Improve Your Mental Toughness
Figure skating is both physically and mentally demanding…
You or your athletes must have the physical stamina to endure long hours of training continuously rehearsing skills and routines…
And you must have the mental toughness to cope with all the mistakes required for improving your skills.
To land an axle, you need to commit to launching yourself in the air knowing you are going to fall hundreds of times. With each attempt, you risk physical pain and the emotional heartaches of missed attempts.
Managing the rigors of figure skating requires genuine strength. To succeed in competition, you must commit to improving your mental toughness.
Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford, the Canadian figure skating pair, embody the characteristics of mental toughness.
The four-time Canadian National Champions never finished higher than third at the World Championships but Duhamel and Radford kept focused on improving their performance on the ice.
Entering the 2015 World Championships, Duhamel and Radford were armed with the tough-mindedness of champions.
Duhamel and Radford’s strong mental game paid off as they performed a strong routine and won the gold medal.
“That’s what makes champions, that mental strength,” said Radford.
What was the formula for Duhamel and Radford’s mental toughness?
- Putting in the time – Duhamel and Radford realized there is no such thing as an “overnight success” and no shortcuts. Success takes hard work, focus and determination on a consistent basis. The goal is to have no regrets after a performance.
- Being savvy – Savvy is that “know-how” and confidence gained from tough experiences. Not every athlete learns from adversity. Some athletes see tough experiences as a curse while other athletes grow from hard times.
- Focusing – Duhamel and Radford approached World Championships as just another skating routine with no greater significance than any other event.
Tips for Greater Mental Toughness:
- Tip #1: Leave it all on the ice – Work with 100% focus and effort each session and take the risks necessary to feel that sense of pride after each performance. Prior to a training session, ask yourself what your objectives are for the day.
- Tip #2: Learn from falls – Learn from mistakes. Falling on a new jump is not failure–its a springboard toward success. Learn and grow on a daily basis.
Our newest mental training program is now available for purchase. Also, as a bonus, you can download a sample chapter of the program before you buy. Go here to read more and download the sample chapter: The Confident Figure Skater: Mental Game Strategies For Peak Performance
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Mental Skills to Manage Stress for Figure Skating
- Avoid Comparisons to Feel More Confident in Figure Skating
- Figure Skating Improvement Plan to Avoid Frustration
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You (or your athlete) might be the most skilled figure skater and train harder or longer than anyone else, but if you can’t take your practice performance to competition, you simply will not reach your true potential in figure skating.
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The Confident Figure Skater: Mental Game Strategies For Peak Performance
Discover proven mental game secrets to unstoppable confidence in practice and competition.
- Figure Skaters: Get the mental edge by learning how to take control of your confidence, mentally prepare for competition, and perform with composure under pressure.
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- Parents: Help boost your athlete’s performance. Don’t let their mind hold them back any longer.
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