The race season is finally over for most racers (for others, a few more weeks to go). After a long and demanding winter, you’re probably tired of skiing (regardless of whether the season was a triumph or a disappointment). It’s time to hang up your skis, pack away your gear, kick back, relax, and forget [...]
It’s hard to believe that we are only weeks away from the start of another ski season. The snow guns are blasting in Colorado. Some academies are heading to Europe for early season training. And the first World Cups will be in Soelden in less than three weeks. Even if it’s a little early for [...]
Photo credit: Mitchell Gunn I just returned from Copper where I was working with the USST women’s Europa Cup and D teams and the National Training Group (a great group of young women!). A major goal they wanted to pursue was consistency in their skiing. This objective fit nicely into my own priorities [...]
Most racers and coaches think that, to get the results you want, you need to focus on those results. But, here’s the paradox: Having an outcome focus actually reduces the chances of your achieving the results you want. Here’s why. First, when does the outcome of a ski race occur? After you cross the finish line, of [...]
Last week, I introduced a common scenario among ski racers in which, after a great first run, they ski much slower the second run. I explained what caused this sudden drop in performance and how this problem could be solved so you can have as strong a second run as your first run, the outcome [...]
Watching videos of yourself and World Cup racers is a valuable tool for improving technique and tactics, getting inspired, and increasing motivation, confidence, and focus. If you’re like most racers, you use it a lot during the winter as part of your training. Video enables you to more clearly understand and see what you need [...]
I've been in the ski racing world since I was six years old. The first 20 years, I was a racer learning the ups and downs of ski racing the hard way, mostly through trial and error, and sometimes painful failure. That, I can say with 20/20 hindsight and absolute certainty, is no way to [...]
Note: This article is an encore representation of a topic that never gets old. It’s hard to believe, but there is only about a month of the race season left. After many days of training and racing, the end is in sight. At this late point in the season, you will have fallen into one [...]
Having just read the title of my new article, You may be thinking: “Has Dr. Jim finally lost it? What does sleep have to do with ski racing?” Let me explain. Have you ever tried to sleep? You lie in bed and tell yourself that you have to sleep and you try, try, try to [...]
I came across a great video of Marcel Hirscher at age 14 competing in the Topolino Games (a world juvenile championships). Do you see the makings of a superstar at that age? I'm not sure I do.