Good 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, […]
Read MoreShift from Training Mode to Race Mode in Your Ski Racing
The 2023-24 alpine race season is now underway. From St. Moritz to Copper to Edouard to many other race venues in between and beyond, it’s “go time” for racers from juniors up to the World Cup. So, now is the time to shift from training mode to race mode. This transition requires several important changes […]
Read MoreRace Like You Train or Train Like You Race?
One of the first questions that I ask racers and coaches I work with is: Should you race like you train or train like you race? By far, the most frequent response is: You should race like you train. This answer seems perfectly reasonable if you think about it. When you train, you’re relaxed, feel […]
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Don’t Do These Five Things in Your Ski-race Training
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over my many years in our sport as a racer and as a mental coach, and one that many young racers don’t seem to get, is that training really does matter. Too often, I see racers pretty much wasting their time in training; all the things that are […]
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The Fall Prep Period is Key to Ski Racing Success
It’s hard to believe the summer, what I consider Phase I of the ski racing prep period, is almost over. Hopefully, the summer was devoted to building the foundation for your success next winter. In all likelihood, your efforts focused on three areas. First, you engaged in an intensive physical conditioning program. The reality of […]
Read MoreHow Do You Respond to ‘The Grind’ of Fall Training?
It’s late September which means two things. You are in the middle of the fall training block in which you are engaged in an intensive physical conditioning program or are starting to get on snow in Europe for early-season skiing, or both. The next few months before race season will be physically and mentally challenging […]
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Let’s All Give Mikaela a Warm Hug and a Big Thanks
Mikaela Shiffrin’s results at the Beijing Olympics were not what we were all hoping for (least of all Mikaela herself!). At the same time, I have no doubt that, after some sadness and soul searching, she will be back stronger, better, and faster than ever. It’s easy in these situations to analyze, evaluate, and critique […]
Read MoreDon’t Violate the Laws of Insanity and Stupidity as You Prepare for Next Season
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 […]
Read MoreSeven Fs for Ski Racing Success
Hard to believe that we’re about half way through the race season. For some, you’re having a great season and want it to continue. For others, you’re having an okay season and want to improve on it. And for still others, it has been a disappointing season so far and want to turn it around. […]
Read MoreWhat’s Right about U.S. Ski Racing
I’ve been involved in U.S. ski racing for—Yikes!—more than 50 years. I started as a “Chipmunk” at Mad River Glen, then moved on to the Valley Junior Racing Club (at then Glen Ellen, pre-GMVS), Burke Mountain Academy, Middlebury College, the University of Colorado, and even two seasons on the old pro tour. Since then, I’ve […]
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