Everyone knows how to set a goal, like wanting to break a habit (popping a jump), or start a new habit (squeezing your arms in on rotation).
The challenge is how to get from making a goal to achieving the goal.
The Frustration Routine
It’s the morning of her short program and Skatergirl is on her 20-minute practice ice.
Her warm-up has been great so far. She feels the exhilaration of the competition, feeding off the high energy of the other skaters on the ice with her. Every one of them is doing their own thing with focus and determination.
It’s time to warm up her triple Sal…shoot, she fell on her first attempt. Continue reading “The Frustration Routine”
The Big Leap Fail
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Positive thinking is one of the most important aspects of success.
– Bill McDowell
So called experts, social media, titles of books, people you meet; everywhere you look, you are told to think positive, to find an optimistic side in every negative or stressful situation.
In the skating world, you are encouraged to visualize your success. Visualize doing a clean program. Believe you are great. Tell yourself you can do it. You can do your triple lutz, no problem.
This sounds good in theory. You tried to be positive, even told yourself, “I am a great skater, I can skate a clean program. I got this.” Continue reading “The Big Leap Fail”
The Best Mindset for Competition: A Tale of Two Moods
Scene 1
Skatergirl glides into the rink. It’s competition day and she is excited. She looks at all the people waiting in the stands as she breathes in the energy around her. Music is playing in the arena. A skater dressed in a deep purple dress lined with Swarovski crystals skates her program while the judges look on. Skatergirl feels eager to get out there and do her thing too. She continues happily into the locker room, greeting her friends along the way. Continue reading “The Best Mindset for Competition: A Tale of Two Moods”
Stop Beating Yourself Up; Build Momentum Instead
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”
What to Do When You Are Not Happy with Your Skating
Many months ago I asked skaters and their parents to talk with me about, “What do skaters really want from their sport?”
The most difficult part of this was putting my own experience and expectations aside to really listen to what they were saying.
The danger facing any “expert” is to teach to what we think people “should” know rather than what they really want to know. Continue reading “What to Do When You Are Not Happy with Your Skating”