5.29.00

Progression

It's what keeps skating exciting.
It's called progression.
Many of us start out quite horrible and become fulfilled each time we learn a new trick.
For some, progression doesn't come fast enough.
Some find that their ability levels off, or even gets worse. Well, for those who aren't progressing fast enough, I have the answer for you.

It's what makes heroes and champions.
It's called confidence.
Many of us feel confident performing some tricks, yet lose it on others.
This usually happens when learning a new trick, or applying an "old" trick to a new obstacle.
It happens to even the best skaters. Yet, the best skaters take each failed attempt and use it to build up more confidence.

If you think you're good, you'll get there.
If you think you aren't, you'll never land anything.
Just think how you approach tricks you can land every time. You're confident. Your mind is focused on landing the trick. You make sure your feet land squarely on the board.

Now think about how you approach a trick you haven't ever been able to land. Your mind is focused on "throwing" the trick, and rarely do you worry about landing it. If you're like me, you make sure your feet land on solid ground, away from the board. After all, you don't want to land on that thing. You'll slam for sure.

You might slam, or you might land the trick and have to jump off, or you might ride away clean. You can't think failure. You have to imagine yourself throwing it clean, landing square on your board, and riding away effortlessly.

Now you're probably saying, "who the heck is this guy telling me how to get better. If he's so knowledgeable why isn't he pro?" All I can say is applying this new mode of thinking isn't easy.

It's quite obvious to most of us that confidence breeds success, but most usually forget to think positively once the board leaves their feet. You have to consciously force yourself to think positively. It's a lot harder than you think. Yet it works.

Take this example.
I can land pressure flips every time I try them, so I decided to work on pressure flips to five-o grinds. It seemed simple enough, and it was cause I can do each amazingly well individually. The problem was when I had the board in the air I was already thinking I wasn't going to land it. After a couple of days like this I nearly gave up, then thought, "just force yourself to land on the board. You won't slam all that hard." My very next go I landed square on my back truck and rode away amazed.

Now everytime I try that trick I have to give myself the exact same advice. If I don't, I won't come down with it.

Sometimes people are amazed when "young" skaters are pulling off tricks that take most people years to learn. It's no secret, they just have tons of confidence. Why not ask if they have any you can borrow?

If this works for anyone, Steve wants to see your pictures. So get out there, get good, and get on the web!

Later On.........

-Jason