Contributors

In my last post, Fear of Failure: Part 1, I discussed the sad epidemic of

After the abrupt end of the last race season, everyone in the ski racing community

I love writing on topics that combine injury rehabilitation, skiing, and current events. With real-life

As of last week, coaches of sports at some institutions of secondary education were urged

In addition to my work in the sports world, I have also consulted extensively in

Soelden has always represented something of a premature start to the Alpine World Cup season.

The most underutilized resources in the United States’ ski racing system are the colleges and universities.

In the mid 1970s, CBC journalist David Ritchie penned a book, “Ski the Canadian Way,” along with chapter contributions from notable athletes his brother, John, was coaching at the time: Ken Read, Steve Podborski, Dave Irwin and Dave Murray. You read that correctly — the Crazy Canucks.

It’s hard to believe the summer, what I consider Phase I of the ski racing

It's important to remember that athletics often require an array of strength, power, mobility and stability across multiple planes of motion. Often times we can get carried away with the weight on the bar or the speed at which we are training but neglect which direction we are going.

University of Colorado coach Richard Rokos chimes in with some words of wisdom about the upcoming season. Things aren't as bad as they look on the surface, he says. We can make the best of this!

The issue is not that there are not enough opportunities for athletes to receive comprehensive and professional training and coaching; the issue is there are too many.

Mental training, traditionally called sport psychology, can suffer from ‘guilt by association’ with the broader field of clinical psychology that still carries the stigma that only screwed-up people seek professional help. This perception, however inaccurate it is, can prevent athletes, coaches, and parents from seeing mental preparation for what it is.

In Junior Development Part 1 – Lessons from Soccer, a look inside the Philadelphia Union

A combination of risk factors including high skiing speed, athlete strength, equipment, snow conditions, course/terrain changes, and the risk-consuming attitudes of a skier makes skiing one of the most dangerous sports.

Consider the vital importance of the mind in ski racing. Motivation, confidence, intensity, focus, emotions, resilience, adaptability, patience, perseverance, coachability, attitude, collaboration, the list goes on. Yes, these mental “muscles” can develop on their own with individual athletes.

In his second contribution to our ongoing development series, veteran coach Kirk Dwyer addresses the evolution of sport and the emphasis on tech and speed in alpine development.

Industry expert Finn Gundersen, previously headmaster at Burke Mountain Academy, draws comparisons with junior soccer development and outlines lessons that can be applied to alpine ski racing. First in a two-part series.