What is your plan for your body? We are all trained to go to school to study and develop our minds and intellect and practical skills so that we can be better and more productive workers, but what about our bodies? Do you have a long-term body development plan?
In a 2017 Denver Post interview, Kirk Dwyer of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, stated that “the key to any sport is having heroes…”. If left alone, this statement has the potential for a debatable message. John Meyer. Denver Post, 3/16/17 http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/12/ski-club-vail-kids-watch-mikaela-shiffrin-training/
In my research, I found it best to view a superstar as an inspiration instead of a hero. Making a great athlete into a hero immediately puts the young up and coming athlete a step behind. It allows for the mindset that there will always be someone better. Or worse, it creates a desire for the young athlete to copy or want to “be like” their hero.
The best way for a young ski racer to view a superstar like Mikaela Shiffrin is to think: “If she can do it, so can I”. Or “If she can do it, I can do it better”. Let the Shiffrins of the ski racing world show every young budding ski racer what is possible.
Next, while Mikaela has certainly many wonderful qualities to emulate, there is only one Mikaela. People who succeed in life and sport must have their own personality and approach to living and competing. There is that old saying: “A copy is never as good as the original”.
While Mikaela makes skiing look easy, she has put in many years of extraordinary effort to reach the very top. Perhaps the strongest message or messages, for an aspiring ski racer are those which are not so obvious? To start, the very best in sport are extremely dedicated and focused on their goals. Their entire life is organized around doing what it takes to win. They are supremely committed to becoming the very best and will let nothing get in their way.
"My general fitness is for me, because it's health and it makes me feel good." - "Then there's the elite-level fitness that I have to get to so I can compete well, I see that more as a job and it's not enjoyable." Bode Miller, Olympic Gold Medal skier. November 15, 2016. Max Berlinger.
I have known Bill Rodgers for the last 12 years. He is a member of my health club and a regular participant in the Swymfit® deep water, movement based exercise program as well as lap swimming. When Bill and I first met, he was recovering from a leg injury and was working to overcome a gait imbalance. The deep water program I developed helped him to recover from this injury, improve his gait and continue running.
This past week, I attended the American College of Sports Medicine annual conference. This is where much of the high level scientific research is disseminated in the health and fitness field. The presenters are generally MD's, PhD's and MD/PhD's. It is from this research and organization that the exercise guidelines are created for the health and fitness industry.
"You can work hard and feel good, while still getting yourself strong and healthy"
Water exercise is versatile. You can work in deep or shallow water:
Looking back on his career, Miller spoke to Hicks about how he wanted to be remembered. "I hope people see truth when I ski," said Miller. "I don't have an agenda when I'm out there. I don't try to cover things up or look cool. Skiing is such a raw sport and people pick out what they want to see.
"That would be something I would hope would stand out - the honesty of my skiing."
"I truly believe that pressure is what you make it," Shiffrin said after coming from behind to win the slalom. "And if you work hard enough and you prepare well enough, no matter how much pressure you feel, you can still perform."
Quote taken from ESPN W. Feb 21, 2015. Mikaela Shiffrin talking about her gold medal in the World Championships in Beaver Creek Colorado.
"I try to win as many races as I can. Every time I'm in the starting gate I'm trying to win, whether it's 60, 61, 62 or whatever it is, I just try to ski my best. So it was more frustrating just talking about this record in the media. But for me mentally it was the same as any other race. Now I'm happy we can stop talking about it."
Lindsey Vonn, as quoted on the FIS-Ski.com website, January 18th, 2015
Sergio Garcia is an extremely talented golfer with a colorful personality, but perhaps he should stop talking.
