there were also muscle or ligament injuries to many of the players, including Cory Jane, Israel Dagg, Dan Carter, Nathan Harris, Charles Piutau, and Julian Savea. Additionally, Kieran Read, Brodie Rettalick, and Joe Moddy suffered concussions. Despite the risks, the physical and psychological benefits of rugby lure the players back to the field and motivate their rehabilitation to recovery.
When a skier gets on a lift to carry them to the highest peak, intense feelings overcome them, just as occurs with rugby players at the start of a match. There is the quickened pace of heart, slight nervousness with pressure to succeed, and hopefullness to escape injury. For the All Blacks, the pre-game Haka performed helps to psych up the players to prepare for their challenge on the field. They also have a mental awareness of the extremely high expectations of their success, representing New Zealand. Skiers on a leisurely ski trip don’t have the same pressure, but they share the same thrill of not knowing what lies ahead, but look forward to the beauty of it.
The desire and passion to achieve immense challenges like skiing on black diamond slopes, becoming a better All Black, and other rugby players’ dream of winning against the All Blacks are all analogous to each other, whereas they provoke those immense feelings of pulse-racing adventures. It takes motivation, courage, and sheer strength to become an All Black and to be their opponent, hoping to someday master the black diamond.
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