Snow Snakes
Snow snakes is a concept I learned from one of the athlete’s I work with on the US Ski team. I believe it has implications in other areas of our life as well. A snow snake is a small patche of snow that looks normal to the eye but is softer or just different than the surrounding snow. When a skier runs into it it can throw them off balance. This is critical as every split second makes a difference in the world of professional skiing. If a skier is holding on too tight, meaning if a skier is mental too intense or is over-thinking (worrying), they will not be able to adapt to the momentary lose of control and may even panic often resulting in over compensating and the loss of valuable time or even crashing. However, if an athlete is in the correct frame of mind—meaning if an athlete has worked to develop a Fearless Mind they are more likely to be free to the moment and naturally adjust to the uncertainty and temporary loss of control. Resulting in moraculaous saves that are often the differences between first and last place.

March 5, 2010 - 11:26 am
I’m curious if you have any comments about Lindsey Vonn’s crash in the Giant Slalom at the Vancouver Games. It looked to me like there was a giant rut – not the same as a snow snake perhaps – that threw her off balance. Of course, after the knee to the chin it was all over.
It seems like Lindsey’s tremendous success is in part due to her fearless mind. In the slalom events, her attitude seems to be win or crash. Is that a healthy attitude?
March 29, 2010 - 10:19 am
Lindsey Vonn does exhibit the fearlessness that we talk about. Although I have never worked with Lindsey I am up at the US Ski training facility a lot of have observed her body language. She comes accross as someone who is very assertive. I would not say arrogant, just assertive. Meaning, focused, confident in control of her environment.