Can't Stop Overthinking While Skiing? Try These Tips

1. Reframing

"The first thing you need to do is you need to reframe it," said Davison. "You don't want to be sitting there thinking about all the bad things that are going to happen. You don't want to be sitting thinking about how scared you are." 

Instead, Davison suggested, direct your thoughts toward how excited you are to try the trick that has you terrified—or for those of us who spend less time in the terrain park, the run, cliff, or chute. 

I've spent years working on how to make this pivot in the mountains—sometimes successfully—and can confirm that it's good advice. Another trick my buddy taught me is that, as you're dropping in, smile. It might sound stupid, but a cheesy grin can suck the seriousness out of a situation. 

2. Warmups

Warmups are another essential. Get your ski legs underneath before you try a move that's at the edge of your limits. Take some groomer laps or straight air the jump you plan to hit.

But, as Davison noted, don't get hooked on the warmup process. It's easy to procrastinate in the mountains while telling yourself that you'll try the trick or run next time. So, rather than languishing in limbo, set a limit on the amount of warmups you take. It could be one, two, or three—what's important is that you have a deadline you can't avoid. 

3. Visualization

A technique relied upon by racers, freeriders, and other athletes everywhere, visualization involves seeing yourself doing a trick in your mind before bringing it to the real world. You might close your eyes while doing this. Then, when it comes time to take off or venture downhill, you've technically already done whatever it is you're trying to do. 

"This is honestly the most important part and the most important thing you can do before you try something new," said Davison. If you need further evidence to back this technique, just look to Lindsey Vonn, one of the best American ski racers of all time.

"​​By the time I get to the start gate, I've run the race 100 times already in my head," she once wrote. 

Clearly, she's on to something. After several years away from the race course, Vonn nabbed a super-G silver this past winter at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho.