Well, what I won’t do for you guys – I am out here in Dana Point, California learning how to help even more hockey players using the interwebz and I’m telling ya – it is hard work….
Okay maybe it’s not THAT hard – we get up every morning and go surfing at 7am which I think is awesome! The folks in the group that decided to head to the bar after the session ended past 8pm last night – – –not so much 😉
After the surfing we have a bite to eat and then get to work for eight straight hours – that part gets tough. I have programmed myself to be shutting down around 7:30pm, not learning new strategies.
Anyway, one of you sent a question about lateral elliptical trainers and if they would be good for your ‘skating muscles’, so here is my surf-style response. Watch the video and then check out the little mindset thing I did below that I know is going to help me so much in the months to come.
If you cannot see the video above, just click the link below
https://youtu.be/vn50Ej3o84E
We each got our own surfboard to keep as well – so that is my new board.
The surfing was awesome, the waves were not too big so I only got pummelled a few times and I actually caught some nice waves and got to feel what it’s like to actually surf. Awesome!
Mind-Trick That Might Save My Sanity…
Here’s that little mind-set thing I did that I think is going to really help me in the months to come (or maybe the next 5-weeks – – somebody might be battling to finish a new training product for the new year 😉).
Anyway, part of surfing is just sitting out on the board and waiting for the next set of waves.
It was beautiful to be on the water, looking back at the shoreline, the beach, the hills, the palm trees…amazing.
Since I didn’t have my camera, I looked up and down the coast and imagined that I was recording a video tape to my memory (yes, I even heard the clackity-clack of an old fashioned movie projector as I did it). Anyway, I stored that film in my mind and when I am getting rattled or overwhelmed, I am going to play it a few times in my head and remind myself how lucky I am to be able to feel the breeze on my face, the sun on my skin and the water on my legs.
So, next time you are somewhere beautiful – it might be the fresh snow fall that some of you got last night – go ahead and snap a picture, but also take the time to record a mental video – what it looks like, how it makes you feel, how it smells…and pull it out when you need it.
Okay – that’s it. I’m out!
Cheers,
M
PS – hope I didn’t confuse you on the in-season vs off-season stuff in the video. Your training has to be different during the season so that you can actually gain momentum during the season rather than become one of those players (and we all know them) who burn out as the season progresses and are almost useless by the time play-offs roll around. If you need in-season training ideas, goalies can get them here and skaters can get them here