Kurt Browning Shares Mental Game Tips

I had the privilege of sitting in on a question and answer session with the great Kurt Browning.  He was in Vancouver, BC for Stars on Ice and took time out to teach a seminar for skaters in the area.

I have always been a fan of his fun and creative style, and his skill on the ice.  His showmanship is in a class of its own.

Watching and listening to him talk about skating, one can feel his genuine love of the ice fill the room.  It’s tangible; the ice becomes a presence sitting in the room with us.  What Kurt Browning does when he skates is what coaches mean when they say “be one with the ice.”  Figure skating to him is a way of life, a way of being, not just something he does.

To me, what stood out the most was his positive attitude and “realness.” That day, Kurt had been on and off the ice teaching group sessions beginning at noon.  He generously gave more time to the last group session of the day, and was still eager and energized enough to fill the room with his charisma while he sat answering questions past 6:30 in the evening.

Kurt Browning shared so many wonderful gems of wisdom that I wish all skaters and parents could hear. I will try to reproduce as many of them as I can for you.  These are not direct quotes, I couldn’t write fast enough, but they are pretty close.

Here are some highlights related to your Mental Game around competition.

You will be nervous.  Don’t pretend you won’t be.
Make peace with it—accept it.

On how he felt a week or two before competition:
He said he was nervous, but that the closer he got to the competition day, the better he felt.  This was because at competition, he was in control, he knew what to do.

The question:
There will be a moment that week or that day (of competition) that you will answer the question:
Will I skate great or will I let the fear get me?

I have to decide whether to skate well or let the fear get the best of me

I can decide to let my fear win.  Fear of failure is like a virus growing inside you, it takes over.
Or I can decide to give myself a great skate. Trust my training.

On preparation and mind-set:
If you have done everything you could, practiced hard with the time you had, did what your coaches said to do…
If you did everything you could, then you can’t lose!

About your mental game:
In your head, decide to give yourself the best chance of doing your best.
Give yourself permission to skate well.

Here is a video of the amazing Kurt Browning.  It is from a professional competition.  The event was Interpretive.  He just made this up after he heard the music!

4 more precious moments with the Master of the Ice:

Mental skills training can help to keep your emotions on an even keel so that you can practice and compete your best.  Start here; download “Confidence Myth Busters,” a complimentary eBook and make a change.