What makes some skiers better than others? There are probably a million little variables, but this week I wanted to share some of the things I’ve observed since joining a team that is packed full of Olympians.
I’ve had a lot of different phases in my own understanding of what sets skiers apart. As a young skier I was pretty convinced some people were just born fast and lucky. As I’ve skied longer, worked with different coaches, and trained with different athletes, I’ve started to notice some pretty clear differences of approach that have given me hope. You don’t have to be born the fastest skier to get pretty darn good. And it’s not too late to adopt these habits, even if you haven’t always had them (like me).
Keep in mind that these qualities do not apply to every good skier. There are many outliers that somehow make it work despite taking all sorts of unconventional approaches.
Okay without further ado, here are the secrets.
1. Consistent training
Seems obvious, but if you look closely this sets people apart even at the highest level. Some people are really damn good at getting out of bed every single day, twice a day, week after week, for months, for years.
Off days are not the end of the world, nor are off weeks etc., but if you meet one of the best skiers in the world, chances are they have trained like a crazy person* for years on end.
2. Painfully simple life
One of the hardest parts of full time ski racing (in my opinion) is the ability to do almost nothing between training sessions and optimize recovery. Sitting on your butt from 12-4pm is so incredibly boring, it feels unproductive, and it gives you all the time in the world to ponder every detail of your life - “why am I doing this” “I should have a real job” “I don’t make enough money to justify this.” But that’s kind of what it takes. (the best are making money though...it's before you're the best that it's hard!)
The best skiers I know are just skiing. They aren’t spending much energy elsewhere. But many still went to college and made this lifestyle work later!
3. Self belief
I dare say all of the high level skiers I know have a pretty substantial “of course I can do it” attitude. They don’t deem anyone unbeatable.
Some skiers are better than others at remaining pleasant and humble, but I think all top skiers have that belief somewhere in there. They are probably not actually that surprised when they have a great race, and likely visualized it many times before it happened.
4. Purpose
This one is harder to qualify, but there is a visible difference in the sense of purpose that high level skiers bring to every session.
For example - during strength workouts you can see that some people are “in the zone” and have a goal, while others are a little more aimless. You can also observe it during intervals - some skiers have a look in their eye, “a fire,” while some skiers look a little more like they’re going through the motions.
5. Body care
The high level skiers I know tend to care about the state of their body, every day, all year. They prioritize sleep, eat nutritious foods, and avoid habits that are obviously “bad for you” like smoking, drinking, and anything with an unreasonable injury risk. Of course no one can be perfect in this department, but it’s another differentiator that adds up.
I bet these qualities would get you pretty far in anything you’re interested in pursuing with success, even if it’s not cross country skiing. Go crush it out there!
Thanks for checking in.
-Renae
*by training like a crazy person, I mean training in an amount that most people would consider surprisingly high, but that the skier has built up to over years of intentional, high quality, and appropriate training for the skiers age and experience level
Novie doing bicep curls
My role models Rosie and Novie
Falun World Cup Finals 2024 - when Jessie won the overall! and an awesome learning experience for me