Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity and competitive sport in which the participant attaches skis to boots or shoes on the feet and uses them to travel on top of snow. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and the International Ski Federation. There are several different types of competitive skiing:
Also called downhill skiing, alpine skiing typically takes place at a ski resort or dry slope. It originated in the European Alps, and is characterized by fixed-heel bindings that attach at both the toe and the heel of the skier's boot. Sub-genres of alpine skiing include:
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Freestyle
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Heliskiing
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Competitive classes include: slalom, giant slalom, Super-G, Downhill, and disabled skiing.
Knee injuries account for 33 percent of injuries. Most accidents are the result of user error leading to an isolated fall.
Nordic- Cross-country or backcountry skiing is the oldest form of skiing and was developed in Scandinavia as a way of traveling over snow. It uses free-heel bindings that attach at the toes of the skier's boots but not at the heels. Various specialties of competitive or recreational skiing developed from this basic style, sub-genres of Nordic skiing include:
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Cross-country skiing
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Telemark
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Ski touring
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Ski mountaineering
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Ski flying and ski jumping
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Skijoring
The various subtypes of skiing require perfection of many different mental skills. There are many techniques to help skiers overcome mental obstacles and achieve optimal performance. Common psychological obstacles that can occur:
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Anxiety (physical and mental)
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Uneven performance between practice and meets
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Fear
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Difficulty overcoming mistakes
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Confidence
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Trouble dealing with pressure
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Problems with self-talk
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Attention and focus deficits
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Recovering from an injury
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Optimal performance training
If you believe you or your child may be battling with mental obstacles that could be affecting their overall athletic performance, please call MVP Mentality today. Dr. Hennessy can help athletes of any age and level to optimize their performance on and off the field with cutting edge tactics.
With a unique therapy plan designed on a per-patient basis, she knows that the right therapy makes all the difference. Call today at 954-317-0551 or email her at DrLaurenHennessy@gmail.com.
For more information regarding mental blocks in Skiing, check out the links below:
How Detrimental is Anxiety in Sports?