Need advice on the mental game of park
- Thread starter Mereana
- Start date
frickindarn
Active member
My biggest thing is to ride with people who will push me. Not to do crazy things but smaller things that help me progress. This year alone I've relearned rails spins and flips because of my buddy Gary. He's a snowboarder but he's always the one to tell me "to man, you got this." And just be confident! You got this shit girl!
Chubz.
Active member
You honestly need to just sack up and commit once. Thats all it takes, then you realize you wont die then you jist do it.
It took my a few years to hit a non ride on flat rail that wasnt a baby rail 6 inches off the ground and earlier this week i tried it and greased it first try. go into the feature thinking that you got this, dont let your mind even think about backing out or falling. You got this, you know you got it and when you land it youre gonna feel awesome.
Aint nothin to it but to do it.
It took my a few years to hit a non ride on flat rail that wasnt a baby rail 6 inches off the ground and earlier this week i tried it and greased it first try. go into the feature thinking that you got this, dont let your mind even think about backing out or falling. You got this, you know you got it and when you land it youre gonna feel awesome.
Aint nothin to it but to do it.
robbinJAHood
Active member
I always feel like this too and then suddenly I get an "oh fuck it" feeling and everything goes away and I have to go and do it at that very second or else I start freaking out again lol
ascent_studios
Active member
Like said before skiing with friends is really the way to go. Whenever I ski alone I get nowhere but when I ski alone I learn all my new tricks. A couple weeks ago me and my friend were hot lapping and I hadn't done a 540 yet. He did it and showed me it was possible and then I just went and did it. Also the longer you wait at the top to drop in the more likely you will become nervous. You just have to not think about it and drop as fast as you can
Deforestation
Active member
13645820:Chubz. said:
First part is absolutely true. Just go for it, what's the worst that can happen on smaller features OP?
Now, this isn't meant as a slight towards you in any way but it will probably sound bad (sorry if it does)... you've been here for 6 years and just started hitting rails?
270on420out
Active member
Only one thought goes through my head before a feature: "do it you fucking pussy"
ascent_studios
Active member
13645866:ben_collins said:
whoops I meant "but when I ski with friends"
My friend gave me some really solid advice this weekend.
I used to hit the lip, shifty over features but not actually hit them because I was pussying out.
When he was talking me into hitting one of the down rails I was like but what if I catch my tips? or slip out? and he looked at me and said "Stop thinking about what could go wrong, and think about how epic it will be when you stomp it."
I mother fuckin hit the rail, slid off a little early, but I committed to it. And a few more runs, I fucking stomped it and it was epic! So that is my advice to you. Visualize the how epic if will be when you land it
Also speed is your friend. It helps you not knuckle and it makes balancing on rails way easier. I always have the issue of not wanting to hit things at speed, but it really makes them easier.
I used to hit the lip, shifty over features but not actually hit them because I was pussying out.
When he was talking me into hitting one of the down rails I was like but what if I catch my tips? or slip out? and he looked at me and said "Stop thinking about what could go wrong, and think about how epic it will be when you stomp it."
I mother fuckin hit the rail, slid off a little early, but I committed to it. And a few more runs, I fucking stomped it and it was epic! So that is my advice to you. Visualize the how epic if will be when you land it
Also speed is your friend. It helps you not knuckle and it makes balancing on rails way easier. I always have the issue of not wanting to hit things at speed, but it really makes them easier.
RickeyBobby
Member
Ski with good friends, that's the best thing you can do to progress.
#fuckitandhuckit
#fuckitandhuckit
HAMNATION
Member
Just remind your self you know how to urban on.... and you can jump on to tall things. Or think about cleaning it instead of jumping on it. Riding up and then going nope is a bad habit tho brake it quick before it gets in your head. Better to intentionally scope it and hit it the next lap.
Oh and wu tang and biggie help too.
Oh and wu tang and biggie help too.
Mereana
New member
Mad advice, thanks team.
yes! I know that feeling so well, just need to find it more often.
I'm pretty much doing most of your recommendations, I pretty much only ski with guys who push me hard and stand at the side of features telling me not to be a bitch. No waiting around at the top is solid advice.
Confidence is key I guess...
13645865:robbinJAHood said:
yes! I know that feeling so well, just need to find it more often.
I'm pretty much doing most of your recommendations, I pretty much only ski with guys who push me hard and stand at the side of features telling me not to be a bitch. No waiting around at the top is solid advice.
Confidence is key I guess...
A good way to improve your mental game is to practice pushing your comfort zone on and off the hill. For example, go tramping in the summer and learn flippy tricks and stuff. Practice getting comfortable being not totally confident/comfortable... Sounds weird but it seriously helps, just try to get loose and push all thoughts out of your head. Its basically ski meditation.
Also get drunk and you'll do it.
Also get drunk and you'll do it.
Ian_Fitz
Member
13646016:Mereana said:
Try going up to the trick /feature and
Just picture in ur head what you have to do ....hike a feature till u commit it makes u want to do it because you get tired the more you wimp out. I've hiked jumps before when i really want to get a trick...that motivates me to not mess up or I have to hike again and do it.
Pac2
Member
topic:Mereana said:
i skiied for the first time in two weeks at the ns gathering which i sadly showed up late too due to work that had to be done at my house and i live an hour away so i ended getting to the mountain at 2:00 and it closed at 4. I was pretty bummed out i missed the ns gathering but i wanted to get ski time in more than anything. Most of the time i go out and think im gonna go throw down and then when i actually get to the park im nervous but i feel like since i was in a time crunch and wanted to get tricks done my mental game just shot through the roof. Hadn't skied for 2 weeks and was just wanting to nail every trick i had learned and more and thats exactly what i did and surprisingly was not nervous at all. I had that feeling that you get after watching a sick edit and just wanting to go out and stomp every trick you can. It was a really nice blue bird day and with the lack of snow on the east i had to use my time efficiently. So maybe try that, show up late one day and then it will force you to go all out before the mountain closes.
Aharrelson358
Member
Get Full Tilts
NSwidow
Member
You already know what you're doing wrong- I.E. pussying out as you come up to the feature. just dont do that. just commit. Decide to do it, and do it. Yeah, its scary. But doing something that scares you is healthy for you. I made a promise to myself when I started learning scarier tricks- if you call something, you gotta do it. And now, I never say i'm gonna do something and then not do it. If i say I'm gonna backie something, I commit. So now, if I'm scared of doing something, I tell someone I'm gonna do it so that I have to, to keep my promise to myself 
RoidedSasquatch
Member
I used to be terrified to lip onto down rails. One time I nutted up and tried. I ate shit but the next try, I got on the rail and slid a bit. From there I could commit to lip on, and after a couple times out on the hill I can now lip on blind 2 down rails. I can actually commit to lapping onto anything now.
Honestly when you commit once and realize that you probably won't die on that feature you'll be able to commit no problem next time you try. Just make sure you actually commit.
Tl;Dr wanted to learn only trick in the world on down rails tried to lip on even though I was scared and kept going. Now I can do the only trick in the world.
Honestly when you commit once and realize that you probably won't die on that feature you'll be able to commit no problem next time you try. Just make sure you actually commit.
Tl;Dr wanted to learn only trick in the world on down rails tried to lip on even though I was scared and kept going. Now I can do the only trick in the world.
yungsteeze
Member
if you can visualize yourself actually doing it then just try it and trust your instincts and skills. it's a different story if you're hitting a sketchy urban rail that you actually shouldn't hit based on the risk. if you go home after skiing and regret not hitting the feature, then picture yourself doing it successfully in your free time and feel confident and ready for the next time you try it. as you progress you'll be able to decide if you want to hit something before you go to hit it based on your instincts and how you feel before dropping in. commit fully.
Pigeon.
Active member
i agree with everyone in this thread
-ride with people to push you
-find someone really hype who will legit scream at you to do stuff
-ride with people alarmingly better than you to shame yourself into wanting to do more, and exploiting their knowledge and experience as a shortcut to better yourself.
I'd check out aidan shaehns instagram too, he posted a long time ago about a type of extreme sports meditation he does while he rides which is really cool, and helps keep your mind clear of rational and irrational fears of commitment.
-ride with people to push you
-find someone really hype who will legit scream at you to do stuff
-ride with people alarmingly better than you to shame yourself into wanting to do more, and exploiting their knowledge and experience as a shortcut to better yourself.
I'd check out aidan shaehns instagram too, he posted a long time ago about a type of extreme sports meditation he does while he rides which is really cool, and helps keep your mind clear of rational and irrational fears of commitment.
Deforestation
Active member
13646057:Point. said:
No shit. I barely ever ride park unless it's a truly shitty day where most of the mountain is closef. I still know how to do rails though.
steezburgereddie
Active member
13645996:The.Fish said:
Did you get pity sex?
Evilchris
Active member
13646821:-frosty- said:
I uses these. They just make hippers hurt lesshttp://g-form.com/en/pro-x-compression-shorts.html
Deforestation
Active member
13647509:Evilchris said:
100 bux? What a deal for underwear!!! My last 3 pack cost me 7000 dollars.
skiznuts
Member
A few things. Close your eyes and imagine yourself doing it. Then, take that thought and replace it with the one of you bailing in the front of your mind. Also, bring homies that aren't to much better or worse than you, but to the point where you can push each other. Watch other people do dope tricks, yell "Get er" before you drop or whatever helps you to get stoked.
Earl_Globz
Active member
on slope dabs make you dumb enough to go for anything, straight up. Most of the time you even have the physical chops to do somewhat of the trick you were trying to do. That raw senselessness. Thats the key to skiing ghood.
freestyler540
Active member
Listen to your conscience!!!!! Cant stress this enough; with 25 years skiing, I have never gotten hurt or ended up in the hospital. When the mind says no, its no.
Now, how to overcome this little voice.
Step one: Start small...really really small. Baby parks in the morning are really nice to step up the game before the gapers wreck it. Practice going a little above your ability on the down days by skiing faster, or jumping further than normal. It will build confidence.
step two: Get some friends that know their shit and ride religiously with them. Some girls can throw down better than guys, plus they had to figure this out on their own. Dont rely on guys advice on tricks and stuff, we are built differently. Get a female coach.
Step three: Take a break, ride something different for a few days and come back later. Your mind will let you step up the game when the confidence is high. Taking a break relaxes the muscles and relieves the mind of the stresses of a feature. I fractured a thumb trying to push a cork 7 before landing a 7. I tried 11 years later with a huge load of experience and nailed it on the first try.
Step four: Remember there are good days and bad days. Listen to your mind; she will protect you from hurting yourself. On good days, the mind will be quiet and will let the body react faster so that the dreadful feeling of failure is reduced to a peep. A mental trick is to envision the feature or run. If you cant see it in your mind, you are not ready to try it. If you can experience the entire thing in the mind before dropping in, you can relax with the feeling that you have do it before.
good luck
Now, how to overcome this little voice.
Step one: Start small...really really small. Baby parks in the morning are really nice to step up the game before the gapers wreck it. Practice going a little above your ability on the down days by skiing faster, or jumping further than normal. It will build confidence.
step two: Get some friends that know their shit and ride religiously with them. Some girls can throw down better than guys, plus they had to figure this out on their own. Dont rely on guys advice on tricks and stuff, we are built differently. Get a female coach.
Step three: Take a break, ride something different for a few days and come back later. Your mind will let you step up the game when the confidence is high. Taking a break relaxes the muscles and relieves the mind of the stresses of a feature. I fractured a thumb trying to push a cork 7 before landing a 7. I tried 11 years later with a huge load of experience and nailed it on the first try.
Step four: Remember there are good days and bad days. Listen to your mind; she will protect you from hurting yourself. On good days, the mind will be quiet and will let the body react faster so that the dreadful feeling of failure is reduced to a peep. A mental trick is to envision the feature or run. If you cant see it in your mind, you are not ready to try it. If you can experience the entire thing in the mind before dropping in, you can relax with the feeling that you have do it before.
good luck