Patrick Kenney: GEPA pictures
It’s hard to believe we’re about halfway 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. It has been disappointing for others so far, and you want to turn it around.
Regardless of which category you fit into, you want the second half of your race season to go as well as possible. I want to share the “seven Fs” — attitudes and approaches that can relieve unnecessary expectations and pressure while helping you achieve your ski racing goals.
Free
Whether skiing well or not, your mind can get cluttered with negative thoughts (e.g., doubt, worry) and emotions (e.g., fear, frustration). These do no good and can even prevent you from skiing your fastest.
I aim for you to ski free — to clear out the irrelevant junk and unnecessary cognitive clutter. With a clear mind, you can focus on what will enable you to ski your fastest when you slide into the starting gate.
Focus
Focus is a mental muscle you must strengthen to ski your fastest. Unfortunately, we live in a results-obsessed sports culture, which makes ignoring results a Herculean task.
Here’s the truth about results: When you obsess over results, you’re less likely to achieve them because your focus isn’t on the process. Plus, result-oriented thinking breeds fear, expectations, pressure, and anxiety, none of which help you ski fast.
On race day, focus entirely on what you must do to perform your best: a positive attitude, a thorough warm-up, and an effective start routine.
Feelings
Overthinking before races is a significant obstacle for most ski racers. Thinking happens in the mind, but fast skiing happens in the body.
On race day, keep thinking to a minimum and rely on feelings. There are two types: physical and emotional.
First, prepare your body. Technical and tactical skills mean nothing if your body isn’t ready to perform. Before your start, focus on warming up physically and dialing in your intensity.
Second, harness your emotions. Negative emotions (e.g., fear, frustration) can weigh you down like an anchor, while positive ones (e.g., excitement, pride) propel you forward. Generate emotions that motivate and inspire you to ski fast.
Fight
Ski racing is inherently frustrating, with many factors outside your control (e.g., weather, terrain, course conditions). When things don’t go your way, it’s tempting to give up.
“Flight” in this sense doesn’t mean quitting outright but skiing cautiously and tentatively. The problem? Giving up guarantees failure. It’s a lose-lose situation — you don’t achieve your goals and feel worse for not giving your best effort.
When things get tough, make a conscious decision to fight. Stay focused, stay motivated, and ski aggressively to the end. Even if conditions are challenging, you might still achieve your goal. And even if you don’t, you’ll take pride knowing you gave it your all.
F&%# it!
Many racers enter what I call the “too zone,” where ski racing becomes too important, and they care too much. They view ski racing as a threat to their self-identity and self-esteem, which adds immense pressure.
The antidote is the “F&%# it!” attitude (excuse the language, but sometimes only the F-bomb will do). This mindset means letting go of results and recognizing that you’ll be okay no matter what happens.
When you embrace this attitude, you free yourself from unnecessary pressure. You ski without fear and unlock the other six Fs in this post.
Fun
It’s easy to lose sight of why you started ski racing. The sport can feel more like a grind than a joy when you want success so badly.
That’s where the sixth F-word comes in: fun. World Cup athletes often tell me they wish ski racing was as fun as it was when they were kids. It can be — if you let it. Focus on the joy of the sport, and everything else will fall into place.
Fast
Ski racing is complicated, with countless factors influencing performance and results. But on race day, simplicity is key. Focus on the basics and channel all your preparation into one act: skiing as fast as possible.
Ultimately, the goal boils down to two words: Bring it.
About the Author: Dr. Jim Taylor
