The difference between standing on the podium and falling short often comes down to something you can’t see: what’s happening in an athlete’s mind.
When Olympian Doug Lewis ran his first World Cup, he was physically strong and technically sound. But despite all the preparation, one critical piece was missing—his mental game.
Doug Lewis stated, “I didn’t know how to handle nerves, embrace failure, or deal with distractions. I realized that unless I worked on those, I wouldn’t reach my goals. Once I focused on building my mental skills, everything changed—that’s what enabled me to land on the podium at Worlds.”
In 2002, moguls specialist Shannon Bahrke was skiing better than ever. She was strong, fast, and ready to make her first Olympic team. But with Olympic dreams on the line, the pressure became suffocating. She crumbled at every qualifier.
Bahrke stated, “At my mom’s urging, I reluctantly saw a hypnotherapist. Skeptical but desperate, I gave it a shot. The mental skills I learned not only helped me qualify for the 2002 Olympics, but also propelled me to a silver medal in Salt Lake City. From that moment on, I realized mental training was my competitive edge and never stopped training it.”
Together, Doug and Shannon know firsthand the highs and lows of elite competition. From youth levels to the Olympic stage, they discovered one essential truth: mental strength is what separates great athletes from the rest.
That realization led them to create Champions Advantage, a first-of-its-kind mental skills curriculum for athletes aged U13–U19. Whether the goal is Olympic gold or making the high school varsity team, this program gives athletes the tools to train and perform at their very best.
Inside the Curriculum: Building a Foundation
Drawing on over 50 combined years as Olympians and coaches, Doug and Shannon designed a four-level program that fits seamlessly into team training. Lessons are reinforced daily on the hill, in the gym, and beyond.
Level 1 focuses on these essential mental skills:
- Self-Awareness: Core values, strengths, weaknesses, “I AM” statements
- Performance Tools: Visualization, breathwork, competition routines/evals
- Resilience: Embracing failure, overcoming fear, managing nerves & distractions
- Motivation & Growth: Goal setting, the “Rule of 1 More,” and keeping it FUN
As athletes progress, the curriculum dives deeper into advanced tools like leadership, grit, communication, and teamwork, building layer by layer on the foundation laid in Level 1.
More Than a Course: It’s a Connection
What truly sets Champions Advantage apart from traditional online programs is the human connection. Athletes receive texts/videos four times a week from Olympians, NCAA champions, D1 athletes, and professional competitors. They share insights tied directly to that week’s mental skill.
“Once you figure out a game plan to manage your mental game, you can really perform, and that’s what it comes down to.” – Travis Ganong, World Cup Winner
Each month, teams also connect live via Zoom with a world-class athlete to go deeper into a key topic. These aren’t abstract theories; they’re real, relatable stories from athletes who’ve lived it.
“Imagine hearing from Lauren Macuga about handling start-gate nerves or listening to Jaelin Kauf describe the visualization routine that helped her win on the world stage. That’s not just theory; it’s inspiration.” – Doug Lewis
Building Stronger Teams from the Inside Out
At the heart of every great team is a powerful culture, and that doesn’t happen by accident. Each week, teams come together for a shared mental skills session, including a team activity and debrief. These sessions create space for connection, trust, and growth both individually and as a unit.
Coaches open up alongside their athletes, sharing stories, struggles, and lessons learned, which breaks down barriers and deepens respect on both sides. When a team learns together, they grow together. And when they build that culture with intention, they don’t just compete together; they believe in each other.
Empowering Coaches as Mental Skills Leaders
Champions Advantage isn’t just for athletes; it’s a tool for empowering coaches, too. Designed for clubs, teams, and academies, the program includes ready-to-use curriculum, simple tools, and ongoing support.
Whether it’s your first step into mental training or a way to deepen what you already do, this program meets you where you are. With a shared language and practical framework, coaches become powerful mentors in mental performance.
“Champions Advantage introduced and legitimized mental skills training. It became a regular topic in our program and gave coaches a common vocabulary they could refer to during training and racing.” – Hilary Lindh, Executive Director and Head Coach, Flathead Valley Ski Academy (FVSA)
Real Results, Measurable Impact
Doug and Shannon built Champions Advantage by listening to what athletes and coaches said they lacked: time, tools, engagement, and affordability. So, they built a program that’s efficient, cost-effective, and impactful.
“We’ve never been this consistent. Breaking each skill into 30-minute sessions made it easy to teach and reinforce throughout the week—at inspection, at the start, or post-race.” – Anna Sommer, Coach, Crotched Mountain Team
Within weeks, athletes began using tools like visualization, self-talk, and start routines, which showed clear results.
Athletes’ Post-Curriculum Growth
| Skill | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Confidence using mental skills in training & competition | 54% | 100% |
| Understanding outcome vs. performance vs. process goals | 45% | 100% |
| Turning negative thoughts into positive ones | 45% | 85% |
| Viewing mistakes/failures as learning tools | 54% | 100% |
CVA Joins the Movement: A Leading Academy Embraces Mental Skills
One of the nation’s top ski academies, Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA), has officially signed on to implement the Champions Advantage program across its athletic programs. Known for developing elite-level talent, CVA sees mental training as a cornerstone of athlete success.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Shannon and Doug at Champions Advantage. Their program offers all of our athletes the opportunity to develop valuable mental skills while also supporting overall mental well-being. With everyone speaking the same language and teaching the same skills to handle stress, embrace failure, maintain focus, and dig deep to find their grit, we are giving our student-athletes an advantage!”
– Tristy Wolfe, Sports Medicine and High Performance Director
“For the athletes, several tools are essential for optimal performance, including athletic ability, technique, tactics, and mental skills. With the Champions Advantage program, we’ll support our CVA students in developing all the mental skills they need to reach their full potential.”
– Jenny Piot, Alpine Director
With this partnership, CVA is setting the standard for what it means to train the whole athlete on the hill, in the classroom, and in life.
Time to Train the Whole Athlete
Today, mental skills are no longer optional; they’re essential. Champions Advantage trains athletes to be physically prepared, technically sharp, and mentally unstoppable. It gives coaches the tools to build strong, supportive, and focused team environments where mental training is part of everyday development.
At its core, Doug and Shannon’s mission is simple: to empower the next generation of athletes and coaches with the mindset tools they need to thrive in sport and in life.
Connect
Doug Lewis | Doug@championsadvantage.com | 802-793-3078
Shannon Bahrke | Shannon@championsadvantage.com | 801-918-0252
About the Author: Ellie Hartman
