The last competition of the season, I came in 2nd and beat my PR (personal record). I was really pleased with myself because the whole point of getting mental game help was to not pop jumps. For the last two and a half competitions, I haven’t popped at all.
I used to worry a lot about my jumps. Now, when I pop the jumps in practice, it’s okay. It’s fine. I can be tired, it can be a bad day or a good day. If I skate my program, I know I can do them (jumps). They are there, no thinking. I am really pleased to come that far.
I am enjoying skating. It’s a nice feeling to know the work that I have done, the thought processing that I have rewired and changed is actually taking effect. I am a more confident and calm person.
M. Sweden
It has been a miraculous save in the sense that I was at my wits end about skating. Every day was frustrating for me trying to assist her in how to view the challenges of the jumps. I did not have the tools to help. It is very likely she would have quit skating.
Now she knows what she has to do to refocus her attention on the work before her and has made remarkable strides. What a surprise to me how effective your techniques are. Thank you!
R. Skater Parent. South Atlantic Region, Eastern Section.
…I just wanted to say thank you for your time and help here! My daughter had a great competition skate, hit a new personal best AND did that with a bad fall in the middle of her program. She was able to quickly get right back and refocus herself. This was something new I haven’t seen from her before, so thank you!!!
J. Skater Parent. North East Region, Eastern Section.
Before starting sessions with Coach Pomai I was at all time low, ready to stop competing permanently, as an adult skater I have found the sport to be challenging at best but more difficult at times due to coaching changes among other factors. I arrived at a stage in skating where I could not compete at all, dreaded every competition but still wasn’t ready to give up, just did not no what to do – stay or go. I decided to give mental training a try as a last attempt and invest in my mental game. I started four weeks out of competition and have since completed in three more. Coach Pomai showed me how to focus on what I can do and how to work on the things I want to do. I learnt how to deal with the competition environment and for the first time realise I can compete as good as any other competitor in my level. I have also learnt that mental training is just like any other skill in training, it needs to be exercised every day to get better at it. While I am still progressing I am enjoying skating more than ever and looking forward to my next competition. For the first time I skated two clean programs, finally now I can start thinking about other areas such as GOE, and performance as opposed to worrying about just getting out there. I cannot emphasize enough how important mental training it is in sport and life. Coach Pomai was the best decision I ever made and am so thankful for the time and effort I received in our sessions.
Thank you from my heart.
S. Adult Skater. West Australia.
Dear Coach – WOW !! My daughter was a joy to watch at competition. I have been singing your praises to everyone. I cannot believe the progress the 2 of you have made since her last competition the beginning of August. You are amazing & I am so grateful for you helping my daughter to “enjoy “ this beautiful journey. Figure skating as a teenager is tough, but with you by her side I know she can reach her potential. Thanks
D. Skater Parent. Eastern Section.
With the help of you I realized, I am not skating to impress other people because I want to go somewhere, do something. If I keep focusing on the little things I am not going to go anywhere.
V. 12 Year Old Skater. Canada.
Hey! I won the 1st place in the competition! Thank you for everything. Your help was crucial.
N. Artistic Roller Skater. Portugal
Coach Pomai has helped my skater in many ways, but more specifically at a recent competition. Entering into the long program off of a bad short program, my skater was having many regrets and anxiety and was feeling intimidated about the job ahead, skating the long. I reached out to coach Pomai and she was beyond gracious and kind to me as a parent. We set up a Skype meeting the very next day with my skater. After 45 minutes, the doubt was gone and my skater was ready to do the long with a new found confidence resulting in a clean skate. We will continue to develop the mental skills with coach Pomai throughout the season and are expecting great results.
L. Skater Parent. Easter Section.
We have been working with Coach Pomai for about three months, and I have already seen big changes in my skater: decreased anxiety and increased confidence, better focus and mindfulness, plus the tools to reset when a practice is going poorly or when frustration starts to take over. This has paid off in more effective practices, a great attitude, and a new sense of expectation about being able to reach her goals. The unexpected bonus is that these skills spill over into other areas of life, and the same tools work at school and in day-to-day challenges. People at the rink have commented recently about how focused she is on the ice, and how centered she is off it. Coach Pomai knows skating inside and out, and we feel lucky to have found her. She is now a key element of our coaching team.
L. Skater Parent. ON Section, Canada.
Overall, she performed to the best of her abilities and received praises from her coaches for how different she performed compared to the 2 competitions in August. She was diligent in using the pre-competition routine she created with you. The action items you provided was helpful and as fate would have it, she was the first skater of her flight for her long program, which she had a discussion with you last Wednesday to discuss what she can do to prepare herself and she was also able to apply what you discussed.
Thank you so very much for your help this 2 weeks and look forward to continuing! It was great to see how she prepared herself mentally and was able to manage her anxiety and fear. It was like looking at a different person! 🙂
T. Skater Parent. BC/YT, Canada.