The more time I spend on the road, the more time I have to think. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the extra downtime can definitely lead to some ‘overthinking’. I am a big believer that the busier I am, the happier I am. However, I've learned the hardway that loading too much work on my plate during ski season isn't aways productive for my skiing.
So, this season I made a conscious effort to not be tempted to take on too much outside of my skiing commitments, so that I could prioritize recovery off the hill to perform my best on the hill. I think this has been good for me because I’m able to make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed when it comes to getting everything I can out of training sessions, and this has made a big difference.
As I’m sure you can tell by now, the road that I travel as a professional skier, much like life itself, is full of twists and turns, ups and downs. What I have learned, however, is that every experience on this journey, positive or negative, has its own merit.
Negative experiences, setbacks, even self-doubt, while challenging, can also allow for introspection and growth. For instance, having more time on the road has meant more time to think, which has led to me second-guessing myself. Initially, this felt like a negative impact of the extra downtime. However, upon further reflection, it proved to be a valuable opportunity.
This time for contemplation has made me question my commitment and the path I’m on, only to come out the other side even more confident in my commitment and why I want to be doing this crazy sport. I’ve found myself feeling lost more times than not in the middle of a season, grappling with a seemingly uncertain future. But feeling lost often means that we are open to new opportunities, willing to challenge our assumptions, and ready to strive for progress.
Overthinking during quiet moments might be considered a pitfall to some, but to me, these are invaluable opportunities for personal development. In my case, it is the interplay of exertion on the hill and rest off the hill, being in the middle of a race, and then being alone with my thoughts. As much as I hate ‘overthinking’, I know it has forced me to approach my hesitations head on and either completely extinguish them or force myself to reevaluate my approach.
I've learned to perceive downtime not as a 'negative', but as a crucial 'positive' for my holistic well-being. This understanding has flowed into my skiing, reinforcing my confidence in my training and racing. Even when there isn't the immediate gratification of guaranteed results, each run, each day is a step towards progress.
I realize my last blog may have sounded a bit grim. And honestly, those couple days did feel very disappointing, but just as I predicted, as soon as I was able to get back to work, I started to feel a lot better. My brother texted me asking how I was doing after I posted my blog. I told him I was trying to figure out whether I 1. needed to reevaluate my approach or 2. simply have faith in the process. After some reflection and asking for advice from friends, coaches, and teammates, I realized that I truly think I’m doing all the things I can be and that I need to keep trusting the process.
While I’m happier with my skiing than ever and very confident of my ability to compete with the best on the World Cup, I understand that the process doesn't guarantee results. I still need to give my best each day, each run, to have a shot at achieving results. And that is a hard thing to do! But that’s also what makes sports so exciting and entertaining. It’s easy to see teammates and friends getting good results and immediately think that I must be doing something wrong. It’s tempting to assume that it’s easier for others, because you can never truly appreciate their own struggle to get there. You are only reminded of their success, once they make it. But the reality is that plenty of the best skiers struggle with consistency and showing their best skiing on race day. Reflecting on this and knowing I’m not alone is oddly comforting. I know this sport is ruthless at times, and even though I’m more confident than ever, I know I’m going to keep having to work just as hard to get the results I want. It never gets any easier. But thankfully, I’m more eager and motivated than ever to keep striving to let my best skiing show on race day, ALL the way to the finish line!
We are now headed into non-stop racing for the rest of the season and I am so excited!
Here’s a calendar of our schedule for the next month and a half. Cortina up first this weekend.
I also wanted to mention that I don’t spend ALL of my downtime being contemplative about life. I am a massive audible fan and just finished my fourth book of the month - I highly recommend trying out audio books for long car rides and commutes - I even sneak a few chapters in while warming up for skiing and on chairlift rides :) You can use this link to start a free trial and get a free book!
Here’s a list of my all time favorite books. And I’m also always open to recs :)
I also really enjoyed this podcast with Norwegian skier Ragnhild Mowinckel on getting herself out of a rut. I love how genuine she is and how methodical her approach is so - which can be hard because theres always emotions involved with being in a rut.
Trish,
I give you a lot of credit for being able to put into words some pretty complicated stuff. You are taking on questions of conscious that some very smart people through history have, and still grapple with. I admit when I read your prior message I felt for you. It happens to everybody. I know that I have visited the land of doubt many times, especially when I am not actually practicing my craft. I found that perseverance is really the only way to have a chance, cause when you stop persevering it guarantees that you will fall short. Keep the faith sister!