According to some studies, most professional athletes adhere to visualization as a mean to improve their winning steak. Thus, you can apply it too to better hone your skiing skills.

A guide at Copper Mountain's Over-the-Hill gang, Steve Hultquist recently commenced a discussion tackling about “skiing within the mind's theatre”. From which, Hultquist simply meant the use or application of visualization to improve any ski technique. But professional athletes already know about the idea. Way back in 1984, a survey was conducted on the 235 Olympic Canadian athletes, all of whom were busy preparing for their respective events. And it was found out that 99% of those athletes were actively using imagery. Rebecca Smith, a sports psychology assistant in Colorado pointed out that professional athletes consume so much time envisioning their victory by conjuring in their minds what their bodies want to achieve. If you have watched World Class skiers before a race and you are keen enough to notice that before the race started, you will see most of the racers eyes were closed while they moved their hands. This is because, these ski racers were visualizing the courses they would undertake, along with the plans they wished to follow to win their racing competition.

However, this is not to say that you must be a World Class skier first to make use of the visualization technique in improving your skiing skills. Visualization in itself is a powerful tool you can verily use as a way of improving your skiing skills, even if they are just the basics. To begin with, take the time to watch a video of a great skier or whoever your favorite ski racer is. Some people dis

covered that it was easier for them once they had a skier to look up on to who shares similar body build and height with them. But then, this does not always work true for everyone. As you look at the video, think that the moving body you see on screen is yours. To make the experience more real, make use of your senses. Visualize everything including the temperature, the snow, the wind and the crowd cheering on you.

Creative visualization is all the more effective if it is paired with affirmation and self-talk. Have you noticed that while you are traversing down a slope and you tell yourself, “Don't fall,” you end up falling? This is because, your brain does not convey an image of “don't” but it can perceive “fall.” And so, you end up falling down. So the next time you encounter a steep slope, visualize that you are standing up or tell yourself to stand up and you may be amazed with what will happen.

By making use of your imagination as you take part in other activities, you can see for yourself the connections that can just enhance your skiing skills. If you are at a fitness gym playing on the balance boards, imagine you are carving out a perfect turn. Or as you go on in your regular run, trot on a hill and try to run on varied turns while descending. Imagine you are running on white snow and not on a hard concrete, as what the truth is. Remember, visualization may just be the key for you to improve your skiing skills. And so, think of captivating turns!

In addition, to better improve your ski abilities, continue taking ski lessons. Whatever level you are in, whether still a beginner, intermediate or advanced skier, be always comfortable with it. Work to the best of your capability, to the ski level which your body can handle.

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