Avalanche Alley

You're a young snowboarder competing in a mountain race when an avalanche strikes. Now you must survive the wilderness, rescue trapped competitors, and find your way back to civilization.

The wind bites your cheeks as you stand at the starting gate of the Junior Mountain Cup, the biggest snowboard race of the year. You are twelve years old, and this is the moment you have been training for all winter. The course runs down Avalanche Alley — a legendary stretch of mountain that cuts through pine forests, over ice ridges, and past frozen waterfalls.

Twenty other racers line up beside you. You recognize a few: Mika, your best friend and fiercest rival, and Jordan, the kid from the next town who won last year.

Mika bumps your shoulder. 'Ready to eat my snow?'

'In your dreams,' you shoot back, but your grin gives you away. Your heart is hammering. 'Just stay smooth,' you tell yourself. 'Smooth is fast.'

The announcer counts down over the loudspeaker. 'Three... two... one... GO!'

You push off and the world becomes a blur of white and speed.