Three Steps to Ski Racing Success
Greetings from Loveland, Colorado, where John Hale and his crew have done another remarkable job of creating mid-season training conditions by the middle of October. As I am out here helping prepare a variety of racers for a very busy early season of races, I have been thinking a great deal about what it takes […]
Read MoreSkiing Your Fastest Starts with Respect
In my many years in ski racing, first as a racer, then as a sport psych consultant, I have studied and tested what I believe are the most important mental contributors to ski racing success including motivation, confidence, focus, and emotions. But there is one that I have recognized quite recently as being really important, […]
Read MoreSki Racing: Think Now, So You Don’t Have to Think Later
I just returned from Zermatt where I spent a week working with a group of highly ranked U.S. tech skiers. After a few days, the feedback I was getting from them was that I was really getting into their heads and causing them to think a lot, in fact, to a few of them, a […]
Read MoreSki Racing Imagery: Your Most Powerful Mental Tool
Note: This article is another encore presentation of an article that never gets old. If you do anything to work on the mental side of your ski racing during this off season, it better be mental imagery. Why, you ask. Because there is no more powerful mental tool than mental imagery and it can have […]
Read MoreSki Racing: Next Season Starts…Now
Note: This article is an encore presentation of an article that never gets old. The race season is finally over. 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, […]
Read MoreSki Racing: Finish the Race Season Strong!
It’s mid March and the end of the race season is in sight. Most of the big races, including U16 and U18 championships, are in your rearview mirror. A few of you may still have U.S. Nationals or Whistler Cup to look forward to. But most of you may be inclined to think of your […]
Read MoreSki Racing: Four Secrets to Final Start-area Preparation
With March now upon us, the end of the season is in sight and some of the most important races of the season lie just ahead. As you prepare these big races, whether the State Championships, Junior Olympics, NCAA Championships, U.S. National, Topolino, Whistler Cup, or the World Cup Finals, you’re looking for any edge […]
Read MoreSki Racing: Ted and Mikaela: Different People, Same Result
Anyone who is a fan of alpine ski racing—and if you’re reading this article, you must be—you can’t help but feel immense amounts of excitement, pride, and inspiration following the gold-medal-winning performances put on by Ted Ligety and Mikaela Shiffrin at the recently completed World Skiing Championships in Schladming, Austria. Though it’s easy to marvel […]
Read MoreAlpine Ski Racing is One Brutal Sport
I was recently asked to write a chapter on the benefits and costs of sports participation among youth for a new parenting book. It got me thinking about all of the different sports that I have competed in over the years including ski racing, of course, tennis, karate, running, cycling, swimming, and triathlon. I’ve also […]
Read MoreSki Racing: Mikaela Shiffrin is a Star On-Snow and a Real Person Off
Great article about the 17-year-old alpine ski racing star Mikaela Shiffrin in the NY Times today. Worth a read to learn about the wonderful attitude and humility she has about ski racing.
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