One of the benefits of this visual exercise is it allows for flawless skiing which in turn will let you to break through bad habits and poor body positions that may have plagued you in the past. Also if used correctly you can change any fear-based patterns into positive emotions that will significantly enhance your future skiing experience.
The idea is to reprogram the connection between your mind and body. To accomplish this be prepared to be wholly engulfed emotionally and physically in the setting of your vision.
First set the stage for the location. Where are you skiing? What’s the temperature of the day? How are you dressed? And what equipment are you skiing on? Answering these questions will anchor the vision.
Then embrace the emotions generated within the vision. How are you feeling standing on your skis in this place? What emotions are swelling up within you as you anticipate your descent? Answering these questions provides an emotional attachment to the vision which will reinforce the exercise.
Equally important, what are you seeing? Are you on a freshly groomed trail or shredding fresh tracks in powder?
Now think about why you ski and then state the purpose for this vision, use a phrase such as…
“I want to ski the ultimate run with the goal to improve my ski skills. I’m going to make long smooth turns with dynamic body movements throughout the arc and feel light and free in the transitions.”
When you are ready to push off down the mountain take a deep breath, exhale and go.
Once you are in motion feel the wind in your face, feel the snow under your skis, balance yourself over your feet and tip your skis into the first turn. Now sink into the arc and as the skis build up pressure to carve, drive and bend your knees to the inside of the turn and pressure the front of your ski boots with your chins.
Feel the arc of the ski generating power and precision as it rips through the snow.
Absorb the ski flexing as it vibrates over the terrain and brace for the acceleration generated in the last third of the turn.
Then actively move your body down the hill and over your skis floating through the transition and into the next turn.
While this is happening to you embrace the emotions of the moment, are you excited, relaxed, and joyful or are you intense, focused and determined?
Visualization has worked for me since I was a young skier and today when I partake in this exercise, I start by looking around the snow-covered peaks and then allow the visions of tracks and turns to flood my mind.
As the images of my skiing start to take shape in my mind, I feel deep inner satisfaction that results in a wide broad smile.
In these visualizations, I embark on a journey that delivers the emotions of the moment, a mixture of anticipation, excitement, and joy that can only feel when skiing especially after a long off-season.
As I visualize these ski runs I allow my body to sway, my hands start to mimic the angle of the skis and duplicate the arc of the turn. Feeling the momentum build both emotionally and physically I start to reproduce my movements and adjust my breathing in anticipation of a long powerful run.
I see myself as the skier that rips through it. Even as I write this, I am smiling, enjoying the experience of skiing and enjoying how the mental vision of the ultimate skiing daydream will find its way into reality one day on the slopes.
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