12 02, 2015

Marcel Hirscher at 14

By | February 12th, 2015|Categories: Ski Racing|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

I came across a great video of Marcel Hirscher at age 14 competing in the Topolino Games (a world juvenile championships). Do you see the makings of a superstar at that age? I'm not sure I do.  

10 11, 2014

Mindset is an Essential Piece of the “Fast Skiing” Puzzle

By | November 10th, 2014|Categories: Ski Racing|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

As I have noted in past articles, Mikaela is a veritable fount of lessons on how to succeed as a ski racer (regardless of how you define success). In my last post, which I actually began writing before Mikaela’s Soelden victory (her first World Cup GS win), she demonstrated so beautifully what can happen when [...]

10 08, 2014

Why Isn’t Mental Training Treated the Same as Physical and Technical Training?

By | August 10th, 2014|Categories: Sports|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |3 Comments

Not long ago, I completed what has turned out to be a three-week international tour of sport psychology. During my trips, I have worked with athletes and coaches from the U.S., Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Russia in Argentina, California, Oregon, and Switzerland. One question that has emerged during my travels involves the role of mental preparation in athletic development. But before I get to that question, let me provide some back story. Whenever I speak to athletes and coaches, I ask them how important the mind is to sport success. With few exceptions, the response is that the mind is as or more important than the physical and technical side of sports. I am obviously biased given my work in sport psychology, so I won’t take a position on which I believe is more important. But I will say that the mind is an essential piece of the sport performance puzzle. Consider the top-10 athletes, male or female, in any sport. Are they all gifted? Yes. Are they all in exceptional physical condition? Yes. Are they all technically sound? Yes. Do they all have the best equipment? Yes. So, on game day, what separates the best from those who are close, but can’t quite get to the top? All of these other factors being equal, it must be what goes on in their minds.

13 06, 2014

Understanding the Psychology of Ski Racing

By | June 13th, 2014|Categories: Ski Racing|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Skiracing.com just published the ski racing version of my Unified Model of Performance Psychology.

16 02, 2014

Ted Ligety Took His Own Path to Ski Racing Success

By | February 16th, 2014|Categories: Ski Racing|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

A great profile of Ted Ligety last Sunday. A worthwhile read that offers insights into what has made him such a success in ski racing. Like Bode Miller, Ted chose an unconventional approach to greatness. Important lessons to be learned for all.