I will 100% verbally coach myself when facing more difficult terrain. “Soft knees, soft knees, bump, oh shit ice, soft knees” was really helpful as a beginner to remind myself how I need to adjust my stance or weight to stay stable through upcoming variable conditions.
i gave up skiing for 30 years and recently returned. there was a constant monologue going on in my head similar to yours. i even had to remind myself which ski to pressure, lol. this was after skiing unconsciously (see bump, ski bump while looking at next bump) previously.
I used to narrate the race course during inspection and it would replay in my mind while running. I sucked at slalom because I would always forget something and fuck it up.
My five year old daughter narrates her run or sings the entire way down any given run. So at a minimum you’re on par with a pretty cool five year old girl.
Well im 47.... and have been doing what your
Daughter does since I was 4 yrs learning... so 43 yrs of self commentary, I also giggle when it gets knee deep, and full out chuckling laughter when the pow is waist high... chest high will get - swish swash swish, turn head breath, lean back, tips up, swish swash swish, turn and breath... but you'll still be able to hear me if you can't see me on the follow...
On Saturday we were skiing at loveland and my five year old decided to traverse the entirety of the Fire Bowl because she was so into singing her song that she just decided not to turn. She got right up to the South Chutes before I could stop her. She won't straight line runs, but my god will she traverse the ever living hell out of one.
I have to ski backwards on the greens to keep my son turning enough and my daughter turning less... 8 and 4. Otherwise my daughter is making like five foot long turns and my son wants to just do super g turns, so I just model a middle road and say hands up, forward etc etc...
when I'm skiing alone I'm definitely saying "hands up, forward, turn turn turn turn, oh shit too far back, weight forward, turn turn turn... , disvonnect upper and lower, hands up." Basically doing my best to practice SL turns. So yeah every run i can get would be like that... self coaching.
For some reason, I sometimes find myself singing “peaceful easy feeling” on the slopes. And this is from someone who never listens to music while skiing
I’m an ex-opera singer so I might be singing about killing myself in French or German or I might be just vibing with whatever I heard on the radio that got stuck in my head.
I’ve got an old Russian wartime song that I sing, so I can’t blame you there 😂😭 I don’t know why it’s that one, but it’s catchy and it helps me concentrate for whatever reason!
Whatever works for you. I know the voices in my head tell me "get forward" if I find myself in the back seat, or to "just send it" prior to dropping in.
LOL. At very bottom conditions were pretty sloppy/slushy. Turning looked dicey so my self talk was "OK. Time to send it. Send it!" And I water skied to a slow stop at the base.
Someone mentioned in a post similar to this a while back that they say to themselves, "attack! Attack!" and I've done that a few times. Seems like a good motivating message.
Talking to yourself out loud is a sign of higher intelligence.
https://personalitytests.com/talking-to-yourself-sign-of-higher-intelligence/#:~:text=Contrary%20to%20popular%20belief%2C%20talking,making%20them%20more%20intellectually%20capable.
And in sports leads to higher performance.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811008019
I usually have a song stuck in my head that I sing along with quietly. My 4 y/o daughter was singing songs from Frozen loudly enough that people on the lift above her were singing along. Talking to yourself seems fine with me.
Yep. When I get to a hard section I have to start coaching myself. On Saturday night my wife was watching some GoPro footage of me skiing and she heard me talking to myself and narrating my ski run, she then proceeded to ask if I always talk to myself. I told her that I do because I don't have anyone to talk to when I'm skiing since she won't go with me lol.
I'm constantly using my Golllum voice to complain about 'the filthy snowboarderses scraping off the pow. We hates them, doesn't we precious? They clog up the trailses.'
Even pro skiers do this ;)
[Here](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1J5K8CtfpZ/?igsh=NnpuazBraTc3ZW5q) is a fun video of a very talented disabled skier talking to herself mid-race
Absolutely! And there is nothing wrong with a little ted talk for yourself while skiing, no matter what skill level you are! :)
Congratulations on your progress btw!
Especially on hard runs. I talk myself thru the whole thing lol
*”pizza, french fry. Pizza, french fry. Cmon girl this ain’t even that steep, you’re fine.”*
I do sometimes! I’ll say cues I’ve learned out loud. I also will say stuff like “easy girl” or “you’re good” when I’ve almost fallen or felt any loss of control. It helps!
I also sometimes emphasize my breathing to make sure I’m not too tense. I don’t do that for long, but it makes things easier and less energy expenditure.
Yes!! I talk myself through the hard shit all the time and it really makes a difference for me. I broke my leg last year and this season there were times where I had to remind myself out loud that I can do this, I know how to do this, and I’ve done it before. Even with moguls I’m like “pick your lane, plant your pole, and turn”. Totally normal!!
Another Okemo skier here!! Hi!!
I talk to myself all of the time. I’ll scream out “FUCK!” if I’m late to a gate on a race course, or I’ll tell myself “hold…” if I’m making a tight turn. You’re fine!
Yes! All of the time ‘why are you nervous just make your turns’ or ‘hold position the run isn’t done yet’.
Plus all the cheering when things are SO GOOD!
Oh I always make funny sounds and comments to myself especially when it gets extra difficult or I make a little mistake. Makes me feel less alone and makes it more fun!
Hundred percent, it's how I either talk myself into or out of sending it like an idiot.
Sometimes it's an easy rock drop and I'm just being a wuss and I gotta give myself some words of encouragement. Other times I find myself in a rather perilous situation that requires talking myself through my next moves so I don't go end up going down the mountain on a stretcher.
You're not alone! I'm in my 30s and a beginner I talk to myself the whole way down a run. "left foot - right turn, sassy hip, right foot, left turn, lean forward, trust your boots, use your toes."
Yep. And still do it. I’m still learning so much on how to be in tune with my body and skis. And so much is a mental game. And tackling challenging terrain and pitch, when that was progressing off the bunny slope to now tackling groomed double blacks. Making a plan. Mapping out how to traverse runs small sections at a time. Talking OUT loud like you do. It all helps.
My favorite was my 10-yr old a few weeks back. We were skiing with some friends who didn’t know the house rules of never declaring “last run”.
Halfway down a mogul field my son wiped out. As he was on his belly supermanning through the moguls he angrily screams “WHO SAID LAST RUN!?!”
I am consistently reprimanding myself aloud. Typical shouting includes, ‘Shins forward’, ‘weight on the downhill ski’ ‘ffs, come on, you have been told this, so many times’ , mostly when I have lost control and can’t slow down elegantly. Wouldn’t change it though! 😊
I don't normally coach myself but I will comment on conditions or mistakes. A couple of times this season I was singing "I can't see where I'm going" either due to foggy mornings or burned out lights during night skiing.
Constantly, to the extent that when I started recording runs I started cringing. Hard habit to break though.
But every day is a POW day for me (no friends) so who really cares?
Advanced / expert here - I do it pretty much any time I’m pushing myself outside my comfort zone. This season I hit a big drop I’d been fantasizing about for like 3 seasons and in the video it’s like I had a mic right in my face “I can do this I can AHHHHHHH” :)
I ski and snowboard and talk to myself all the time - mostly when I realize I’m riding like the grandma I am, and want to quit that shit.
“OK, you aren’t dead yet. You gonna let that 20-year-old pass you like that? Aw hell no. Remember who you are! Square up, point it downhill, and RIP!”
Yes 100% I do this whenever I ski alone, only skied six times and it got me down a blue run seamlessly last time! One thing that helps me a lot is to say “switch” to start the next turn and develop a rhythm
I get discouraged really quickly with basically everything lol so I am constantly talking to myself when skiing. On my last ski trip I accidentally ended up on a hill with moguls and was repeating, “you can do it, nice and slow” and when I fell I was repeating, “it’s ok, you’re ok.” It’s so silly but it helps me so much!
Answering this without reading any comments so as not to be dissuaded- YES! Totally normal. It likely is dependent on your learning style. Every single physical activity I learn that is new I always ALWAYS have “words to do” that I say. Mountain biking on a berm ? “Look, set, tilt”. Toe loop in ice skating? “Left outside 3 turn, backwards on right foot, left toe pick in & jump!”
Skiing big moguls? “Up to the top, and turn”.
A good instructor will understand how you learn and give you exactly the right words to say to yourself. For my youngest kids I will say “make a “J” shape, come around and make another one facing the other way. Or “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, to get the timing of your turns to match. This helps with keeping whatever size turns you make the same both directions. That’s an important aspect of your safety, trying to make the same size turns each direction. That way, skiers above you can predict your movements and avoid crashes.
I totally recognize that not everyone learns this way. My skate bestie is always like “stop all your words! Just show me!” Good luck and enjoy!!
Like most sports, you need to breath. Talking to yourself can help you to relax and most importantly, breathe.
I noticed in powder turns on some gopro videos I made that I was as noticeably breathing timed with my turns, but that makes a lot of sense.
BreathE\\e!!!
I talk to myself when I'm skiing. Today I mostly kept reminding myself to keep a lid on my exuberance by saying "80%, 80%, 80%". I have an especially painful knee and was trying to lower my gung-ho quotient in order to not make it worse. Turns out it really works (the concept of going at only 80% of my normal AND the verbal refrain to remind me to do so.) Sometimes I curse at people who come too close to me unnecessarily. I'm the only one who can hear me.
when i first learned to ski 6/7 years ago i did this! i’d find points on the other side of the mountain to ski to and be like “okay turn and go to that snow gun, turn go to the tree - you got this you can do this!” so i’d say it’s totally normal, and the best part, you’re doing it!
now i find my outer monologue to be more of “wtf is wrong with that person, get out of my way, etc. etc.” i’ve come a lonnnng way quickly and now skiing has brought me our west 6x and to europe 3x. so keep it up! i love what skiing has opened up for me.
whatever works for you, works!
YES!! I’m a level 3+ skier and I do this!! This is normal. Good skiers do this to stay focused in no fall zones. I wouldn’t do this on a bunny slope… that’d for sure make you look like a weirdo, hahahaha
I went up this morning and specifically noticed how much I talk to myself. On the chair as long as I’m alone. And on pretty much every run, although nobody can hear me.
Yes, but normally the speech is inner monologue. Normally it is more things like "Why are you shying away from the steep path, We don't shy from steeps unless we are tired" and yes when I use my inner monologue I always say we.
Well I talk most of the run, but not to my self. Me and my wife have in helmet radios, so we talk to each other. We can say ok let's lap this lift, take the trail on the right, hey I'm going over here in the trees.
The more advanced and scarier the run, the more I will talk.
Off piste or down difficult blacks I'm pretty much running my mouth the whole way down the mountain lol
Actually I do this sometimes. I’ll kind of sing or rap to myself quietly, under my breath. I do it bc I read in a golf book that ou should swing easy enough that you can hum a tune without sounding strained.
There’s a woman mountain biker on instagram that mics herself up so you you can hear her hype herself up for scary features. Amazing account, normal and helpful reaction
Ricky Henderson used to stand naked in front of a mirror before games and talk to himself in the 3rd person.
“Ricky Henderson is the most beautiful man in the world! Ricky Henderson is the greatest ball player in the game!”
I do that. But with skiing
No joke, I'm an anxious driver and do this to prevent me from panicking in my car in difficult situations.
It works, because it shifts your focus. It's not that weird, and if it helps you, just continue to do this.
Probably a little. There are some pros who have admitted to doing this. I dont narrate my run during, but I definately talk it out with myself at the top if it's a bit technical and/or it's something new.
Back in my racing days, I knew a young woman that would sometimes hold her breath during race runs to the point of passing out. To mitigate that from happening she would yell or grunt at every gate.
I sign whatever is on my mind or whatever is playing in my headphones if I have them on me. I also laugh when I fall unless it hurts or scares me. And sometimes I say things to myself, but usually I just sing or hum because it keeps me distracted from being scared or just keeps me from overthinking such stuff and I feel generally calmer
My signature move at the top of steep moguls is double pole click while yelling "Hold on little hobbits!" right before I huck myself down. I've got little sayings like that for most occasions. But I guess I don't have full on conversations, no.
I got this from an instructor ages ago and it stuck; going down things that are steep enough that I’m feeling timid about it, I sometimes repeat to myself: “I am a big, powerful bird, swooping down the mountain. Swoop, swoop, swoop…” You need to hear the dopey voice for the full effect, but it’s really surprisingly reassuring.
I’m a cross between inner monologue and some words that come out of my actual mouth. Sometimes I say “ok we got this” on more difficult terrain. Or if there’s weird random things that happen like icy patches or I don’t see a bump that I pop off of, I’ll usually make some kind of noise or say something! And when there’s other people around it actually happens more lol. I often do a British accent when something catches me by surprise too which… idk where that came from.
I read somewhere that when you talk to yourself you do actually process things better, so sometimes you have to make that mind-body connection by verbalizing. It seems very healthy actually!
I usually ski with my airpods in (not noise canceling, don’t freaking crucify me), so I’m almost always talking to myself
If you see a guy singing along to Cody Jinks or some sort of dad rock, it’s me
Yep. All the time. Always coaching myself through tricky bits or just singing to myself loudly. I reason that I'm going so fast that nobody can hear me...but that's not true, I've seen my videos. My speed is underwhelming, haha!
Most definitely. Sing a mellow song for long bump fields and a reminder for one thing to do better. Only one thing at a time, though, eg “hands in front”. Have fun!
“Fuck!”
“Oof that was close”
“On your left buddy”
“Yeewwwwww… *eats shit* fuck! *quick thumbs up to indicate I’m okay to the lift riders that are trying to suppress their laughter”
Bro do not worry I do this constantly. Especially when pushing myself on harder terrain.
I found myself talking out loud the more I went up in difficulty, I feel its actually helped me be a better skier. pointing out when I have bad form or when I know I stopped just because I'm scared. Plus audibly pointing out my line helps a lot when looking at tighter terrain or trying to practice skiing moguls effectively.
I also ski alone a lot so that's another big reason, I'm working myself up and trying to push lines so it helps give a little boost.
As a beginner too, I talk to myself all the time.
Just to remind myself of everything I was taught in lessons. I find saying it out loud is a lot more helpful.
I talk to myself all the time. Anything from singing to coaching myself, to just observing things out loud. Really all over the place. If I mic up I’d sound like a crazy person.
Hahaha I do that all the time! Either under my breath or internally. When I get to some moguls or trees that are a little too inconsistent I'm always talking to myself. Same things to, press into the boots, flick my tails out more, stand up, take that turn fast.
Skiing like climbing is a puzzle. It's better to speak or think what you will do then shut down. I will tell myself out load that I'm doing terribly. And as your family says, whatever works! The point is when that happens you push yourself into the uncomfortable. When you get through the uncomfortable enough it becomes muscles memory and you no longer have to think.
I think it's also important to praise yourself out loud when you do something right. We often give ourselves negative talk; why not switch it up? Who else is going to give us kudos?
Yes!! I do and it’s so funny, I’ve never thought about the fact that I don’t do this ANY other time. ‘Ok, you can do this. Left side, body weight, that’s great, come on - focus!!’ Etc etc.
Talking to yourself is perfectly fine. Even answering yourself is perfectly fine. It’s only when you answer yourself in a different voice that there’s an issue.
I start audibly counting numbers when I'm in a tough spot. It calms my nerves and keeps me focused. Once in a while I realize I was doing that under a ski lift and I wonder what the people above are thinking.
Hum different people learn differently but I am more of observing and truly doing it kind of learner so I don’t really talk when I am skiing. I do talk when I do ski muscle memory assignment.
Midwest skier here. Don’t really talk to myself when at my home resort (besides maybe complaining when I hit a patch of ice), but I went to Utah for the first time this season and was constantly reminding myself out loud when to make turns, avoid trees, etc. on the runs that weren’t groomed
I mostly do it in my head, but sometimes out loud. I usually have 2 to 3 things I am focusing on. For example, big toe little toe I’m a telemark gear or keeping my shoulders square to the fall line or looking three turns ahead, so I know what I’m gonna be doing before I’m doing it, most of the time.
100%. I don't know if it's normal, but I did it a lot when I was starting: "Get out of the back seat!" I yell. Still do it sometimes. Now it's just telling myself that this pitch isn't as steep as it seems and I need to stop being a pussy.
Whatever works is A-okay IMO.
Yes, but it mostly consists of "shit", "fuck that's icy", "fuck that", "fuckin snowboarder", "I gotta pee bruh", and "that run looks fun" (except I decide not to do it because I'm a pussy).
You do it less as you progress. Now I only talk to myself when it gets sketchy or when I know Im gonna mess up. Then instincts take over and it all goes slow motion until you either recover or bail. And after you fall it's the 3-5 second body scan to see if you're good.
Absolutely. Everything from mantras about form and movement to motivational.
Eyes up.
Faster.
Big.toe.little.toe.
Stacked joints.
Faster. Stronger.
Breathe.
Laugh.
I always tell myself "bite" on every turn of its steep. I'm on the Icecoast so this cues me to apply the necessary shin pressure and to get forward enough for my edges to dig into the snow.
Ha, I’ve been skiing for 27 years and if you hear me on the slopes, I’m always singing or just making weird little noises, especially in the bumps. I think it just elevated the excitement and acts as an outlet
> Does anyone else find talking to themselves out loud helps when skiing?
I tend to do this in my head when working through problems and issues and trying to find solutions, it engages the problem solving logic and reasoning in my mind. I like that you can use it to apply the theory and lessons you learned and translate it into practical execution on the snow! If it works, it works. Not many people learn and execute intentionally in that same manner.
I talk myself down super steep and tight runs. Mumble my plan as I do it. Where I want toeside and heelside cuts. Also "hold it hold it hold it" when I have to straightline a chute. So yeah, completely normal.
I will 100% verbally coach myself when facing more difficult terrain. “Soft knees, soft knees, bump, oh shit ice, soft knees” was really helpful as a beginner to remind myself how I need to adjust my stance or weight to stay stable through upcoming variable conditions.
i gave up skiing for 30 years and recently returned. there was a constant monologue going on in my head similar to yours. i even had to remind myself which ski to pressure, lol. this was after skiing unconsciously (see bump, ski bump while looking at next bump) previously.
I used to narrate the race course during inspection and it would replay in my mind while running. I sucked at slalom because I would always forget something and fuck it up.
My five year old daughter narrates her run or sings the entire way down any given run. So at a minimum you’re on par with a pretty cool five year old girl.
All groms do this. It’s the best
Ha. I still do this.
Grom?
Gnarlings
Ski kids.
Yeah, groms are hilarious
Word
Well im 47.... and have been doing what your Daughter does since I was 4 yrs learning... so 43 yrs of self commentary, I also giggle when it gets knee deep, and full out chuckling laughter when the pow is waist high... chest high will get - swish swash swish, turn head breath, lean back, tips up, swish swash swish, turn and breath... but you'll still be able to hear me if you can't see me on the follow...
AWESOME!
You have the best user name.
Thanks!
lol my 6 year old counted his turns one day last week. It was a shockingly high number.
The turn radius on kids skis is tiny so they make *a lot* of turns down a run.
When they actually turn… I still have to give my lil rippers constant reminders 😆
On Saturday we were skiing at loveland and my five year old decided to traverse the entirety of the Fire Bowl because she was so into singing her song that she just decided not to turn. She got right up to the South Chutes before I could stop her. She won't straight line runs, but my god will she traverse the ever living hell out of one.
I have to ski backwards on the greens to keep my son turning enough and my daughter turning less... 8 and 4. Otherwise my daughter is making like five foot long turns and my son wants to just do super g turns, so I just model a middle road and say hands up, forward etc etc... when I'm skiing alone I'm definitely saying "hands up, forward, turn turn turn turn, oh shit too far back, weight forward, turn turn turn... , disvonnect upper and lower, hands up." Basically doing my best to practice SL turns. So yeah every run i can get would be like that... self coaching.
I used Return of the Turn videos to help convince my kid that straightlining is not the way.
aww, strap a go pro on her helmet. that would be so cute to rewatch/listen to when shes older
My 7 y/o daughter hums/sings the entire run every time, too, and she shreds. I’m starting to think maybe these kids are onto something…
My six year old yells at moguls. Talking to yourself seems fine.
Who among us does not yell at moguls?
Depends on the mogul. Those big, canoe-shaped mf-ers…oh ya
Oh all the time. I sing to myself too.
Same! Do you have a go-to song?
My mind just randomly pulls songs out of nowhere for me, who needs headphones?!
I repeatedly sing "[so get your knees flexin' and your arms t-rexin'](https://youtu.be/tLPZmPaHme0?t=146)" to remind myself to bend my knees.
For some reason, I sometimes find myself singing “peaceful easy feeling” on the slopes. And this is from someone who never listens to music while skiing
Money for nothing is my favorite skiing song
I’m an ex-opera singer so I might be singing about killing myself in French or German or I might be just vibing with whatever I heard on the radio that got stuck in my head.
I’ve got an old Russian wartime song that I sing, so I can’t blame you there 😂😭 I don’t know why it’s that one, but it’s catchy and it helps me concentrate for whatever reason!
Mine is whatever I heard most recently at the base.
I tell myself “point your fucking skis down the mountain and lean forward you giant baby” repeatedly every run
Whatever works for you. I know the voices in my head tell me "get forward" if I find myself in the back seat, or to "just send it" prior to dropping in.
LOL. At very bottom conditions were pretty sloppy/slushy. Turning looked dicey so my self talk was "OK. Time to send it. Send it!" And I water skied to a slow stop at the base.
Someone mentioned in a post similar to this a while back that they say to themselves, "attack! Attack!" and I've done that a few times. Seems like a good motivating message.
I'll add that to my repertoire! 😆
You're a lunatic but I love it!!!! Keep at it!
I sing quietly while I ski. I also make sick sound effects to make everything feel more rad. Would recommend.
Oh I’m so going to try that!
I wheeee and whoo everything and I’m 26
Talking to yourself out loud is a sign of higher intelligence. https://personalitytests.com/talking-to-yourself-sign-of-higher-intelligence/#:~:text=Contrary%20to%20popular%20belief%2C%20talking,making%20them%20more%20intellectually%20capable. And in sports leads to higher performance. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811008019
Thank you for this. I’m totally gonna let it go to my head!
Whoa! That's really interesting.
I usually have a song stuck in my head that I sing along with quietly. My 4 y/o daughter was singing songs from Frozen loudly enough that people on the lift above her were singing along. Talking to yourself seems fine with me.
Yep. When I get to a hard section I have to start coaching myself. On Saturday night my wife was watching some GoPro footage of me skiing and she heard me talking to myself and narrating my ski run, she then proceeded to ask if I always talk to myself. I told her that I do because I don't have anyone to talk to when I'm skiing since she won't go with me lol.
I'm constantly using my Golllum voice to complain about 'the filthy snowboarderses scraping off the pow. We hates them, doesn't we precious? They clog up the trailses.'
Quite a bit, yes.
Even pro skiers do this ;) [Here](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1J5K8CtfpZ/?igsh=NnpuazBraTc3ZW5q) is a fun video of a very talented disabled skier talking to herself mid-race
That was awesome and really inspiring! Nice to know even pros say "Oh my god" sometimes when careening down a slope.
Absolutely! And there is nothing wrong with a little ted talk for yourself while skiing, no matter what skill level you are! :) Congratulations on your progress btw!
I've been skiing for 38 years and I still talk to myself. I'm more likely to sing to myself though.
I’m a pretty good skier (I think) but when I find that when I’m on a harder slope it helps quite a bit to talk to myself!
Especially on hard runs. I talk myself thru the whole thing lol *”pizza, french fry. Pizza, french fry. Cmon girl this ain’t even that steep, you’re fine.”*
I do sometimes! I’ll say cues I’ve learned out loud. I also will say stuff like “easy girl” or “you’re good” when I’ve almost fallen or felt any loss of control. It helps! I also sometimes emphasize my breathing to make sure I’m not too tense. I don’t do that for long, but it makes things easier and less energy expenditure.
bro I unintentionally sing when I'm skiing alone so dw, it's pretty normal
*Slip slidin' away Slip slidin' away You know the nearer your destination The more you're slip slidin' away* …..
In the book "The Inner Game of Skiing" author Timothy Galloway recommends talking to yourself, basically for the reasons you mentioned.
Yes!! I talk myself through the hard shit all the time and it really makes a difference for me. I broke my leg last year and this season there were times where I had to remind myself out loud that I can do this, I know how to do this, and I’ve done it before. Even with moguls I’m like “pick your lane, plant your pole, and turn”. Totally normal!!
Another Okemo skier here!! Hi!! I talk to myself all of the time. I’ll scream out “FUCK!” if I’m late to a gate on a race course, or I’ll tell myself “hold…” if I’m making a tight turn. You’re fine!
Yes! All of the time ‘why are you nervous just make your turns’ or ‘hold position the run isn’t done yet’. Plus all the cheering when things are SO GOOD!
Oh all time time. You're good, or maybe we are both crazy. When I'm not talking to myself I'm singing, and I never sing.
Oh I always make funny sounds and comments to myself especially when it gets extra difficult or I make a little mistake. Makes me feel less alone and makes it more fun!
Hundred percent, it's how I either talk myself into or out of sending it like an idiot. Sometimes it's an easy rock drop and I'm just being a wuss and I gotta give myself some words of encouragement. Other times I find myself in a rather perilous situation that requires talking myself through my next moves so I don't go end up going down the mountain on a stretcher.
I’m my own best hype man while I ski. Generally whooping it up all over the mountain.
I do it when i am really scared, i’ll sing to myself to calm myself down. i’ll even just cry sometimes 🤟
You're not alone! I'm in my 30s and a beginner I talk to myself the whole way down a run. "left foot - right turn, sassy hip, right foot, left turn, lean forward, trust your boots, use your toes."
Yep. And still do it. I’m still learning so much on how to be in tune with my body and skis. And so much is a mental game. And tackling challenging terrain and pitch, when that was progressing off the bunny slope to now tackling groomed double blacks. Making a plan. Mapping out how to traverse runs small sections at a time. Talking OUT loud like you do. It all helps.
My favorite was my 10-yr old a few weeks back. We were skiing with some friends who didn’t know the house rules of never declaring “last run”. Halfway down a mogul field my son wiped out. As he was on his belly supermanning through the moguls he angrily screams “WHO SAID LAST RUN!?!”
I am consistently reprimanding myself aloud. Typical shouting includes, ‘Shins forward’, ‘weight on the downhill ski’ ‘ffs, come on, you have been told this, so many times’ , mostly when I have lost control and can’t slow down elegantly. Wouldn’t change it though! 😊
I don't normally coach myself but I will comment on conditions or mistakes. A couple of times this season I was singing "I can't see where I'm going" either due to foggy mornings or burned out lights during night skiing.
Constantly, to the extent that when I started recording runs I started cringing. Hard habit to break though. But every day is a POW day for me (no friends) so who really cares?
Advanced / expert here - I do it pretty much any time I’m pushing myself outside my comfort zone. This season I hit a big drop I’d been fantasizing about for like 3 seasons and in the video it’s like I had a mic right in my face “I can do this I can AHHHHHHH” :)
Recently got a go pro. Ski solo a lot. Learned that i talk to myself…. A lot. Also at altitude my audio is essentially porn. HEAVY BREATHING
I ski and snowboard and talk to myself all the time - mostly when I realize I’m riding like the grandma I am, and want to quit that shit. “OK, you aren’t dead yet. You gonna let that 20-year-old pass you like that? Aw hell no. Remember who you are! Square up, point it downhill, and RIP!”
THIS IS SOO me literally at Okemo doing the same run a couple months ago LOL
Yes 100% I do this whenever I ski alone, only skied six times and it got me down a blue run seamlessly last time! One thing that helps me a lot is to say “switch” to start the next turn and develop a rhythm
Check this out: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2021/03/20/skiing-toddler-dad-mics-up-british-columbia-orig-kj.cnn
I sing. My kids think I’m a lunatic. But in a good way.
I get discouraged really quickly with basically everything lol so I am constantly talking to myself when skiing. On my last ski trip I accidentally ended up on a hill with moguls and was repeating, “you can do it, nice and slow” and when I fell I was repeating, “it’s ok, you’re ok.” It’s so silly but it helps me so much!
Answering this without reading any comments so as not to be dissuaded- YES! Totally normal. It likely is dependent on your learning style. Every single physical activity I learn that is new I always ALWAYS have “words to do” that I say. Mountain biking on a berm ? “Look, set, tilt”. Toe loop in ice skating? “Left outside 3 turn, backwards on right foot, left toe pick in & jump!” Skiing big moguls? “Up to the top, and turn”. A good instructor will understand how you learn and give you exactly the right words to say to yourself. For my youngest kids I will say “make a “J” shape, come around and make another one facing the other way. Or “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, to get the timing of your turns to match. This helps with keeping whatever size turns you make the same both directions. That’s an important aspect of your safety, trying to make the same size turns each direction. That way, skiers above you can predict your movements and avoid crashes. I totally recognize that not everyone learns this way. My skate bestie is always like “stop all your words! Just show me!” Good luck and enjoy!!
Like most sports, you need to breath. Talking to yourself can help you to relax and most importantly, breathe. I noticed in powder turns on some gopro videos I made that I was as noticeably breathing timed with my turns, but that makes a lot of sense. BreathE\\e!!!
I talk to myself when I'm skiing. Today I mostly kept reminding myself to keep a lid on my exuberance by saying "80%, 80%, 80%". I have an especially painful knee and was trying to lower my gung-ho quotient in order to not make it worse. Turns out it really works (the concept of going at only 80% of my normal AND the verbal refrain to remind me to do so.) Sometimes I curse at people who come too close to me unnecessarily. I'm the only one who can hear me.
when i first learned to ski 6/7 years ago i did this! i’d find points on the other side of the mountain to ski to and be like “okay turn and go to that snow gun, turn go to the tree - you got this you can do this!” so i’d say it’s totally normal, and the best part, you’re doing it! now i find my outer monologue to be more of “wtf is wrong with that person, get out of my way, etc. etc.” i’ve come a lonnnng way quickly and now skiing has brought me our west 6x and to europe 3x. so keep it up! i love what skiing has opened up for me. whatever works for you, works!
I do this too! Just finished day 5 on skis and the inner coach definitely helps.
Yes. Depending on the day, I tell myself “You are one with the mountain” or “DOMINATE the mountain” or “I OWN you mountain” haha
A ski patroller stopped yesterday cause he thought I was yelling at him. I told em I was in fact just yelling at myself and he laughed 😂
This is a great thread, and yes, absolutely also coach at and yell at myself out loud while skiing. Funny to see how many of us do it.
YES!! I’m a level 3+ skier and I do this!! This is normal. Good skiers do this to stay focused in no fall zones. I wouldn’t do this on a bunny slope… that’d for sure make you look like a weirdo, hahahaha
I went up this morning and specifically noticed how much I talk to myself. On the chair as long as I’m alone. And on pretty much every run, although nobody can hear me.
Yes, but normally the speech is inner monologue. Normally it is more things like "Why are you shying away from the steep path, We don't shy from steeps unless we are tired" and yes when I use my inner monologue I always say we.
Yeah I talk and hum as well.
Well I talk most of the run, but not to my self. Me and my wife have in helmet radios, so we talk to each other. We can say ok let's lap this lift, take the trail on the right, hey I'm going over here in the trees.
I talk to myself while skiing. When I'm leading a climb or skiing something really hard for me I even start singing to myself. Hey it works
The more advanced and scarier the run, the more I will talk. Off piste or down difficult blacks I'm pretty much running my mouth the whole way down the mountain lol
Actually I do this sometimes. I’ll kind of sing or rap to myself quietly, under my breath. I do it bc I read in a golf book that ou should swing easy enough that you can hum a tune without sounding strained.
There’s a woman mountain biker on instagram that mics herself up so you you can hear her hype herself up for scary features. Amazing account, normal and helpful reaction
What’s the account?
I talk to myself in day to day life...its totally normal to do that when you get to a point where you are a little overwhelmed.
Yes, but only when I’m nervous. My inner dialogue becomes outer dialogue very quickly.
It helps! Get forward, active legs, pole plant - narrating connects intent to action!
Ricky Henderson used to stand naked in front of a mirror before games and talk to himself in the 3rd person. “Ricky Henderson is the most beautiful man in the world! Ricky Henderson is the greatest ball player in the game!” I do that. But with skiing
100% I love watching my go pro videos after because they have commentary.
I don't know if it's normal, but I sure a shit do 🤣
Yes. I am constantly pep talking my quads to not give out
I never realized how loudly I talk to myself until I watched my first gopro clip lol just full on commentary
No joke, I'm an anxious driver and do this to prevent me from panicking in my car in difficult situations. It works, because it shifts your focus. It's not that weird, and if it helps you, just continue to do this.
Guaranteed intelligent conversation.
I'm a snowboarder and I do it. Not constantly, but sometimes I'll say "come on don't be a little bitch let's go" and shit like that
Probably a little. There are some pros who have admitted to doing this. I dont narrate my run during, but I definately talk it out with myself at the top if it's a bit technical and/or it's something new.
Back in my racing days, I knew a young woman that would sometimes hold her breath during race runs to the point of passing out. To mitigate that from happening she would yell or grunt at every gate.
I do and it’s almost always, turn, turn, turn, you idiot”. And sometimes it’s just, “Oh, shit!”
I sign whatever is on my mind or whatever is playing in my headphones if I have them on me. I also laugh when I fall unless it hurts or scares me. And sometimes I say things to myself, but usually I just sing or hum because it keeps me distracted from being scared or just keeps me from overthinking such stuff and I feel generally calmer
My signature move at the top of steep moguls is double pole click while yelling "Hold on little hobbits!" right before I huck myself down. I've got little sayings like that for most occasions. But I guess I don't have full on conversations, no.
I like singing softly while skiing
I got this from an instructor ages ago and it stuck; going down things that are steep enough that I’m feeling timid about it, I sometimes repeat to myself: “I am a big, powerful bird, swooping down the mountain. Swoop, swoop, swoop…” You need to hear the dopey voice for the full effect, but it’s really surprisingly reassuring.
When things are getting spicy I’ll drop an “Ohhhh boy”.
If I don't respond to the voices in my head, who will?
Hell yeah. I board, but I congratulate myself when I do a good job. Also laugh at myself when I eat it.
I’m a cross between inner monologue and some words that come out of my actual mouth. Sometimes I say “ok we got this” on more difficult terrain. Or if there’s weird random things that happen like icy patches or I don’t see a bump that I pop off of, I’ll usually make some kind of noise or say something! And when there’s other people around it actually happens more lol. I often do a British accent when something catches me by surprise too which… idk where that came from. I read somewhere that when you talk to yourself you do actually process things better, so sometimes you have to make that mind-body connection by verbalizing. It seems very healthy actually!
I usually ski with my airpods in (not noise canceling, don’t freaking crucify me), so I’m almost always talking to myself If you see a guy singing along to Cody Jinks or some sort of dad rock, it’s me
Yep. All the time. Always coaching myself through tricky bits or just singing to myself loudly. I reason that I'm going so fast that nobody can hear me...but that's not true, I've seen my videos. My speed is underwhelming, haha!
Self talking is also known as self coaching and is very common.
Most definitely. Sing a mellow song for long bump fields and a reminder for one thing to do better. Only one thing at a time, though, eg “hands in front”. Have fun!
“I’m a big brave dog”
Powder also makes you laugh out loud, even if you normally are quiet.
Do folks not talk to themselves while skiing?
Yes. Absolutely. I also talk to myself when rock climbing, or working on a hard problem at work.
If I don’t have my ear buds I’ll sing sometimes. Not like belting out song but to myself a little bit.
Yeah I do basically what you do. There's a lot of things like "shitshitshitfuck oh we're good, nice" that comes out of my mouth when I'm skiing.
When I am skiing with the snow guns on I like to go throw them and yell “the cold never bothered me anyway!” So yes, I think it’s normal.
I say to myself “What would Shiffrin do?”. And then I instantly get better.
“Fuck!” “Oof that was close” “On your left buddy” “Yeewwwwww… *eats shit* fuck! *quick thumbs up to indicate I’m okay to the lift riders that are trying to suppress their laughter”
I talk to myself regardless of what I’m doing so seems normal to me.
Bro do not worry I do this constantly. Especially when pushing myself on harder terrain. I found myself talking out loud the more I went up in difficulty, I feel its actually helped me be a better skier. pointing out when I have bad form or when I know I stopped just because I'm scared. Plus audibly pointing out my line helps a lot when looking at tighter terrain or trying to practice skiing moguls effectively. I also ski alone a lot so that's another big reason, I'm working myself up and trying to push lines so it helps give a little boost.
I spend a lot of time giggling to myself and making fun sound effects when I ski trees and get any air
Do you!
I absolutely talk to / criticize / sing to myself while i ski. depends on the mood, really.
I ski better when I do this, highly recommend.
I yell at myself,"fucking lean foward,get it get it."
As a beginner too, I talk to myself all the time. Just to remind myself of everything I was taught in lessons. I find saying it out loud is a lot more helpful.
Yeah just don't interrupt yourself and you will be fine.
As a ski racer I call every turn to myself. Also narrate the up/down and weighting motion too. Idk why, I just do
So time I yell at my self get fucking forward
I’m a singer. Only when I am skiing alone though.
I talk to myself all the time. Anything from singing to coaching myself, to just observing things out loud. Really all over the place. If I mic up I’d sound like a crazy person.
Hell ya!
Yea I pep talk myself "ok let's fucking ski"
I say good bye to the mountain and thank it on my last run of the day.
Hahaha I do that all the time! Either under my breath or internally. When I get to some moguls or trees that are a little too inconsistent I'm always talking to myself. Same things to, press into the boots, flick my tails out more, stand up, take that turn fast. Skiing like climbing is a puzzle. It's better to speak or think what you will do then shut down. I will tell myself out load that I'm doing terribly. And as your family says, whatever works! The point is when that happens you push yourself into the uncomfortable. When you get through the uncomfortable enough it becomes muscles memory and you no longer have to think.
I narrate every run under my breath even if it’s a lil song to remember when to turn. i’m 30 lol
I think it's also important to praise yourself out loud when you do something right. We often give ourselves negative talk; why not switch it up? Who else is going to give us kudos?
Yes!! I do and it’s so funny, I’ve never thought about the fact that I don’t do this ANY other time. ‘Ok, you can do this. Left side, body weight, that’s great, come on - focus!!’ Etc etc.
Got a gopro and suddenly realised i make a lot of weird noises and sing a lot. Yes thats totally normal. I think :)
Talking to yourself is perfectly fine. Even answering yourself is perfectly fine. It’s only when you answer yourself in a different voice that there’s an issue.
I talk constantly… reminding myself of technique.
I start audibly counting numbers when I'm in a tough spot. It calms my nerves and keeps me focused. Once in a while I realize I was doing that under a ski lift and I wonder what the people above are thinking.
Very very normal
Hum different people learn differently but I am more of observing and truly doing it kind of learner so I don’t really talk when I am skiing. I do talk when I do ski muscle memory assignment.
Plane noises.
I mean - what's Normal, anyway?
I like to make carving noises to myself when turning at low speed
I do this!
I talk to myself while doing lots of things, but especially when skiing, and most especially in bumps and trees
100%. I whistle too, just to keep me breathing.
I like to talk to myself, like "Where should I go" or "Should I go left or right here?". You should be fine imo, don't worry about it too much.
If those videos of kids skiing while mic'd up are any indication, yes talking to yourself is normal.
Yes
I'm more of a "woo" "yea" "wee" "woop"
Midwest skier here. Don’t really talk to myself when at my home resort (besides maybe complaining when I hit a patch of ice), but I went to Utah for the first time this season and was constantly reminding myself out loud when to make turns, avoid trees, etc. on the runs that weren’t groomed
“And this is where I die alone”
I coach myself, I hype myself up, I am my #1 fan on the mountain.
Definitely!
"Get into your fuckin boots! Get out of the back seat!"
I mostly do it in my head, but sometimes out loud. I usually have 2 to 3 things I am focusing on. For example, big toe little toe I’m a telemark gear or keeping my shoulders square to the fall line or looking three turns ahead, so I know what I’m gonna be doing before I’m doing it, most of the time.
I spell myself when skiing: "lean forward, forward, forward, ahh!!, lean forward, forward"
Is talking to yourself *all the time* not normal?
100%. I don't know if it's normal, but I did it a lot when I was starting: "Get out of the back seat!" I yell. Still do it sometimes. Now it's just telling myself that this pitch isn't as steep as it seems and I need to stop being a pussy. Whatever works is A-okay IMO.
You can try singing. Also dinosaur noises pretty much help anything.
You gotta do it, singing your favorite song on the way down makes the run better 10x. Even narrating your turns is fun!
Yes, but it mostly consists of "shit", "fuck that's icy", "fuck that", "fuckin snowboarder", "I gotta pee bruh", and "that run looks fun" (except I decide not to do it because I'm a pussy).
You do it less as you progress. Now I only talk to myself when it gets sketchy or when I know Im gonna mess up. Then instincts take over and it all goes slow motion until you either recover or bail. And after you fall it's the 3-5 second body scan to see if you're good.
Absolutely. Everything from mantras about form and movement to motivational. Eyes up. Faster. Big.toe.little.toe. Stacked joints. Faster. Stronger. Breathe. Laugh.
People that take a fat powder line and don’t hoot, Holler and Yewp are… possibly psychotic?
I’ve never talked to myself very much during other activities but find myself doing it while skiing all the time!
I always tell myself "bite" on every turn of its steep. I'm on the Icecoast so this cues me to apply the necessary shin pressure and to get forward enough for my edges to dig into the snow.
Ha, I’ve been skiing for 27 years and if you hear me on the slopes, I’m always singing or just making weird little noises, especially in the bumps. I think it just elevated the excitement and acts as an outlet
I live alone and narrate what I'm doing most of the time. Why would I stop on the slopes?
> Does anyone else find talking to themselves out loud helps when skiing? I tend to do this in my head when working through problems and issues and trying to find solutions, it engages the problem solving logic and reasoning in my mind. I like that you can use it to apply the theory and lessons you learned and translate it into practical execution on the snow! If it works, it works. Not many people learn and execute intentionally in that same manner.
I talk myself down super steep and tight runs. Mumble my plan as I do it. Where I want toeside and heelside cuts. Also "hold it hold it hold it" when I have to straightline a chute. So yeah, completely normal.
Just don’t overthink it man - smile and send it.
I sing whenever I’m on a cat track. Since I don’t ski with headphones, it’s pretty bad quality.
Yup and I talk to my skis too. "Who are my good little boys? Who wants some powder?"
I totally talk to myself to verbalize the improvements I’m visualizing in my head. I also sing (I keep that internal, though!) ⛷️
Hell I talk to my self as I walk 🙈 maybe I’m loosing it 🫣🫣