Core beliefs

To learn anything, we humans we have to go into receptivity so we can connect to ourselves, our equipment and the mountain.  We must be in a calm and receptive state in order to receive information or feel our body/board/mountain. Our central nervous system needs to drop out of sympathetic and go into parasympathetic. If we are in fight, fright, flight or freeze then we simply can’t learn.  

Mistakes are a pathway to excellence – remember Masters have failed more times than beginners have tried. So, give yourself a break, drop the judgment, embrace the journey – allow yourself to make mistakes.  The learning lives in the mistake itself.  Oh and don’t push too hard all the time.  Progress over perfection mindset whilst learning works wonders.

The only constant on a mountain is that things are constantly changing ie. the snow, the weather, the terrain, the amount of people. Stay open to allow for adaptability (which may feel uncomfortable). Stay open to the changes without resistance or fear. Stay open to try new things, open to make adjustments second by second.  When you do, you’ll feel the magic happen.

There really is only 5 inputs that work together to create great riding – edge, pressure, rotation, torsional twist and body movements.  Learn to get clear on task outcomes and how to analyse them, before focusing on the 5 inputs. There are so many variations in the combination of these 5 inputs; analyse outcomes first and learn how they relate to task outcome before focusing on inputs.

Is about finding the brain space for calm, conscious, intentional, natural movements – mindfulness in motion.  A strong mind / muscle connection is the ability to be mindful of which muscles you are intentionally engaging for better control.

Helping you to feel how your legs, glutes, ankles, core and feet guide/steer the board.  This awareness helps you improve your technique by using slower, more controlled, refined and precise actions – calmly not forcefully.

Allow artistic freedom, let the incredible intelligence of your body move intrinsically rather than forcing robot like shapes trying to copy someone. Once you understand Board to Snow steering connection (what the board wants), then your incredible body will do most of the work for you, and move automatically. Suddenly things become easier, and don’t have to force it.

Board to snow connection requires 3 key things, steering, speed, control.

1. Steering – learn what your equipment wants, what it’s designed to do and which part of the board needs to connect at which point in the turn so you can subconsciously move there; 

2. Speed – To decrease speed, create more resistance with the snow (move more snow). Or increase speed, create less resistance (move less snow), simple;

3. Control – learn what the mountain is telling you (terrain shape and snow type/density) and adjust steering, speed and line accordingly.

Strategise performance – create art.

When you want to learn something new or excel at sport, you need a strategy in the way you approach your practice.  Whether its a new skill development session, overall personal performance session or creative  expression session, practise is more potent with strategy.  Artistic flow follows naturally.

This one is connected to ‘Receptivity before technique’ & ‘love always wins’ belief.  To return to a child like state – you know, what I mean – the fun inner child inside us with jovial laughter, and playfulness.  Then we have to let go of any pre-conceptions of outcomes, expectations, and limitations through our beliefs.  We have to allow a lighter energy to flow – less rigid, more open, allowing the true you to shine through with compassion and acceptance.  It’s totally possible when you feel safe – so learn to play with the snow, rather than force it, play in your mind and in your heart too.

The longest journey you’ll ever take is from your mind to your heart. Try to drop your mind into your heart. Heart based riding always wins.  Aw is gratitudes big sister, and we all know the vast amount of physiological benefits of gratitude. So, remember to take a moment for aw of mother nature and the mountains – love her.  Stay present in the now, stay connected your higher self. Have a snowboarding date with yourself.  Stay connected to your fire, what fuels you, stay in your heart, play and let the magic unfold. 

Snowboarding is an opportunity for personal expression.  There’s a place for fashion in clothing, but not in technique.  There’s a place for new fads but not in stance positions. Stance is related to leg length and individual alignment, not fashion. Fads and fashion can become simply dangerous for our bodies. The choice to always prioritise safety, logic and practicality runs through everything we do so you can snowboard longer. No brainer!