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<p>What does "focus" mean to you? Is it clarity, mental discipline, avoiding distractions, being in the moment, or honing in on specific details?
<p>However we define it, mental focus is critical to water skiing success. While the fun and physical challenge attract us to the sport, the best skiers understand that it poses mental challenges as well.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-1.jpg" border="0" />
<p>Our thoughts and emotions, both positive and negative, affect what we do on the water. If you don't feel confident, your on-water performance will suffer. Skiers need to work on mental focus along with body position and technique.
<p>Having great focus applies to all levels and all disciplines of water skiing. Think about the beginner who wants to get up on skis.
<p>Often, the skier is so anxious to make it up that he rises up too early and then pulls back on the handle, causing the skis to slip out for a fall.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-2.jpg" border="0" />
<p>A slalom skier can come into one ball balanced, wide and early for a perfect turn, then not run the pass because the skier thought the pass was in the bag. Or, by the end of the turn, the skier leans back against the line, resulting in the tip popping up.
<p>Barefooters and trickers may be anxious about making a trick, and barefooters may also fear a hard fall.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-3.jpg" border="0" />
<p>What can the beginner, the slalom skier, the tricker or barefooter do to sharpen mental focus? Most skiers are so wrapped up in thinking about the overall attempt to get up, to run the pass, or to make that new trick that they are not aware of the need to focus on the moment. Just understanding what you are thinking about at a specific point in the course or when doing tricks (on a ski or feet) will set you in the right direction.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-4.jpg" border="0" />
<p>For the slalom skier, staying in the moment is a crucial but often overlooked skill. You might be balanced, early and wide at ball one, but if you are thinking about your great gate, or thinking ahead to ball two or the rest of the course, you will let down your guard.
<p>Concentrate on the "now" moment. If you are reliving the past or anticipating the future, you can't focus on the technique needed for where you are RIGHT NOW in the course.
<p>When I coach barefooters or trickers, one indicator of anxiety and loss of focus is when I see someone on the water taking too much time to attempt a trick. Instead of focusing on the few key elements of the trick, the skier is thinking about what can go wrong. This saps confidence.
<p>Even with confidence and focus, errors in technique happen. What sets the pros apart is their ability to understand what is happening, fix it and move on.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-5.jpg" border="0" />
<p>Your ability to be in the moment allows them to slow things down in their mind, so they can more clearly decide whether to release the handle or stay with it and get back in the game.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-6.jpg" border="0" />
<p>Focus is crucial for competition skiers, but the skill is not just for them. Anyone from first time skiers on can benefit from heightened mental awareness and discipline on the water. Improved focus, patience, staying in the moment and building confidence will allow skiers of all levels to progress quickly. And that's why you should focus on your focus every time you ski.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/zenon.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" border="0" />
<i>Zenon Bilas is a 7 time USA national barefoot water ski champion. He has coached water skiers and barefoot water skiers throughout the USA and in 17 countries. His coaching techniques have been featured in magazines in the USA and internationally. To schedule Zenon for a coaching session at your site, contact at 561.433.4554 or zenbilas@bellsouth.net or visit <a href="http://www.zenonbilas.com?cm_mmc=Email-_-March2016Review-_-ArticleLink-_-ZenonBilas">www.zenonbilas.com</a> for additional information.
<p>Photos courtesy Zenon Bilas, Raimi Merritt and HO Sports. </i>
<p>However we define it, mental focus is critical to water skiing success. While the fun and physical challenge attract us to the sport, the best skiers understand that it poses mental challenges as well.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-1.jpg" border="0" />
<p>Our thoughts and emotions, both positive and negative, affect what we do on the water. If you don't feel confident, your on-water performance will suffer. Skiers need to work on mental focus along with body position and technique.
<p>Having great focus applies to all levels and all disciplines of water skiing. Think about the beginner who wants to get up on skis.
<p>Often, the skier is so anxious to make it up that he rises up too early and then pulls back on the handle, causing the skis to slip out for a fall.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-2.jpg" border="0" />
<p>A slalom skier can come into one ball balanced, wide and early for a perfect turn, then not run the pass because the skier thought the pass was in the bag. Or, by the end of the turn, the skier leans back against the line, resulting in the tip popping up.
<p>Barefooters and trickers may be anxious about making a trick, and barefooters may also fear a hard fall.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-3.jpg" border="0" />
<p>What can the beginner, the slalom skier, the tricker or barefooter do to sharpen mental focus? Most skiers are so wrapped up in thinking about the overall attempt to get up, to run the pass, or to make that new trick that they are not aware of the need to focus on the moment. Just understanding what you are thinking about at a specific point in the course or when doing tricks (on a ski or feet) will set you in the right direction.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-4.jpg" border="0" />
<p>For the slalom skier, staying in the moment is a crucial but often overlooked skill. You might be balanced, early and wide at ball one, but if you are thinking about your great gate, or thinking ahead to ball two or the rest of the course, you will let down your guard.
<p>Concentrate on the "now" moment. If you are reliving the past or anticipating the future, you can't focus on the technique needed for where you are RIGHT NOW in the course.
<p>When I coach barefooters or trickers, one indicator of anxiety and loss of focus is when I see someone on the water taking too much time to attempt a trick. Instead of focusing on the few key elements of the trick, the skier is thinking about what can go wrong. This saps confidence.
<p>Even with confidence and focus, errors in technique happen. What sets the pros apart is their ability to understand what is happening, fix it and move on.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-5.jpg" border="0" />
<p>Your ability to be in the moment allows them to slow things down in their mind, so they can more clearly decide whether to release the handle or stay with it and get back in the game.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/art6-6.jpg" border="0" />
<p>Focus is crucial for competition skiers, but the skill is not just for them. Anyone from first time skiers on can benefit from heightened mental awareness and discipline on the water. Improved focus, patience, staying in the moment and building confidence will allow skiers of all levels to progress quickly. And that's why you should focus on your focus every time you ski.
<p><img SRC="http://www.iboats.com/mall_marketing/newsletter/march16/images/zenon.jpg" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" border="0" />
<i>Zenon Bilas is a 7 time USA national barefoot water ski champion. He has coached water skiers and barefoot water skiers throughout the USA and in 17 countries. His coaching techniques have been featured in magazines in the USA and internationally. To schedule Zenon for a coaching session at your site, contact at 561.433.4554 or zenbilas@bellsouth.net or visit <a href="http://www.zenonbilas.com?cm_mmc=Email-_-March2016Review-_-ArticleLink-_-ZenonBilas">www.zenonbilas.com</a> for additional information.
<p>Photos courtesy Zenon Bilas, Raimi Merritt and HO Sports. </i>
