Patrick Chan

[Violet Bliss]

4everchan, Patrick had the winning mindset naturally, as does Nathan and most great champions. Unfortunately as he gets older, he gets smarter and realistic. The rational mind starts casting doubts. Since it was innate, he didn't know how to access it because he didn't have to. Over the years he has learned from other great athletes, e.g. He mentioned a baseball great (whose name I, a non baseball fan, forget ) who said he knew he had already won as he stepped on the plate. Patrick resonated with that mindset and presumably wanted to emulate it. He understood what the great athlete talked about.

Once such mindset is not natural and ingrained, it is easier said than done to get it back, or to get it to start with for those who never had it or only have it flickingly like you do. It's exactly like accidental satori quite a few people have experienced but can't get back into it no matter how badly they wish or try. Jim Carrey is one of them.

I remember once, after a banquette with over 500 attendees and during the entertainment, some people left and gave me a handful of ruffle tickets from their table. A few kids then went around to collect tickets left behind. I split the extra tickets with a table mate so I had 6 tickets with me. I got called for a prize and as I was receiving it, I said to the MC, "I will be back." I just felt confident about winning another prize. Numbers were called and I maintained the certainty. Just a tiny bit of doubt eventually crept in but I kept the confidence. Then I caused a stir going up for the second prize, i.e. the next to grand prize. Kids with more tickets were jealous. I think I would have won the grand prize if not for that flicker of doubt. This is just one of the many experiences I have had about clear and certain expectations coming true, some instantly and some requiring patience. However, any forced belief or fake confidence simple will not work. Definitely not what I call desperate optimism. It's a genuine feeling, a knowing. I either take the result for granted even as it seems a miracle to others, or it came as a total surprise when I've forgotten about it. Forgetting means non resistance too.

That's why I say if you don't genuinely believe in something and feel it in your bones, it's best not to create resistance by choosing to dwell on it with hope. Find an alternate goal and belief to focus on, one that would possibly lead you to the desired result. In any case, yes, focus on the moment, which is the process. Do your best step by step. But keep the mind open, for inspirations to better the process, and to receive unexpected goodies. Don't deliberately block the goodies. Don't limit the opportunities and don't dismiss any blessing. Michael Jackson used to work in the wee hours whenever he got an inspiration, sometimes waking his music director up to collaborate. He explained to his exasperated friend, "God gave me this music. If I don't take it, He may give it to Prince."

Act on the inspiration. But you need to be open minded to receive the inspiration.

 

[xeyra]

Damn, 4everchan, that was a really nice post. And I completely agree with your last sentence.

 

[4everchan]

4everchan, Patrick had the winning mindset naturally, as does Nathan and most great champions. Unfortunately as he gets older, he gets smarter and realistic. The rational mind starts casting doubts. Since it was innate, he didn't know how to access it because he didn't have to. Over the years he has learned from other great athletes, e.g. He mentioned a baseball great (whose name I, a non baseball fan, forget ) who said he knew he had already won as he stepped on the plate. Patrick resonated with that mindset and presumably wanted to emulate it. He understood what the great athlete talked about.

Once such mindset is not natural and ingrained, it is easier said than done to get it back, or to get it to start with for those who never had it or only have it flickingly like you do. It's exactly like accidental satori quite a few people have experienced but can't get back into it no matter how badly they wish or try. Jim Carrey is one of them.

I remember once, after a banquette with over 500 attendees and during the entertainment, some people left and gave me a handful of ruffle tickets from their table. A few kids then went around to collect tickets left behind. I split the extra tickets with a table mate so I had 6 tickets with me. I got called for a prize and as I was receiving it, I said to the MC, "I will be back." I just felt confident about winning another prize. Numbers were called and I maintained the certainty. Just a tiny bit of doubt eventually crept in but I kept the confidence. Then I caused a stir going up for the second prize, i.e. the next to grand prize. Kids with more tickets were jealous. I think I would have won the grand prize if not for that flicker of doubt. This is just one of the many experiences I have had about clear and certain expectations coming true, some instantly and some requiring patience. However, any forced belief or fake confidence simple will not work. Definitely not what I call desperate optimism. It's a genuine feeling, a knowing. I either take the result for granted even as it seems a miracle to others, or it came as a total surprise when I've forgotten about it. Forgetting means non resistance too.

That's why I say if you don't genuinely believe in something and feel it in your bones, it's best not to create resistance by choosing to dwell on it with hope. Find an alternate goal and belief to focus on, one that would possibly lead you to the desired result. In any case, yes, focus on the moment, which is the process. Do your best step by step. But keep the mind open, for inspirations to better the process, and to receive unexpected goodies. Don't deliberately block the goodies. Don't limit the opportunities and don't dismiss any blessing. Michael Jackson used to work in the wee hours whenever he got an inspiration, sometimes waking his music director up to collaborate. He explained to his exasperated friend, "God gave me this music. If I don't take it, He may give it to Prince."

Act on the inspiration. But you need to be open minded to receive the inspiration.

VB... you are not understanding what I wrote i don't blame you... it's a long and messy post...


Just a few things... yes ... young kids have this instinct. Most of them do as this kind of focus is NATURAL and accessible to all. I do not believe that some people are more natural than others in reaching that focus. Perhaps some people with attention deficit disorder have an obstacle there.

But the zone is a survival instinct in some ways. It is making you focus entirely on the one most important thing you are doing : performing.

Adrenaline kicks in and you know why artists eat very little before shows??? Because when we are performing, our other systems, digestive and what not, function at a lower rate, as adrenaline becomes the ruler of the entire body. So we eat very little, to make sure we won't be feeling stuffed of full as our metabolism slows down.....

So where I agree with you is that when growing up, people tend to rationalize what was instinctive... Patrick has been doing that at a very young age though. He was in his early 20s when he started to lose focus while performing. He was so far ahead of the game that he still managed to win. However, he didn't always perform to the best of his ability. I say this a a very big fan of Patrick as I do believe that even in some of his best programs, he didn't always reach his full potential.

The flickering I expressed having though is something you misunderstood here... even at my worse right now, I would say that I am in the zone for 90-95% of the time... even more...and when I am not there, it doesn't mean that I am messing up. Keep in mind that skaters have to focus for 4 minutes.... A pianist needs to focus for 90 minutes.
I know how to get back into it and that is the beauty of therapy : that's actually the goal of therapy is to find out why you get out of focus and how to get right back in it, without compromising the quality of your performance.

My issue with Patrick since Sochi is that whenever he has lost his focus, at times, he never gets back in it. At the same time, for knowing how long of a process it is to master this skillset, I am not surprised because he said he just started seeing a sports psychologist in January... well it takes more than a few months.... It took me almost a year to really master it, and I perform way more often than a skater does. How many competitions for Patrick in a normal year... 1 challenger, 3 gps (including GPF) Nationals, 4CC and worlds..... 7 times... that's very little to really work on this aspect of performing.

your story about the banquet and the grand prize : one major difference between performance though... Despite all your self-believe, the factor is exterior to your own control : it is about luck of the draw... not something you do yourself. You can believe in it all you want, that's great. But it has nothing to do with performing.

Well, let's see if Patrick is open minded


As you know, we have talked about this for a while now. I am extra sensitive to this particular aspect of his skating... perhaps because I do not skate myself and cannot relate to technical things. I know two things : musical interpretation... and for this Patrick is #1 in my books because he lives every note through his entire body. That is unreal for an athlete of that caliber. He is unique that way. Nobody else has caught my attention as much as he has, except perhaps the Finns (dancers Rakkamo-Kokko) and Virtue and Moir. Most skaters with good musical interpretation do not feel it with their entire body. They express it with parts of their body, often with facial expression. It's very different and I prefer Patrick's way. I also have an hypothesis of why it might be the case from hearing him play the piano... His playing is not at a high level at all.... and he expressed very little emotion while playing... pianists have a harder time to connect emotionally to their instruments because the sole point of contact is fingertips... compared to singers who have their instrument inside their body... or wind players who blow or string players who actually hold their instruments tightly and feel vibrations from it... but it seems to me that what Patrick is lacking in his piano performance he has conquered as a dancer does conquer music... embodying every part of it....

the other thing i know very well now is performance : how to reach your highest level... how to conquer and defeat anxiety... how to avoid setting yourself up for failure...

What I will always disagree strongly with you is when you say that Patrick is not aiming high enough...referring to him mentioning that he is happy to be in the pack.... we all want Patrick to win and skate well... but right now, saying a thing like I will be # 1 at the Olympic games is not going to agree with the body and the mind. It's something that he has very little control on. Judges will do their jobs. Other skaters will do their jobs....the ice could be a puddle like in Boston... too many things, part of his own history and memory will react against such a statement.

As I have explained, why did i reached the ultimate zone in my last show at first, and then after the intermission it went away briefly??? Because with that great conditions, I was playing better than ever lately.... and that shook things up inside... it's important to acknowledge that it's not only the bad performances but the good ones that can make you flicker in and out of the Zone.... we have seen this often with someone landing their first mega quad and collapsing afterwards.

One of the athletes that have impressed me in the last couple years : Meagan Duhamel... I am not sure at all if she uses NLP or whatever, but both times at worlds, she reached an extreme focus to land her elements... at the same time, she lost focus on her choreography rejoicing in the last 30 minutes haha... can you imagine a musician fist pumping after a Lisztean passage? But I forgive Meagan as she did perform miracles at worlds last year...

But that's the thing... i do believe that Patrick is a work in progress when it comes to dealing with performance anxiety. I actually can see the nerves on his face before he starts skating... It shows how great of a skater he is, to be able to still manage what he does despite the struggles... but I am not yet convinced that he has mastered this skill yet....changing a whole mindset takes time... even for a world champion

Can he get it done for 2018... definitely... but only if he is realistic about how to proceed about it... then... we will see if he can focus on what he is doing and nothing else. I will give you a last parallel... this last concert I played... at the intermission I told my colleague : I am really feeling it today... she said me too... we are really in the moment... and then she said : but I hear so many people coughing... i have to make sure I keep my focus... and i said... i haven't heard a single cough... and that's the thing.... when in the zone, there could be a thousand people coughing at once in the concert hall and I wouldn't hear it... this is the kind of focus I wish for Patrick.

 

[vivley]

Vivley, that's why I'm excited that Patrick has decided on his own to be competitive again. I'm very glad it's his authentic decision and not due to expectation and pressures from others. And I also hope he has the conviction and commitment but not the attachment to his goal achievements.

May it be as you say, VB. Whatever he decides to do, I want him to do it from his own convictions and because it is what makes him happy.

What surprises me is that Patrick didn't do this kind of work early on in his career.... especially after Sochi or even in preparation for it.

Remember the Icenetwork interview last fall where he said "no one" had ever suggested that he should go see a sports psychologist or work on his mental focus? I was incredulous when I heard that. But now I hope he prepares for the Olympics this way .

For instance, some performers have told that when they play contemporary (and highly dissonant music) they feel more confident because practically nobody in the audience can hear their mistakes.... this is related also to expectations : audience is not expected to notice mistakes... then performer doubts less and performs with more ease..

Lol, I would be the same way. Perhaps this is why it's somewhat less stressful to perform in a choir rather than as a soloist.

Patrick wants to skate well.... that's all... the rest is up to the others. He can only control what he does and not what the others do.

I want Patrick to experience pride that comes from the humblest place. Knowing that you work hard and well, and perform to your abilities, without any other agenda than just skating for the love of it, to share his artistry with the world.. from there can come the best performances, and the right kind of pride, the one based on genuine, humble, soulful dedication.

THIS. This is what I want for him as well! If he can consistently skate this way - just skating his heart out every time - being sure of who he is as a skater - the effect will be palpable on the audience, the judges, everyone. He will win even if he doesn't get on the podium! It will be a moral victory - the kind that will move hearts and not just points.

All i hope for Patrick is that he finds his inner peace.

As hard as it may be, I want him to skate from the place of inner peace and joy without being distracted by who is doing what. I know he is working on this, but he is still prone to getting frustrated when things don't work out as planned. I think he will have more peace when he focuses on what he does well instead of where he falls short.

Find an alternate goal and belief to focus on, one that would possibly lead you to the desired result. In any case, yes, focus on the moment, which is the process. Do your best step by step. But keep the mind open, for inspirations to better the process, and to receive unexpected goodies.

I think a good goal for Patrick to focus on overall would be the open-ended goal of just competing to learn and to take his skating as far as it can go - for himself. This way, he is not competing with anyone except himself. Also, instead of looking at every competition as a chance to be better than others (being one-up or one-down), he can look at it as merely a learning experience and just another opportunity to put what he learned into practice on the ice. Then he can have lots of fun as he experiments with things. After all, he claimed that he added the 4S just for fun.

The key to this is being motivated purely by a desire to learn and to improve himself, without comparing himself to his competitors' results or even trends in the sport. Why was he born to be a figure skater in such a challenging (and exciting) time? He needs to have a strong, secure sense of who he is and what he represents to the sport.

when in the zone, there could be a thousand people coughing at once in the concert hall and I wouldn't hear it... this is the kind of focus I wish for Patrick.

Me too. BTW, like Patrick I was forced to learn piano for several years. I once tried to perform an arrangement to a soundtrack that I created, but I found it very difficult to maintain focus and my mind would literally blank out in between sections. And this was supposed to be easy! I have found that I focus much better while singing.




Okay, after that long reply, here's a nice piece of artwork of Patrick:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRmxbKShHn3/

 

[Violet Bliss]

I, too, always pay attention to Patrick's demeanor before the start of a program and it usually gives me a good idea of what to expect. His father once said that when Patrick had the fire in his eyes when starting a competitive performance, watch out. Competitive skating is an extremely mental game, over 90% I'd say and maybe more as stated by some including Patrick IIRC.

I certainly know the effect of focusing well. My table tennis game is all about the mind as I often get bigger, stronger, and much better trained opponents totally blindsided or into awkward defenseless positions. Much hated by macho men who then refuse to play the little old lady. I've also always been a speed learner, breezing through school without studying and sliding through university with two majors and two minors in three years with only 30 minutes each day available for study outside the classroom and lab. I passed licensing exams with high marks with two days of studies which took most people months. I aced my CFP courses in 13 months because the last of the 6 courses required full 6 months of formal process so I couldn't just register for two exams at every available date as I did the first 5 courses. The secret? Focus. However, one day I realized I had developed a bad habit of snacking when I needed to focus on reading and learning as I recalled my preparation for intense study included getting munchies ready by my side as I wouldn't get up for the next couple of hours. It is part of the ritual I try to get rid of.

Also, when the schedule of getting something done is extremely, almost impossibly, tight, I never rush but focus on getting it done carefully and perfectly as any required correction would definitely screw up the timing, not to mention possible accident in case of driving urgently to a very important event with no minute to spare.

Now of course I realize it's about getting into the alpha brain wave. That is for total and productive focus. No multi tasking. In even slower theta state, it's pure Zone as one is taken over and there is no concept of effort or time. I think Patrick has described such an experience too. The ending of the performance is like waking up from a dreamlike state and realizing it's done and over. It's possible to be in this state even with mistakes. Kurt Browning joked about finishing a program and wondering if he had fallen then realizing his butt was wet.

I wasn't aware of my focusing ability but later in life know about it as a learnable skill like 4verchan has acquired. :thumbsup: I think a difference about competitive skating from most performing arts is the high risk of a physically and mentally jolting mistake making refocusing more difficult. And Singles skaters have no partner, unlike Pairs and Dancers, and musicians with their instruments. There is also no ball to fixate on like some sports. I imagine if I were a skater, I would focus on the music and make it my partner.

Haha, I thought I had posted this but was distracted by what's happening in the Chinese fed. Talk about loss of focus.

 

[4everchan]

nice post vivley

very very nice artwork of young patrick skating to elegie... oh i loved that shirt

 

[Violet Bliss]

Remember the Icenetwork interview last fall where he said "no one" had ever suggested that he should go see a sports psychologist or work on his mental focus? I was incredulous when I heard that.

Actually Patrick did not believe in and refused sport psychologists. He used to rely on talking with his father to find strength and wisdom. When he could not land his quads in competition like he did in practice, he sought to talk to Brian Boitano. He said as a competitive skater himself, Brian instantly understood his problem, which was the fear of disappointing his supporters. Patrick started landing his quads in competitions right away and the rest is history. (It was another insight that got him to instantly land the 4T successfully in practice. Such is the power of the mind. As I believe, a moment of insight is worth a life time of experience.)

So until recently, Patrick actually did not believe that sport psychologists could help him as much as he knew the importance of mental strength and had been learning through experiences, with his coaches and through learning about other great and inspiring athletes. But he is finally open to try different venues to help his game, especially the mental one. I think a good sport psychologist would try to use his own past brilliant successes as mental models to rekindle. He may needs other guidance too but hopefully they don't over complicate things.

 

[4everchan]

I wasn't aware of my focusing ability but later in life know about it as a learnable skill like 4verchan has acquired. :thumbsup: I think a difference about competitive skating from most performing arts is the high risk of a physically and mentally jolting mistake making refocusing more difficult. And Singles skaters have no partner, unlike Pairs and Dancers, and musicians with their instruments. There is also no ball to fixate on like some sports. I imagine if I were a skater, I would focus on the music and make it my partner.

Haha, I thought I had posted this but was distracted by what's happening in the Chinese fed. Talk about loss of focus.

VB.. you still misunderstood my point LOL.... focusing for studying or whatever is not the same thing... I never studied, skipped grades at school as well.. did degrees in less the amount of time (for instance did one normal semester of University in one summer month) etc... this is not the same..

Focusing while being in a performance and being watched by people is different.

When writing an exam, you get into a drive of adrenaline and focus... however, you can, as needed, stop, take the time to verify an answer, ask yourself a question or just simply pause quickly to breathe.

BTW The kind of focus that I am talking about is exactly the opposite of ending a performance and just realizing it's over... that's exactly the kind of LACK of focus that creates bad performances... when a skater simply relies on their training and hopes for the best, blinded by nerves and only hoping that reflexes will kick in... This can lead to sometimes good performances but also terrible ones.... and can exactly leave you on the ice, injured.

The kind of focus a performer needs allows the performer to be conscious of every single move made, as if every move was a conscious and wanted decision.

I never said I learned to focus and that I acquired that later in life. Everyone is focused to a certain degree. What I said, is that I learned to keep focused in high stress performance as that's when your brain and body have coping mechanisms and over/undercompensate. What I have learned is to treat the event as something I am ready for and therefore, keep myself available for the performance, and keep myself aware that i am in the moment. What I have learned is that it is NORMAL to get out of focus briefly and it is not the end of the world as you can regain that focus right away if you know how....

Before, i worked with a performance anxiety specialist and a NLP specialist, I was fine on stage... but if ever i lost the zone, i would make way more of a mess than needed, wouldn't "go for it" and be cautious... or wouldn't be as emotionally open with the audience... when i had a good day, i could be great... when i had a so so day, i was fine but not so great and if I had a terrible day, I wanted to hide after the show...

Now, i can deal with any kind of condition, and regain access to the zone... that's the difference here... everyone can reach the zone but who can keep it long enough to succeed the task at hand? Again a piano recital, from memory, 90 minutes of so many combined movements is something that is out of this world difficult. Neurologists have studied it : the brain activity of such a task is match by none other. It is such a complex performance.

Perhaps figure skaters or ping pong ladies do not need such extreme focus... they surely do not need it for that long. So perhaps my experience doesn't apply to skating. Regarding partners or instruments... trust me a piano is not always a great friend.... especially a bad one... A skater's instrument is his blades.

I do perform both with partners and without. The synergy is different. I find it easier to perform alone as I can control the performance entirely. When a partner makes a mistake or when yourself make a mistake, there is always a moment of disruption as there is a slight doubt about how both partners will be affected or not by the mishap and how they will regain the zone together...

The one thing i will happily agree with you is that whenever I have screwed up a passage in a piano piece, i didn't land on a cold and wet surface nor did i injure myself... however the emotional wounds can hurt just as much. You have no idea how many of my friends no longer perform because of that.

Nothing to do with writing exams that will be evaluated by someone else at another time.... you are in front of the public... you meet them afterwards... and they have even paid to hear you... and if I don't play well, I may not get hired again... it's a very difficult life.... in other realms of work, if I make a mistake or hesitate, I can most likely correct myself or investigate further... not when your work is happening live....

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

VB, I have to agree with 4everchan here.

As a former elite figure skater myself, when one relies totally on something like muscle memory and checks out mentally for most of the performance, it usually doesn't end well.

Because I am one of those that always focused on artistry and was trained to make sure every last finger placement and every edge was perfection, there is no room to blank out and ride on the seat of ones pants for lack of better terminology.

 

[Violet Bliss]

VB, I have to agree with 4everchan here.

As a former elite figure skater myself, when one relies totally on something like muscle memory and checks out mentally for most of the performance, it usually doesn't end well.

Because I am one of those that always focused on artistry and was trained to make sure every last finger placement and every edge was perfection, there is no room to blank out and ride on the seat of ones pants for lack of better terminology.

Au contraire, instead of checking out mentally, it's all about total focus, being in the moment, here and now. There is no time, past or future. It's the ultimate performance by artists and athletes when they are lost in the performance. There is nothing else in their mind but the current moment.

There is a difference between training and performing and competing. Often I see pingpong players overly focused on their techniques and slow reacting. They are always practicing a technique and seeking a solution when they miss a shot. I tell them a game is different from practice and training. Don't think, react with confidence. The muscles will follow the mind. Focus on what you want the ball to do. Do the thinking when the game is not on, like preparing to serve. Almost always their game instantly shoots up in level. It's like driving. Once you are an experienced driver, you focus on the road and the happening, not not on your hand and feet, the pedals and the steering wheel. The car will go where your eyes and mind go.

I would advice a figure skater to compete everyday, in training, in nutrition, in getting good sleep and rest, in practice and learning, in managing stress and health, etc. But on the day of the competition, don't compete. Perform the best program you know you can. Forget about placements, other skaters, ISU points, supporters, judges, personal and national glory, etc. Forget everything but focus on the moment and every note of the music and just perform the well practiced program with optimally maintained health. This is not checking out.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Au contraire, instead of checking out mentally, it's all about total focus, being in the moment, here and now. There is no time, past or future. It's the ultimate performance by artists and athletes when they are lost in the performance. There is nothing else in their mind but the current moment.

There is a difference between training and performing and competing. Often I see pingpong players overly focused on their techniques and slow reacting. They are always practicing a technique and seeking a solution when they miss a shot. I tell them a game is different from practice and training. Don't think, react with confidence. The muscles will follow the mind. Focus on what you want the ball to do. Do the thinking when the game is not on, like preparing to serve. Almost always their game instantly shoots up in level. It's like driving. Once you are an experienced driver, you focus on the road and the happening, not not on your hand and feet, the pedals and the steering wheel. The car will go where your eyes and mind go.

I would advice a figure skater to compete everyday, in training, in nutrition, in getting good sleep and rest, in practice and learning, in managing stress and health, etc. But on the day of the competition, don't compete. Perform the best program you know you can. Forget about placements, other skaters, ISU points, supporters, judges, personal and national glory, etc. Forget everything but focus on the moment and every note of the music and just perform the well practiced program with optimally maintained health. This is not checking out.

We do what you mentioned every day. We live and breathe our sport. Also, you have to understand that figure skating is not ping pong. I'm done trying to explain what it's like on the inside to you. Toodles.

 

[4everchan]

Au contraire, instead of checking out mentally, it's all about total focus, being in the moment, here and now. There is no time, past or future. It's the ultimate performance by artists and athletes when they are lost in the performance. There is nothing else in their mind but the current moment.

i just want to address this point

To perform perfectly well, the immediate future is the most important. You have to want to do something and order it just slightly before it happens. You have to sort of hear the music in your head before you play it... so performers are always in the immediate future, conscious of ordering to the brain and body a set of precise actions which will then be executed. There is almost no present. That's the hardest thing to learn.. since you used driving further down i would use it here but to show how when driving, you are supposed to be focused on what is happening ahead of you... not where you are, not where you have been... for instance, is this light turning red? Is this cat crossing the road?

perhaps it is semantics but "lost in a performance" is certainly not a term I would use. It's a romanticized way to seeing performance.

To get back to Patrick, one event, I don't remember which one it was but it was pre sochi, he said, i focused on each element, one after the other. He had skated cleanly. That's a bit more like it. It's actually silly to say but it's almost going through a recipe and following it strictly.... when you do follow all the steps perfectly, then your cake will rise... and you can eat it

remember my avatar of Patrick Chan in my bday cake? I got my Cake and ate it

 

[Violet Bliss]

To get back to Patrick, one event, I don't remember which one it was but it was pre sochi, he said, i focused on each element, one after the other. He had skated cleanly.

That's my point. Total focus, not checking out.

When I play table tennis, I get my speed from getting quickly to where the ball will land and immediately sending it where I intend, usually where it's least expected and where the opponent is least prepared for it. So you may say I'm a little ahead too as I reach for the ball before it lands. I don't stay back to pull up the ball from down low and get my speed from force and power. That's for the big power players. Of course I stay back a bit more when blocking and returning smashing shots. Too far back the angles will get too wide and the area to cover too big for me. See there is all the thinking and strategizing according to my physical conditions and skills, but during the game I focus on the moment, watching the ball, reading the other player's body language, and reacting fast with minimal movements. Overthinking almost always results in a mistake for all players.

 

[4everchan]

That's my point. Total focus, not checking out.

When I play table tennis, I get my speed from getting quickly to where the ball will land and immediately sending it where I intend, usually where it's least expected and where the opponent is least prepared for it. So you may say I'm a little ahead too as I reach for the ball before it lands. I don't stay back to pull up the ball from down low and get my speed from force and power. That's for the big power players. Of course I stay back a bit more when blocking and returning smashing shots. Too far back the angles will get too wide and the area to cover too big for me. See there is all the thinking and strategizing according to my physical conditions and skills, but during the game I focus on the moment, watching the ball, reading the other player's body language, and reacting fast with minimal movements. Overthinking almost always results in a mistake for all players.

VB : i think that the difference here is that you are reacting to an opponent. it's a different kind of brain organization. it's not less important but it doesn't apply to choreography that is planned ahead of time like what a skater or pianist does. I know where i am going at all times. I have repeated it a billion times.... but i need to still order it properly. In your sport, it's a different task altogether...

I think that's why we are not 100% agreeing... however, we are easily agreeing on one thing: GO PATRICK

 

[vivley]

nice post vivley

very very nice artwork of young patrick skating to elegie... oh i loved that shirt

Me too, it was a very nice costume...

Actually Patrick did not believe in and refused sport psychologists. He used to rely on talking with his father to find strength and wisdom. When he could not land his quads in competition like he did in practice, he sought to talk to Brian Boitano.

But he is finally open to try different venues to help his game, especially the mental one. I think a good sport psychologist would try to use his own past brilliant successes as mental models to rekindle. He may needs other guidance too but hopefully they don't over complicate things.

I know, he didn't believe in sports psychologists because Mr. Colson didn't believe in them. Perhaps this longtime refusal to see their benefit caused him to tune out anyone who may have suggested that he might need a mental coach, especially after Sochi. I'm glad he's open to learning from them now.





So the countdown to Worlds begins! I created a GIF of his quad from GPF:

https://twitter.com/PCSkatingFan/status/844794651987009536

I will be posting a GIF daily and working on my preview blog post this weekend. Cheers!

 

[4everchan]

Me too, it was a very nice costume...



I know, he didn't believe in sports psychologists because Mr. Colson didn't believe in them. Perhaps this longtime refusal to see their benefit caused him to tune out anyone who may have suggested that he might need a mental coach, especially after Sochi. I'm glad he's open to learning from them now.





So the countdown to Worlds begins! I created a GIF of his quad from GPF:

https://twitter.com/PCSkatingFan/status/844794651987009536

I will be posting a GIF daily and working on my preview blog post this weekend. Cheers!

well... to me he needed one... i thought he was having one.. anyways.. never too late to do good

nice gif... if you run out of ideas... send him the unicorn photochan bbhill has made... HEHE it's a winner like our boy

 

[deedee1]

Honestly, as I like both Patrick and Shoma, I'd be happy with that but i just wish for Patrick to skate well... medals don't matter and if he is going to get a medal, let it be at the Olympics next year rather than at worlds this year if the skating gods are granting us two medals for Patrick... then fine hahah go go go!!!!!

That would be something. People used to be so upset about Patrick's scores/wins, but now he is the one in the shadows that few people expect to medal. It would be lovely if he medaled or won, but as long as he skates well, I'll be happy.

 

[Violet Bliss]

VB : i think that the difference here is that you are reacting to an opponent. it's a different kind of brain organization. it's not less important but it doesn't apply to choreography that is planned ahead of time like what a skater or pianist does. I know where i am going at all times. I have repeated it a billion times.... but i need to still order it properly. In your sport, it's a different task altogether...

I think that's why we are not 100% agreeing... however, we are easily agreeing on one thing: GO PATRICK

I think in essence we may be mostly in agreement. What I talk about is no different from Patrick's oft mentioned coaches' advice: Trust your training. My take is the same, all the training and preparation is done. At the competition it's about forgetting the pressure and let it rip, naturally. I believe Patrick knows more about winning and performance much more than we do. It's just that he is not always consciously aware of his mental techniques or how to access his mental power at will. It may take some pointers from his mentors for him to understand and organize his innate knowledge. I believe in Patrick and the winner in him.

Methods and techniques are vastly different but similar mental attitudes are applicable in all kinds of challenging life situations. Hesitation into a jump or about an attack in other sports usually leads to a failure just as hesitation often leads to missed opportunities in life. Often the most beautiful and incredible shot or skating jump is executed instinctually and automatically like some brilliant quick reactions in life. Very successful business people usually trust their well honed instincts.

There is a rhythm to everything in in this world and in life, and Patrick is a rhythm skater and jumper. Therefore keeping that rhythm is of supreme importance to his success, even if sometimes it has to be regained during a program, just as refocusing is often necessary during a performance, a game, or an endeavor in life. (No time out for a skating or piano performance though. ) Rhythm also requires relaxed focus, the basic principle I always stress and is applicable to all kinds of successful undertakings.

The re-arrangement of Patrick's LP layout is an attempt in getting a better rhyme for him and I hope it improves the success rate of his major jumps. I wonder if there is any re-arrangement of the music by Eric.

Yes, we are all 100% behind GO PATRICK GO!

 

[vivley]

nice gif... if you run out of ideas... send him the unicorn photochan bbhill has made... HEHE it's a winner like our boy

Thank you. If only I could animate photochan...




Skate Canada just posted that the Canadian team is headed to Finland:

https://twitter.com/SkateCanada/status/844983465615511554

Of course, Patrick may not fly there until early next week...




BTW, has anyone downloaded the Helsinki 2017 phone app yet?

https://twitter.com/helsinki_2017/status/844575817736884225

 

[vivley]

Oooh! Patrick is on this page of the official World Championships site!

http://www.helsinki2017.com/media

Nice!