Second Runs Are a Different Sport: How to Reset, Regulate, and Charge (No Matter the Stakes)
First runs and second runs may take place on the same hill, but psychologically they are very different competitions. Racers who treat them the same often struggle. Racers who recognize and respect the difference gain a real competitive advantage. In the first run, uncertainty dominates. Racers do not yet know where they stand. Pressure exists, […]
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Building Confidence When There Are No Races to Prove Yourself
For many triathletes, confidence is tied almost entirely to racing. Good race = high confidence. Bad race = doubt. No races at all? Confidence quietly erodes. That’s why the off-season is such a vulnerable time mentally. There are no bib numbers, no rankings, no finish lines to confirm that you’re on the right track. Training […]
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Do You Train Better Than You Race? Here’s Why
One of the most frustrating experiences in ski racing is skiing free and fast in training, then feeling tight, skiing cautious, and finishing slow on race day. Ski racers often assume this means they are missing something technically. In most cases, they are not. The difference between training speed and race speed is rarely physical. […]
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Why Mental Training in the Triathlon Off-Season
During race season, your mind is largely reactive. You respond to results, pressure, expectations, fatigue, pain, unforgiving conditions, and the First Rule of Triathlon: “S&%# happens in triathlon. There is little room to step back and change how you think or operate. Patterns—good or bad—are already in motion. The off-season is different. It is the […]
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Win the Mental Race: Why Ski Racing Is Three Races, Not One
On race day, most ski racers think they’re competing in just one race. This is partially true, but it doesn’t tell the whole story of what makes ski racing such a demanding sport. And it misses what most often determines how you perform in the race. In reality, every ski race is made up of […]
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Why Swimming Is So Hard for Triathletes (and How to Get Better at It)
For most triathletes, swimming is the most frustrating discipline. Not because they are lazy or unmotivated, but because swimming is fundamentally different from cycling and running in ways many triathletes do not fully appreciate. Understanding why swimming is so challenging is the first step toward improving it. Why Swimming Is So Difficult We humans live […]
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How to Stay Motivated and Engaged During a Long Triathlon Off-Season
One of the biggest off-season challenges in triathlon isn’t fitness. It’s staying engaged when training feels repetitive, lacking in urgency, and far removed from race day. Many athletes interpret a drop in motivation as a problem. It isn’t. It’s normal. What does become a problem is relying on motivation to get through this phase of […]
Read MoreThe Courage to Go “Full Gas” in Ski Racing
In ski racing, precision, technique, and preparation matter — but they are only the foundation. The truth is that winning at the highest levels of our sport requires something more: the courage to take risks. The greatest racers in the world win not because they avoid mistakes — but because they accept the possibility of […]
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Speed in Ski Racing is an Acquired Skill
When most people think about speed in alpine skiing, they picture downhillers charging the Streif in Kitzbühel or the Lauberhorn in Wengen. But the truth is that speed is not limited to the traditional speed events. Every alpine discipline—from slalom to downhill—requires the ability to ski at the fastest possible speed you can control. And […]
Read MoreGood Skiing vs. Fast Skiing: You Choose
If you spend time around a training hill, you’ll hear coaches tell athletes to “ski well,” “clean it up,” or “make good turns.” For young racers, this messaging often creates a misunderstanding that lasts years, sometimes an entire career: Good skiing and fast skiing are not the same thing. You can ski beautifully, in balance, […]
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