Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
The skater stands, ready to go once the ice monitor opens the gate. Movement in the stands catches her eye, and she looks up. So many faces. So many more than usual, but this is to be expected. It’s the qualifying round of a big competition.
The announcer calls her name. She skates to center ice. Continue reading “After You Crash on the First Jump in Your Program”
Would you buy a bottle of $99 pimple cream guaranteed to eliminate your blemishes 3% of the time?
I’m guessing you’d say “No, of course not.” I’m sure you could think of a ton of other things you would rather spend hard earned your money on. Continue reading “Stop Worrying to Skate Great”
You just arrived at a competition. You know you practiced hard and you feel proud of the work you’ve put in.
As you enter the rink to warm up what are you feeling? Is it anxiety or is it confidence? Continue reading “How to Recover From a Bad Competition Warm Up”
It’s one thing when your coach tells you to take your first week after a competition to work on your jumps. You can do these with your eyes closed – though probably not recommended – but your brain is quiet and you can handle these jumps one at a time.
Then one day you get to the rink and your coach tells you to run through your long program, with triples. Continue reading “Overcoming Program Practice Panic”
Figure skating is a full of complexity. Jumps are often seen as the most difficult and challenging skills for singles skaters. It’s not surprising that many figure skaters feel frustrated with their jumps.
Expectations are high and your tension level rises, as you get ready to jump. Instead of a beautiful landing, you make mistakes. You get frustrated. Continue reading “Stop Overthinking Your Jumps with a Brain Dump”
Everyone wants to do their best, and many of us, as perfectionists, define our “best” as a clean program- no mistakes, no stumbles, and no slip-ups. Sometimes, we achieve this, and we’ll feel amazing for days.
Other times, we make a mistake… or two… or ten. We go from feeling on top of the world to frustrated and disappointed. Continue reading “Stop Beating Yourself Up; Build Momentum Instead”