slalom
Sometimes you just gotta keep going!
One of the things I have always focused on with slalom skiing is technique. There are two major reason for that in my opinion: 1-Proper technique makes for less work (so more efficient), and 2-Proper technique can prevent injury (so longevity of career whether hobby or job).
Over the years with my won skiing I have had seasons/years where I focused heavily on this, but I have also had seasons where I really just tried to “give it hell”. I have had success with both and failures with both. These trends in my training have invariably followed trends in my overall attitude toward life.
I say all of this in order to step out of my typical coaching character for a moment. Being a coach that spends a lot of time preaching the value of proper mechanics married with great rhythm, I think it is important to admit that sometimes you just gotta go for it. When you have been skiing for years and know your way around a slalom course no matter what level you ski, you need to occasionally recognize that you are good enough to run a PB on any given day while skiing on what you might call and “brutal” form of autopilot. I see my competitors do it quite often and even find myself getting pats on the back for “looking great” and having “beautiful technique” only to go home with something like a 15th place finish. These experiences along with my more honest training partners have insured over the years that from time to time, I just ski the pass and keep skiing no matter what happens. We have watched Andy Mapple (the legend) ski through several mistakes for years and literally crush his competitors. In fact 98% of the pro skiers who run 39 and go deep at 41 aren’t making it pretty when they get to their max pass.
I was sent the video below by my good friend and occasional training partner Srdjan Dragic. He sent it to me to pound home the idea that I was good enough to run 39 even on my worst day (a fact I am not altogether aware, but if he says so…). Anyway, watch the super-sloppy 39 I run below (well, I lost the handle at the exit gates) and tell me you don’t agree that it doesn’t always have to be pretty (pay no attention to the fact that someone tried to do me a favor at six ball with the boat…but perhaps a little late). Enjoy, and when you’re done…just go ski for a set or two!
Practice Habits Before a Big Tournament
We’re in the heat of the season and although everyone out there doesn’t ski tournaments, it is important to have some good practice habits to prep for either a big tournament or really any performance based situation that creates a little performance anxiety. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject.
Anxiety-Revel in it!
I am of the firm opinion that if you don’t have a little case of the nerves, you just don’t care enough. The key is to embrace this and use it as positive energy. One way to get comfortable with this feeling is to take some oportunities to put yourself in practice situations that create performance anxiety. There are a couple of things I think work pretty well:
- Commit to due what we call a “Tournament Set”. This means you start at your normal starting speed or line length and progress up to your max speed or into shorter line lengths with every successful pas, but if you miss or fall, stop. Get in the boat. Dry off. If you love to ski, having to cut your set short definitely creates the anxiety your looking for.
- Compete with your budies, family, training partners. Establish every skier’s personal best and base a handicap system off of those scores. Pride will takeover here and create anxiety as most people who find the challenge of the course to be quite enjoyable will also have a strong desire to win…but keep it light and fun
Build Confidence
Take some sets where you stick to passes you know to really create a sense of confidence in your technique and the feelings you have on your ski. Boost your ego by doing it right!
Pre-Ski Routine
Spend more time before your sets gtting ready and getting dialed in like you should before your outing at the upcoming event. Find a good routine that works for you and aloows you to enter the water with mental confidence and a body that’s ready to ride.
Stay Healthy
Don’t beat yourself up so bad in practice. I am not saying you shouldn’t push yourself or that you should ski exceptionally carefully, but keep yourself in check. Don’t take hits you don’t need to take and don’t throw your ski out around the buoy when you question whether or not you will hit the ball. If Murphy’s law prevails injury is insanely possible.
Perhaps some of these ideas will help you find your peak performance in the coming weeks/month and allow you to put up personal bests in perormance situations. Good luck to all of you and keep riding the water!!!
Seth Stisher
