Author: Dr. Jim Taylor

Recent Posts

When Coaches and Parents Work Together The Kids Win

Being a ski coach is a tough job. There is everything you need to know about conditioning, technique, tactics, equipment, and, of course, the mind. There are the logistics of organizing training, travel, and races for a group of athletes, and adapting to the ever-changing conditions inherent in ski racing. There are also the not-very-fun […]

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Change Your Perceptions, Ski Faster

As the winter approaches, I’ve been working with a number of racers, from U16s up to World Cuppers. Of course, I’ve introduced them to the immense value of traditional mental training tools such as self-talk, imagery, and routines. At the same time, a real emphasis in my work this summer and fall has been on […]

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Inside the Tri-Mind: Now is the Time to Set S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals for the 2021 Triathlon Season

With the Covid-19-shortened season (if we can even call it a season!) now in our rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to 2021 in the hope upon hope that we will have a full season of races. Being the optimist that I am, I’m expecting that life and triathlon will return to some degree […]

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Crisis to Opportunity Podcast: Episode #30-Doubt to Confidence-Part II

Episode #30: Doubt to Confidence-Part II of my Crisis to Opportunity podcast is the second of four in which I explore the importance of what I call mental muscles in how you respond to a crisis. Ultimately, the goal of having confidence is to develop a strong and resilient belief in your ability to overcome […]

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Train Your Mind for Athletic Success Podcast: Episode #29-Mindset

Episode #29: What is Mindset? of my Train Your Mind for Athletic Success podcast explores the impact of mindset on sports performance. “Mindset,” is an essential and little addressed contributor to athletic success and a mental area that has only come to light in my work with elite athletes during the past few years. This […]

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Raising Young Athletes Podcast: Episode #29-Don’ts for Sport Parents

Episode #29: Don’ts for Sport Parents of my Raising Young Athletes podcast is the last of five episodes in which I’m exploring the Dos and Don’ts of Sport Parenting, in other words, what sport parents should and shouldn’t do with themselves, other parents, coaches, and their children. This episode focuses on what parents shouldn’t do […]

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Crisis to Opportunity Podcast: Episode #29-Doubt to Confidence-Part I

Episode #29: Doubt to Confidence-Part I of my Crisis to Opportunity podcast is the first of four in which I explore the importance of what I call mental muscles in how you respond to a crisis. I see the cerebral cortex as comprised of mental “muscles” that can be strong, weak, or injured. Like physical […]

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It’s Ski Tuning Time: The Right Tool Helps

It’s that time of year again. Winter is approaching (or already started) and if you’re the parent of one more ski racers, or a ski racer yourself, you can expect to spend many hours over the coming months in a tuning room or garage filing, waxing, and scraping ski after ski after ski after ski […]

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Inside the Tri-Mind: Hey, This Mental Training Stuff Really Works!

As every triathlete has experienced, it’s been a challenge to find races during this Covid-impacted season no matter where you live. I was able to get in a sprint race in early March before the pandemic struck and have been scouring the online triathlon calendars ever since. Each month, there were signs of hope for […]

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