MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2007
Summer Time
Summer is almost upon us and so time is ripe to start sorting locations for foreign travel. Two weeks early June for another alps adventure, Yay :-)
Polo Play offs in two weeks time up in Hull. Got to get in the groove and unleash some fury.
The Freestyle worlds champs are underway good luck to GB Paddlers. Keep up with the details and results here.
MONDAY, APRIL 09, 2007
Screen Play
Define the characters, set the scene, roll the story, get the players, learn the lines, tweak the angles, get the best cut, bin 90%, edit down, Titles, Graphics, go live.
Half an idea...
Lets set the deadline: April 20th
The Oxford Versus Cambridge varsity boat race was pretty good this year. Although oddly the Augusta Masters golf was equally gripping to the finish line.
SUNDAY, APRIL 08, 2007
Hurley I up Landlord
First off Polo, My shoulder held out sufficiently to play out the final games of the season, win the division and step up to help make up the numbers to secure the position of our other team in div3. Which is all good, and we have five weeks till promotion play offs.
Hurley has been on three for ages, managed a play in my Nomad and have bagged five days boating there. Aside from a few twinges from my shoulder it has been all good. Still taking it steady and avoiding certain moves that require hyper extension; instead of using my paddles I tried a clean donkey flip, which landed squarely on my face in an upside down manner just at the point you would normally rely on your paddle! Hurley plus Sun & Three gates :-) Plus we saw James Farquharson whizz passed doing the Devises Westminster Canoe race.
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2007
Exorcising the Demons
Experience counts equally in competition as it does for river running. Being able to keep a straight head in the face of adversity and mounting pressure is paramount, as is getting yourself in the right psyche to ensure each move you make is precise and controlled.
As a keen adversary of the principle "Train to Compete" rather than "Competing to Train", which in a nutshell allows the adoption of a positive mental approach to training and competition that defines a clear distinction between the value of winning competitions and the smaller training goals that can be achieved. Training at high intensity levels but without full commitment mentally leaves you able to stay sharp and alert to the dynamics of a game. It also helps you to work on certain areas of your competition psychology in a controlled manner. I.e. in a training match setting the score at half time in favour of the opposition so you have to commit yourself to clawing back and over coming the deficit. This is where the pressure to succeed really comes to bare, and can be relieved and conquered by use of pre competition visualisation and mid competition relaxation and refocusing. Team sports require interaction between the squad which gives room for fellow players to reinforce the positive mental approach to each other during the games. Use of such techniques and combined with good tactics can allow for weaker teams to overcome those stronger than them, especially when the same pressures are applied to both teams and the giants wilt under the weight of expectation.
