Focusing when you're skiing

Kevski

Active member
I realized that when I'm not skiing I can picture exactly how to do something, know which parts to move where, but then when I'm actually about to hit whatever feature it is, I can't focus on those things. And I feel the drive and the desire to get a new trick dialed so much when I'm not skiing, but when I'm up there it's just too easy to cruise around doing the tricks I already know, and if I actually go for the new trick I can't picture it as clearly and I usually mess up something super basic.
This happen to anyone else? And if it does what are some ways to get into the zone? I don't usually ride to music, but I can imagine that could set the vibe right.
 
i think that happens to everyone. You just gotta be having a good day and balls up and do it. Helps to have friends there.
 
yeah listen to music and just right before you go ti hit it. picture yourself doing it super steeze and landing it and picture all the props your friends are giving you.and also i like to prove people wrong too. i use that as motivation.
 
Do what Jon Olsson did, and visualize the trick 5,000 times before you do it. By then, you've "done" it so many times that there's no problem at all.
 
jon does tricks 5000 times into a pool before doing it on snow. he says you're crazy to learn any trick on snow..pfffff
 
yeah i have the exact same problem. i actually thought about starting a journal or something just so i could write how id do the tricks and stuff like that. i dont know maybe thats a retarded idea i havnt tried it yet
 
yeah the same thing happens to me when i watch edits. I'll be like damn dude i can do that and it gets me really stoked to ski. but when im right there in front of that rail or jump im just like naww lets do a trick that i've done for years instead
 
Sometimes I never mention if im gunna try a new trick unless i need help or i think its sketchy and wanna ask for a second opinion, this to me takes off the stress of claiming a trick, so when you do it, if you fall your freinds will be suprised you tried it, if you land it they will be super stoked or if you just do your normal run then its just normal. I also go through and usually pick out a good song that gets me pumped or maybe one thats been on a skiing movie so it takes you back to the images.. If its bothering you maybe dont think about it at all just joke around get your mind off of it, and then get shit together at the top of you run.. Let er' Rip!
 
you just have to ball up and commit to whatever you have thought.

that happens to me too but when i do land a trick i picture it's because i commited.

oh, and by the way

i suck and these tricks are not very hard once you commit, just when l'm thinking about it like backside switch-up or 270 on. both which i can only do on boxes and only sometimes on rails.
 
this reminds me of when i was doing rockclimbing and bouldering competitions; every training day we had to visualize and draw a route, take it home, think about it,visualize and then on the next training we either had to climb it blindfolded or explain it very detailed to a buddie so he could climb it first try...
just watch any rockclilmbing competition, before they start they close their eyes and perform all the moves on the ground (pretty funny, but it works) !
i still have a journal with over a hundred routes drawn; i still use it to design climbing routes on indoor walls...
 
I listen to music but when im doing harder tricks or trying something new i pause it because i dont like any distractions
 
everytime before i go im telling myself im gunna try a bunch a shitzel, and then when i get in front of a feature my sack goes into my stomach and i do the usual shit i always do
 
Music can definitely set the vibe right. also try to ride with people who you can have fun with and just not take anything seriously and have a good time. As for actually doing the tricks, I find that before i'm going to spin off of a rail or jump, i first think "okay here's what I need to do" and then coming into the lip of the jump or the rail i set my spin and to make sure i look over my shoulder when spinning i tell my myself "ok, set my spin and look back at the haters". haha sounds lame as hell but it helps.
 
I usually stand at the top of the inrun with music bumping, and look uphill (or some place other than the jump) and visualize it several times and practice how I'll set my rotation. Once I have the trick visualized to a point where the trick seems reasonable to attempt, I turn off my music so I'm not distracted by at, and drop before I have time to psych myself out. And it usually works. If you can visualize it, you can usually land it within a few attempts.
 
1. music

2. friends

3. good conditions (sunny)

if all of these are present it makes for a kickass day!
 
Music gets me sooo pumped for new tricks. Gotta have a good song playing before I drop in. And I definitely agree about riding with people who are there for fun. There's one kid at my local hill who I used to ski with a bunch, but he started progressing very fast, and then just started taking skiing so seriously. Saying like "I HAVE to land this trick" and just having that mentality all the time. So I stopped skiing with him because it made me realize he was what I hated about skiing. And who would've guessed I started progressing much faster when riding with a more positive crew.
 
see, I do the opposite. I'll tell whoever I'm with that I'm gonna try this or that. That way, when i'm on the inrun I have no choice but to go for it, and can't back out without looking like a complete pussy
 
lol, so true. whenever someone's talking to me before I drop, I'm not even listening to a word they're saying I'm just visualizing the spin. I'm just like "uh-huh" lol
 
before i try anything i have to stand on top of the drop for probably a minute visualizing everything i have to do i cant talk to anyone or i'll just fuck up i have to be doing it because i want to not because somebody told me to and in the time i am skiing into the jump i need to either go from holy fuck what am i doing to you got this or just keep knowing i can do it and i will land it
 
I usually dont claim tricks before i do them. i just bust them out when peep are watching. ha

And for focusing, music helps a lot. usually i'll just cruise with my playlist going and when a song gets me super stoked i throw down. hah
 
I personaly Like to turn my music up close my eyes and take a deep breath and just hit it.

Even sometimes after this i pussyout half way so i just pop my skis off and try again. and dont try to get angry because imo it just gets worse. I know this is basically what everyone else said but i hope it helps.
 
yea same here!

for me it all comes down to having a good day and having the confidence to try something new. visualizing it and watching someone else do it helps alot.
 
when i try something new, i just take a minute right on the inrun and just think, ok, it's go time or something like that and just send it
 
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