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WATERSKI MagazineAt this time of year, you will either reach your personal best or fall into the summertime slump. Here's what some top pros do to ensure that the year ends with a boom.
It's early August, and you're already planning that Colorado snow-ski trip. Your four days a week on the water have become every other Saturday. Glassy morning water doesn't make your heart pound quite as much as it did in March.
These are classic symptoms of midseason burnout. Don't feel guilty admitting it. Everyone, from open-water weekenders to world-class performers, experiences it. As summer enters its second half, the skiing stalls – and so does the enthusiasm. Where did it all go, and how can you get it back? On the following pages, some of the best athletes on the water offer personal advice on how to regain your groove. Even if you aren't in a slump, you may want to save these secrets because the season is barely entering the lon turn for home.
Bruce Neville:
“When I start to lose my motivation for skiing, I'll invite Scot Ellis and Curtis Sheers over to the house for a little head-to-head competition. This is a sure way to get me fired up. If I think my body is tired and I need some time off, I'll go looking for a new toy that will cost me so much money that I'll have to get back out on the water just so I can afford to purchase it. Actually, I love to scan the aisles of Home Depot to see what new things I can build.”
Tony Neville:
“For me, it's always been easier to maintain peak performances than create them. After all, once you're skiing really well, you should be able to ski less and still feel that great groove. For example, once I'm running 38-off consistently, I stop trying it every single day. If I shorten the rope only two days a week, my chances of missing the pass are drastically reduced. Therefore, my peak will last longer.”
Scot Ellis:
“I guess I'm a little different from all the other skiers. I have about 95 percent of my ski training done by late February, but I never quit going to the gym. That's my break from skiing. The gym keeps me strong, which helps me ski better while actually spending less time on the water. It doesn't have to be the gym for everyone, though. A skier should really do whatever he or she enjoys – anything to get his mind away from skiing.”
Andy Mapple:
Stop hounding your skills on the water. Skiing every other day instead of every day will allow your concentration to be sharper, your focus to be more keen. I would also suggest that you use the gym only for flexibility during this time. Maintaining and increasing your flexibility will prevent injuries from occurring.”
Dana Preble:
“I don't really train – just do some wake jumps and grabs – but I do yoga every day. My true secret recipe for a midseason boost is to do one thing every day that scares me, one thing every day that's good for me and one thing that I have never done before.”
Kristi Overton Johnson:
“I may not shorten the rope for two or three weeks, if there isn't an important event approaching. This change of pace allows me to stay strong, fresh and motivated while also keeping me healthy. I've never been one to go to the gym during the competition season, but I will admit that this year I'm going to train with light weights one day a week just to help prevent injuries.”
Tara Hamilton:
The only way to avoid burnout is to ride less. I like to go to the gym in the summer, but I usually do more cardio work than actual weightlifting. I used to ride the bike a lot, but I got pretty sick of that, so now I am into roller blading and skateboarding. I guess the best thing to do is just switch it up – do whatever you feel like.”
Freddy Kreuger:
“As an event approaches, I'll look back to the previous year to see how I placed. It then becomes my goal to finish higher at that specific event than I did the prior year. Everyone always wants to become a better skier, and this is one easy way to make sure you always improve. If a year-long goal is accomplished weekend after weekend, it's easy to stay motivated and avoid burnout all together.”
Ben Favret:
“This time of year I'd suggest training in what I call 'the intensity stage.' During this stage, I'll only take one set a day for maybe three days each week. Here, I shorten the rope until I miss or fall. The most important aspect of this stage is that you stop thinking about every move you make. It is critical that you 'feel' now, grooving everything.”
Lori Kreuger:
“I suggest running longer rope lengths and back-to-back passes to perfect your style and technique. The real key to my success, however, has been my aerobic workouts. The best part about these workouts is that they don't have to take place in the gym. In fact, I'd suggest lots of racquetball. It helps keep the competitive edge while also providing a great aerobic workout.”
Shaun Murray:
“I actually go to Tahoe for the months of January and February and do nothing but snowboard. Because I don't even touch my wakeboard, I feel charged and ready to ride when the season is in full force. However, if I do feel flat during the season, I'll head to the skate park, go surfing with my friends or do yard work just to get away from riding for a few hours.”
