For elite Winter Olympians like freestyle skier Zoe Atkin, dealing with the fear of serious injury is just as important as honing any other skill. The fine line between success and failure in winter sports can be a matter of millimeters when landing difficult tricks on snow.
The biggest challenge for Atkin is overcoming the fear of falling, which she says is essential to pushing herself out of her comfort zone. While it's natural to feel fear when trying something new, athletes like Atkin train their whole lives for one specific thing - in her case, competing in ski halfpipe.
Atkin uses meditation and mindfulness techniques to stay focused and composed before competitions. She also believes that reframing fear as a positive force can help her perform better under pressure. For example, she tells herself that the physical reactions of fear are understandable, but that she has trained extensively for this moment and is capable of overcoming it.
In contrast, fellow British skier Kirsty Muir takes a more unorthodox approach to managing fear. She credits her success in part to superstition - such as wearing the same face mask on competitions, which was given to her by one of her idols. Muir also listens to music during training sessions and has a "lucky song" that she plays only at competitions: Foo Fighters' "The Pretender".
While their approaches may differ, both athletes agree that accepting the risks associated with their sport is crucial to success. For Atkin, this means focusing on the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts about the future or past. Muir's approach is more holistic, incorporating music and superstition into her routine.
Ultimately, overcoming fear in extreme sports like freestyle skiing requires a deep understanding of both physical and mental limitations. By acknowledging these risks and developing strategies to manage them, athletes like Atkin and Muir can push themselves to new heights - even when the stakes are high and fear is lurking just beneath the surface.
The biggest challenge for Atkin is overcoming the fear of falling, which she says is essential to pushing herself out of her comfort zone. While it's natural to feel fear when trying something new, athletes like Atkin train their whole lives for one specific thing - in her case, competing in ski halfpipe.
Atkin uses meditation and mindfulness techniques to stay focused and composed before competitions. She also believes that reframing fear as a positive force can help her perform better under pressure. For example, she tells herself that the physical reactions of fear are understandable, but that she has trained extensively for this moment and is capable of overcoming it.
In contrast, fellow British skier Kirsty Muir takes a more unorthodox approach to managing fear. She credits her success in part to superstition - such as wearing the same face mask on competitions, which was given to her by one of her idols. Muir also listens to music during training sessions and has a "lucky song" that she plays only at competitions: Foo Fighters' "The Pretender".
While their approaches may differ, both athletes agree that accepting the risks associated with their sport is crucial to success. For Atkin, this means focusing on the present moment and letting go of negative thoughts about the future or past. Muir's approach is more holistic, incorporating music and superstition into her routine.
Ultimately, overcoming fear in extreme sports like freestyle skiing requires a deep understanding of both physical and mental limitations. By acknowledging these risks and developing strategies to manage them, athletes like Atkin and Muir can push themselves to new heights - even when the stakes are high and fear is lurking just beneath the surface.
. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great that Zoe Atkin finds it helps her stay focused, but isn't there like a million other things she could be doing to calm her nerves before a competition? Like, what if meditation just makes you too relaxed and you end up messing up because you're not paying attention enough?
. I mean, who doesn't want to believe that wearing the same face mask as their idol or listening to "The Pretender" at competitions gives them an edge? But seriously, can't she just focus on her actual training and try to overcome her fear through skill development rather than relying on a bunch of random rituals?
It's crazy how these elite athletes have figured out ways to calm their nerves without losing that competitive edge. For me, it's all about finding that balance – not letting fear get the best of you, but also knowing when to push yourself. I've tried meditation and mindfulness techniques before, they actually work! 
Maybe Kirsty Muir's "lucky song" thing is a bit weird, but hey, if it works for her, right? 
And can we talk about how intense those ski halfpipe competitions must be?! 
I mean, who doesn't feel that fear of falling while trying something crazy? 
to push myself outta my comfort zone! 
Zoe Atkin's meditation and mindfulness techniques are so cool, I need to try those ASAP 
she's got a "lucky song" lol 
. Like, sure, they're gonna wear a face mask that's been held by one of their idols as some sort of superstition... it's all about creating an illusion of control, right? Newsflash: the only thing they're really in control of is how quickly they'll get hurt if they don't master their skills. And don't even get me started on "lucky songs"... like that's gonna make a difference when you're 50 feet off the ground with nothing but air between you and certain doom 
. It's all about the luck factor, if you ask me. I mean, what are the chances of even making it to the competition without a major wipeout? Slim to none, that's what 
.
to get them through the pressure. Like, what if wearing that face mask or listening to "The Pretender" actually gives her an edge? 
It's all about finding what works for you, right? 