In my sixth of 12 vlog segments devoted to athletes and coaches, I focus on, well, focus in your training and competitive efforts. When I talk about focus, I mean two things. First, your ability to pay attention to things that help you perform your best including technique, tactics, your mind, conditions, or your opponents. [...]
In Part I of my two-part series on values in ski racing, I explored the essential importance of values as the foundation of your children’s ski racing experiences. I also described what I consider to be healthy and unhealthy values. In Part II of this series, I discuss how you can ensure that your young [...]
For many of the top ski racers in the U.S. and around the world, the race season as already begun with World Cups in Soelden and Levi and FIS races in Colorado. For everyone else, your first races are anywhere from a few days to a few weeks away. At the beginning of the fall, [...]
In my fifth of 12 vlog segments devoted to athletes and coaches, I describe the essential role that your physical intensity plays in your competitive efforts. When I talk about intensity, I mean the amount of physical activation you feel in your body before you compete. Intensity lies along a range from really low intensity [...]
When you think of ski racing, values are probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, whether you’re aware of it or not, the values that you instill in your children as part of their ski racing experiences have an immense impact on every aspect of their ski racing life as well as [...]
In this week's vlog segment, I explore the difference between expectations and goals. Expectations act as burdens that you place on your young athletes before a competition, causing pressure, anxiety, and worry. Goals, if used correctly, act as motivators to help them become successful. Having goals for your children in their sports participation starts with [...]
I’ve tuned a lot of skis in my day. Back when I was a racer at Burke Mountain Academy, Middlebury College, and the University of Colorado (as well as my two years on the pro tour), I was diligent about keeping my skis as well prepared as possible. More recently, when my daughters began skiing, [...]
In my fourth of 12 vlog segments devoted to athletes and coaches, I show you the essential role that confidence plays in your athletic success. Confidence is so important because you may have all of the ability in the world to perform your best and achieve your goals, but if you don’t believe in that [...]
The winter has arrived. Loveland in Colorado is open and the World Cup is already underway with races in Soelden. Hopefully, you’ve spent the off season working out in the gym, maybe on-snow training in some part of the world, and hopefully working on your mental training as well. With your first races not far [...]
Goal setting is a simple and practical mental tool you can use to maintain a high level of motivation in your ski racing. For some very elemental reason, people respond to goals in a very deep and personal way. The experience of setting a goal, working toward a goal, and achieving a goal has a [...]
