If what you want is vague, then the result is likely to be just as vague - if you manage to recognise it as a result! There’s an old adage that says ‘what you see is what you get’. It is also interesting to ask yourself why do I ski? There are many reasons why I ski, to enjoy the mountains, fresh air, exercise, to share time with friends, for the exhilaration, adventure, relaxation, self-expression, and to pursue my perennial goal – the pursuit of the perfect turn – with maximum efficiency and least effort!

WHERE ARE YOU?

Before you decide what you want to achieve it is useful to have a look at where you are? ‘My skiing is rubbish’ is not a helpful place to start! If you were in a desert and needed to get to the oasis marked on the map, your most important bit of information is your current position. Likewise the way you ski now is just as important as where you want to go – if not more so. So don’t just dismiss what you can do as being worthless. What you can do has great value, it is your expression in this moment and where your journey towards your goal starts.

1. Rate on a scale of 1 – 5 how confident you feel on the following slopes? Green/Blue/Red/Black (very confident = 5)
2. Can you link turns in the flow line? Green/Blue/Red/Black
3. Describe your skiing when you are ‘on form’.
4. Describe your skiing when you are ‘off form’.
5. How do you perceive your ability in general?
6. Is your equipment and clothing supporting or detracting from your performance?
7. What internal interference do you recognise?
8. How does it manifest externally?
9. Have you ever hurt yourself while skiing?
10. Does this affect your current performance? If so, how?
11. Do you take regular exercise?
12. Do you do any pre-ski preparation?
13. Do you stretch or warm up before starting each day?
14. Do you get help from professional instructors or go it alone?

Now you have raised your awareness of your current position you can spend some time clarifying your long-term goals and some interim short-term targets. These goals can be qualitative or quantitative. Becoming more relaxed on skis or winning a medal are both valid goals as long as they are realistic.

Commitment is the fuel that will power you towards your target. Your 100% commitment to a realistic goal and trust in your potential to learn are both ingredients for success. If, when doing the following exercise, you find that you are unable to be completely committed to your specified goal, then you might want to redefine the goal so that you can be. Sometimes a lack of commitment indicates that the goal is unrealistic – a sure recipe for disappointment.

This does not mean that you can’t have dreams that may seem unattainable right now. You might be able to commit to a realistic, attainable goal that points towards that ideal. You may be a beginner who dreams about skiing the steep and deep, so make some intermediate targets, these can be satisfying too. Remember the Chinese proverb ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’, or an adage that I sometimes repeat to myself ‘a stumble is half a step forwards!’

1. What do you want to achieve in the sport of skiing?
2. Is that realistic? If not, what would be?
3. Would you like to ski: faster, slower, moguls, powder, ice, other?
4. Would you like to feel: more relaxed, more confident, more flowing, more efficient, more controlled, other?
5. Would you like to have: more fun, more style, more energy, other?
6. Do you want to achieve your goals for yourself or for someone else?
7. Can you choose to do them for yourself?
8. Choose some short-term goals for your next skiing trip.
9. Are these goals realistic? If not, what would be?
10. How committed are you to your short-term goals? Rate each on a scale of 1 – 10 (with 10 denoting complete commitment).
11. Against the short-term goals rate on a scale of 1 –10 where you are now, the target is 10. What do you need to do to move from where you are now to a 10?

Remember to include all the non-skiing activities that you enjoy. Are they compatible with your skiing goals? If you have decided that what you need is more mileage and plan to ski all day then it may not be wise to include partying all night!

Copyright Sarah Ferguson 2002