I enjoyed learning about how Jessie prepares herself mentally for a race. After doing a pre-race ski she sets three goals. The first goal is a pacing goal about how she is going to attack the race. She splits up the course mentally into segments and knows what she plans on doing for each segment. This way, during the race she does not need to waste mental energy thinking about what the best strategy might me. Of course, she must be open to change the plan given the circumstances but can start the race with confidence. Her second goal is a technique goal with a cue word. This way she can remind herself of this cue word throughout the race to check in on her technique. The last goal is a mental focus that she can come back to, a mantra. She aims to leave everything out on the course for every race. She feels like the worst feeling is crossing the finish and wondering if you could have pushed harder and beaten that girl, but instead knowing you were the fastest you on that very day in that very moment.
We also appreciated listening to Jessie talk about her struggles with an eating disorder. For more info check out her blog: http://jessiediggins.com/body-issues/. It was very powerful to hear one of the fastest women in the world speak about her own struggles and how she got the help she needed. She elaborated on how she felt while she was struggling, recovering, and afterwards and what we can do as teammates to support one another. Afterwards, she spoke about her decision to model for Sports Illustrated recently and what the process was like. It is empowering to know that everyone has their own struggles and she is stronger because of her experiences. We are lucky to have such a strong female role model out on the World Cup course kicking' butt!
Team goal this year is to stretch more.
Tricky to run down an alpine slope but maybe not as hard as on skis when there is ice.
Group photo at the top!
Featured on Jessie's insta. Check it out.
Listening to the story of the Olympic gold-medal relay after eating our Cilantro burritos. Prospective student Hadassah from Washington also enjoyed getting to hear the Olympians speak.
Link to recounting of final straight away of Olympic gold medal: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dnFmsoyMbhrPoOlYlcrgui7_0vd-kdfo/view?usp=sharing
Jessie recounted how coming around into the final straight away it was as if the volume knob was turned completely down. She remembers very little of the finish except trying to get every last piece of energy out of every push. She looked to the side at the finish and saw her boot slightly ahead and Kikkan running towards her. It was as if she blacked out that last straight away and was just skiing off of pure adrenaline and heart. Jessie recalled, "When you are so in the zone you tune everything out." This must have been the feeling Jack Schrupp has been aiming for all these years.
I was struck by throughout the run how many times Jessie recalled 'almost dying.' Coming down the downhill into the finish in the relay she almost flew off the course. Finishing races she gives it all she has and doesn't know if there is anything left in the tank. One of my goals for the year is to leave it all out on the course and 'almost die' just like Jessie but have faith in myself, my training, and my teammates to know I will pull through and finish strong.
We wish Jessie and the rest of the US women's ski team best of luck in the upcoming season. We are super excited for the possibility of the women's team taking the team relay this year. At every camp, Jessie works to sync up her training and learn from what her teammates. She tries to give one genuine compliment to one teammate at each practice about something she sees them improving on. I am so proud to call myself a female nordic skier in this country and cannot wait for the rest of the world to continue to see the strength of American female nordic skiing. Many many thanks to Jessie, Sophie and Siri!
Can't wait for coached practice to start this Tuesday!
