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Bold, Unyielding, and Soaring High [Feature article] [Moderate Questions]

[1] On a crisp morning in the Swiss Alps, Jeb Corliss is gliding inches above jagged rock formations, focused entirely on navigating a narrow crevice known as "Grinding the Crack." With one wrong move potentially fatal, the stakes are high. For over a minute, Corliss has been in perfect sync with the air currents, making precise adjustments. As the crevice walls close in, a flicker of doubt crosses his mind—can he thread this needle at such high speed?

[2] “It’s about entering that flow state,” Corliss explained later. “Overthinking leads to mistakes.” As he glanced at the jagged rocks, the familiar sensation of danger sharpened his focus. During practice runs with more open space, he hadn’t felt this pressure. But now, with the ground blurring beneath him, he fought to regain control. Adjusting his wingsuit’s angle, he felt the air pressure shift just enough—he was back in control. He threaded the gap and burst out the other side, his heart pounding.

[3] “There was no turning back,” Corliss reflected, still catching his breath. “You have to be completely committed. In those moments, you have to trust your instincts and the years of training. It’s pure survival, nothing else”. Word of his daring flight quickly spread, captivating the wingsuit community and thrill-seekers worldwide. On this clear day in 2011, the seasoned flyer secured his place in extreme sports history.

[4] The Alps have a way of forging legends. Another such legend is Uli Emanuele. Though not as famous as Corliss, his feats are equally remarkable. Raised in the mountainous regions of Italy, Emanuele’s passion for flight began during childhood hikes in the Dolomites, where he dreamed of soaring like an eagle. As he mastered skydiving and wingsuit flying, he continuously pushed the boundaries of the sport.

[5] Emanuele credited his early mountain experiences for his precise control in the air. “Flying just felt right from the start,” he recalled. “It’s like all those years of hiking and studying the terrain finally made sense up there”. With this deep connection to the landscape, he became a master of ‘terrain flying,’ navigating his wingsuit through the narrowest gaps that others would avoid.

[6] His most famous flight was through a 2-meter-wide cave in a mountain face. The stunt required meticulous planning and flawless execution. Reflecting on the feat, Emanuele said, “It wasn’t just about doing something dangerous; it was about achieving something I had dreamed about for years. The flight was the culmination of all my preparation”. As he shot out the other side, all he could think about was how the years of preparation had paid off in that perfect moment. Hanging between life and death, he held his breath and flew straight through.

[7] These moments, like those of Corliss and Emanuele, capture the essence of wingsuit flying: bold, unyielding, and soaring high.

Question

What emotion does Jeb Corliss experience as he approaches the narrow crevice?

Find a word or phrase in paragraph 7 that has a similar meaning to

Please complete all the questions before submission