Category: Figure Skating

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Three Sides to Skating Success: Technical, Physical and Mental

Stuck in the Mind-mud

Another season was over. It ended just like the two seasons before.

Each of the seasons started off well. Skatergirl was fresh after a break and felt motivated. She knew her goals for the season and was dead set on reaching them.

Her goals were simple:

  1. Land the triple salchow and triple toe loop consistently.
  2. Qualify for sectionals.

However, by the time the end of the season rolled around, she still wasn’t consistent landing her triples and was no closer to qualifying.

She didn’t understand it – what could be missing?

Continue reading “Three Sides to Skating Success: Technical, Physical and Mental”
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How to Deal With Bad Jump Days

Storm on the Ice

Skatergirl gets on the ice and starts warming up.

Maybe the ice is extra chilly because today, because it seems like it takes forever to warm up. She has to do repetition after repetition before even she lands a jump.

First she tries doing double Axel…fall. She thinks, “This is bad, I should do it again.” But instead, pops it and gets frustrated.

Okay, no problem. Move on to triple Sal.

Continue reading “How to Deal With Bad Jump Days”
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Skaters Nail New Skills in Off Season Practice

The “Off Season” in skating is a misnomer.
After the last competition of the season, a new season starts.  What “Off Season” really means for skaters is that it is time to “Work Smarter and Harder” to prepare for the next competition season.

When we think about the concept of off season, we probably relate it to familiar concepts.  In this case we are most familiar with sports like soccer, football or baseball. Continue reading “Skaters Nail New Skills in Off Season Practice”

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5 Steps to a Practice Plan That Works

For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them.Do you have a plan for your daily on-ice practice time?
If you have a plan, is it an effective practice plan, one that will take you towards reaching your goal?

Here are some symptoms that you either don’t have your goal in mind or that your practice plan is not one that will focus your energies towards your goal:

Your coach often talks to you about not working hard enough, that they, “Don’t want to see you standing on the ice doing nothing, so get busy and work”.

You think, “I am working, I already did everything on my list, what do I do now?” Continue reading “5 Steps to a Practice Plan That Works”

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Appreciation Is Key to The Champion Mindset

Now is a great time to talk about the champion mindset and appreciation. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion or day for this.

I work with skaters on establishing a mindset for success. I teach them how to establish excellent daily habits and thinking that will serve as a basis for transforming their mindset from the ordinary to extraordinary where their highest goals are possible.

Skaters who strive to reach the highest goals in sport, can only do so if they live their life with the mindset for success. Consistency, commitment and accountability in sport is an extension of the same things in everyday life. Continue reading “Appreciation Is Key to The Champion Mindset”