Winterfest Weekend on the Edge of Tomorrow [2024]

Another year, another Winterfest at which to rejoice... and worry.

"The Czechmas Song"
Czech tennis toasting on an open fire
Krejcikova major trophies nipping at the nose
Winning carols sung by the Siniakova Doubles Partners Choir
And folks with Marketa tattoos from head down to their toes

Everybody knows a Petra, plus Pliskova in the flow
Will always help to make any season bright
A Crush of Czechs with their eyes all aglow
Hope to make it hard for future foes to sleep tonight
They know that a new season will soon dawn on the day
It'll be loaded with lots of wins and honors on the way
And every top-ranked star's team will again nervously spy
To see if Muchova can finally stay healthy enough to fly

And so we offer up this simple phrase
To non-Czech students final-ranked from 1 (Aryna) to 92 (Jule)
Although it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Czechmas... I say, Merry Czechmas to you

As we look back on the just-completed edition of Winterfest weekend, it was clear that the spirit of rebirth was a dominant feature. We all knew it would be, for the occasion marked the end of a year-long journey that had included the rebuilding and refurbishing of all of the parts of the Backspin Academy campus that were damaged by the Winterfest eve fires that nearly caused the cancellation of last year's festivities.

As anticipated, BSA's trusted leader Carla guided us all along the way, keeping everyone involved laser-focused on the task at hand while organizing fundraising events and using all of the hard-earned connections she'd collected in recent years as her standing has grown in the eyes of the *outside* world (we've *always* recognized how genius she truly is!) to complete the task several months early. To an individual, having seen so much literally rise from proverbial ashes, we all now believe that our beloved campus has never looked better.

Still, though maybe it was just of result of overwhelming exhaustion, an underlying anxiety seemed to lurk around every corner this past weekend. It's likely that each student, teacher, alumnus and treasued guest in attendance at this Winterfest could likely recount a moment in which they reflexively looked back over their shoulder, seemingly reacting to something they *think* they *might* have seen lurking in the shadows. While everyone's spirits were high -- Simona was back! Finally! -- the inching ever closer of a familiar dread along the margins of our collective happiness was undeniable.

The festivities marked the official close of a newsworthy scholastic year that had included the first changing of the guard in the Student Body President position in a number of years, the arrival and burgeoning success of still more (mostly) new faces (one sporting a bandanna, while others choosing to go a different route), and even the surprising appearance on *every* honor roll during *each* semester of a familiar face who has proved to be even more successful than *anyone* (including her!) could have ever imagined (congrats Jasmine on sweeping the "Best All-Around," "Personality-Plus," "Most Well-Liked" and "Best Smile" awards from your peers! All were well deserved.).

Meanwhile, though we strive for the campus to be an oasis from outside discord (no talk of controversies, comments, trolls), there were once again a number of unfortunate incidents reported between and/or involving individuals on campus that now has the BSA Board of Directors looking to update our code of conduct (outward respect for others will apparently have to be *required* rather than simply "expected"), as well as to assess the power distribution and regulations regarding outside agencies (A,B,C,D...) and their role on campus, and quite possibly even a prospective change in the BSA mission statement going forward, as it may need to be updated in order to be even more apparent in an ever-changing world (*we* shall leave no one behind to fend for themselves, no matter the devolving stances of several of our affiliated organizations).

As always, we will seek to always be thankful and circumspect regarding our irresistible successes, while also re-thinking and doing everything possible to correct our miscues.

Meanwhile, after Carla was bestowed with several awards and honors, both from within the Academy as well as from other corners (due to the continuing success of BSA's sister institution CAVE-INS -- the Carla Academy for the Visionary Education of Indigenous Native Societies), her longtime husband Carl was clearly uncomfortable with any such familial sharing of praise. While his wife had also been roundly lauded even before the fires, Carl had earned his own share of accolades (topped off by the prestigious "Elking Man of the Year" honor) over the previous year due to his involvement in BSA's hosting of the World Elking Cup in 2022, Still, he clearly grew more and more jealous as the weeks passed in 2024.

Thankfully, rather than revert to his old "squishing ways," Carl announced his intention to leave on a solitary "global elking trek" (well, solitary except for the accompaniment of his favorite bull "König," that is) to attempt to pass on the great knowledge he'd accumulated about the physical and mental benefits of the "glorious sport" of competitive elking. We all felt as if it was a sign that the more thoughtful Carl of recent years was indeed still with us.

We all bid him adieu one sunny (but bitterly cold) morning in early February, and believed that the time away would help Carl to clear his head and return as an even more well-rounded individual.

Carl wouldn't be seen on campus for nine full months as he made his way around the world, spreading his personal elking gospel far and wide and seemingly making many new friends (and converts) along the way. On a few occasions, Carl's journey was covered by international media organizations, and his words made all of us back at BSA proud.

Thing is, when he did finally return, it was clear that Carl had changed. Or rather, somewhere along the way, he seemed to have reverted back to his former tempermental ways, perhaps a result of his time away from the BSA circle (and, naturally, Carla) that had played such a role in better integrating his personality into society and finding ways for him to contribute more to his surroundings than offering mere threats of squishings, squishing themselves and the promise of still more squishings. Alas, he and Carla were heard arguing quite often upon his arrival on campus, and he walked (stormed?) off the grounds in early November for parts unknown. We have not (officially) seen him since. Though there have been rumors during his more recent absence, as well as -- in the final hours of Winterfest weekend -- unconfirmed photos possibly hinting at his next move.

Needless to say, the campus was and is abuzz with concern.

But, still, the arrival of Winterfest and all the joy that goes with it was a welcome excuse to take a moment to rejoice. And, thankfully, it was easy for everyone to come together in the early hours of the start of the weekend, for it marked the official-with-all-the-frills return of a longtime Winterfest opening ceremony tradition, attended by the largest non-Elking Cup crowd ever seen in BSA's history.

Henin Hall

Yes, I'm talking about the annual raising of our sacred "Church of Simona" banners (removed from their climate-controlled underground storage unit at an undisclosed bunker located somewhere on campus), simultaneously hoisted above Henin Hall on the west campus along with a special flag featuring the honored one's image at the main entrance on the east end. And this year -- after a two-year, no-fault-of-her-own, absence that infuriated the entire BSA community -- Simona Halep was finally back on the grounds to attend the ceremony and experience first hand the pent-up feelings of affection for her that have been and still are felt by all. It was so great to see her again!

Church of Simona crest flag, flying high above Henin Hall

Taking the microphone to address the gathered mass, Simona thanked everone for their support during her long ordeal, noting that even after so much turmoil she could still state, "Everything is good when it's finished well." She then unzipped her winter parka to unveil a "Freed Simona" t-shirt, creating a burst of energy -- and accompanying roar -- from the crowd that we later learned was heard several miles away.

It goes without saying that there was nary a dry eye in sight.

The East Campus entrance flag, overlooking the river

With a beaming smile and immense look of satisfaction (and relief) on her face, BSA's most favored pupil then joined the rest of the easy-rising revelers, who bathed her in a warm, umprompted -- and full-throated -- round of cheers (we stopped counting somewhere around 30 or so) of "Si-mo-na! Si-mo-na! Si-mo-na!"

From there, with one festering situation finally resolved and one of our own back by our side, everyone committed to "living in the now." We sang special carols and held the usual raffles (with prizes including an Iga Swiatek "Tennis Poets Society" CD, Emma Navarro's hot-off-the-presses book about sporting etiquette, Diana Shnaider's unused bandanna from Wimbledon, and what was *purportedly* Jaqueline Cristian's missing vampire cape... all were enjoyed -- sometimes ironically, sometimes legitimately -- by the winners, though a pickleball paddle autographed by Genie Bouchard went unclaimed).


"Jasmine the Bright-Eyed Italian"
You know Francesca and Flavia and Errani and Vinci
Garbin and Grande, Trevisan and Giorgi
But have you seen what we might call
The most winning Italian of them all?

Jasmine the Bright-Eye Italian
Had a year in which her talent overflowed
And if in Paris you saw her
You might even say with Gold she glowed

All of the other players
Used to shrug when draws showed her name
They rarely let poor Jasmine
Join in any championship games

Then one crazy season's eve
The Tennis Gods came to say
"Jasmine, with your light so bright
Won't you guide Italian hopes starting tonight?"

Soon how her sport did love her
And new fans shouted out her name with glee
"Jasmine the Bright-Eyed Italian
You went down in Cup herrr-story!"



Above the grounds in the early hours of Saturday, BSA poet laureate in residence Diane Dees captured a wonderful cloud image that gave us all pause, as well as gratification that we might be doing something right. Some saw the naturally occurring clouds as lovely, while others saw something else that brightened our mood even more.

After the fires destroyed last year's piece, the landscape was blessed with the return of Winterfest's annual (newly-christened) "Media Wall" art installation to highlight the off-campus attention afforded our former and current students. The consensus is that the collected offerings over the past year included some of the best representations of BSA denizens we've *ever* seen (especially you, Qinwen!).

Late in the afternoon on Sunday, the ceremonial lowering of the flags on both ends of campus occurred (it was an act performed for the first time by Simona herself!), then this year's Winterfest weekend came to a close with the long-awaited costume ball held in the Grand Ballroom at Henin Hall later that evening.

Once again we were delighted with many of the entrants (and winners) in the Best in Show contest, with honorees ranging from the ingeniously opinionated (a Black Hole, signifying -- we were told -- the WTA's current stance as a women's rights advocate) to the silly (Iga Swiatek as Tilly Green from Disney Channel's "Big City Greens" -- she didn't even have to wear a wig!)...

One guest came controversially dressed as a bottle of Melatonin (donning a white cap), while in the Group Costume category, a trio of friends showed up in clown makeup calling themselves "The Alphabets" (each had a big letter painted on their chest!) and spent the night handing out "provisional suspensions" with great fanfare to some guests (telling the ticketed -- whose names they continually blasted via a loud megaphone -- that they were thus prevented from participating in the Best in Show competiton) while also handing out "red cards" to select others in secret (w/ a wink) and telling them that they *could* participate but they'd only announce that they were "ineligible" long after this year's Winterfest had concluded.

A late-arriving entrant came dressed as the pickleball that recently struck the aforementioned Ms.Bouchard in the eye, but the guest unfortunately missed the deadline for the contest (they said they couldn't find the BSA campus entrance due to darkness, and were certain they slipped and fell on the ice multiple times in the process). Since the costume obscured its wearer's head, some suggested that it might have been Ms.Bouchard herself, but others were less sure . Although, the autographed pickleball paddle *was* snapped up from the unclaimed prize counter soon afterward, so make your own judgement.

Got hit in the eye with a pickleball during training today. It was a shank off my partner’s paddle straight into the eye ????? Went to urgent care and have a scratched cornea. The things we do for this sport! ?? Will be healed in a matter of days ???? pic.twitter.com/65FpPJtmb0

— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) December 13, 2024

In Winterfest's final minutes, in a performance that had been planned *last* year but was cancelled because of the fires, a series of BSA's student athletes took turns donning a pair of red glasses as they each read a line of campus poet laureate Dees' legendary poem "Billie Jean King's Glasses" as a special tribute to the vision of undertanding, community and realization long held by the Hall of Famer at the end of the 51st anniversary year of the founding of the WTA tour.

Everyone had been practicing their chosen roles -- Qinwen especially wanted to read the "I want to see righteous anger as constructive, not reactive" line -- and all relished the opportunity to share the spotlight. Upon the reading of "This is the vision I desire...," each of the readers repeated the word "I" (in all its varied accents), one after another, then joined together on the stage to read the poem's closing lines in unison.

", the vision
I do not yet possess. This is why,
if only for a little while, I want
to wear Billie Jean King’s glasses."

They all then gathered into a circle from which BJK herself "magically" emerged (from backstage). King was carrying a big box, which she opened to reveal a whole batch of red glasses that she passed out to all the readers on stage. They immediately put them on, and the resulting photos were brilliant!

Though a year late, the performance was just the sort of memorable end to a Winterfest Weekend that we all hope to witness when we show up each and every year.

Unforunately, even as that was taking place, there were whispers throughout Henin Hall about a story -- with accompanying photos -- being distributed across social media. It involved the missing Carl, who has apparently reconnected with some of his past acquaintances and is meeting with and (maybe) teaching them "the art of elking" (and who knows what else, honestly).

There is also an unconfirmed rumor that Carl may be about to be appointed as the head of a newly-created government entity in Washington, quite possibly by the name of the Commission on Active Riding as a Lifeblood (aka CARL, which might make such a thing *both* less and *more* likely to be true under the circumstances), which would be given license to travel the world to promote (naturally) Carl's beloved elking. At least that's what is believed to be the "starting point" for what could be an even bigger and "more important" role going forward.

Thus far, Carla (probably smartly) has refused to comment on any of this.

Naturally, this has all led to many in the final hours of Winterfest (and in the days since) to wonder whether Carl might be "(de-?)evolving" into yet another version of himself, and whether his hard-earned acceptance into BSA (and general) society may once again be threatened as further time away from Carla and more exposure to bad influences could lead to his recent better behavior soon being a thing of the past.

After so many guests were seen jumping at shadows all weekend even *before* this news, some have openingly wondered whether a new/old version of Carl is alreaky lurking, sparking fears of new reports of "squishing sprees" being on the horizon come the new year.

Mussolini Serious GIFfrom Mussolini GIFs

But the BSA community has shown longstanding resilience in the past, and we are certain that such a thing will continue. We've survived Carl before, and we vow that -- even if worst comes to worst (i.e. state-sponsored squishings) -- we shall do so again.

(Crossing fingers.)