To be tops in our sport, you need to be both an athlete and a great boater. You can't just be one or the other.
Boaters have all the skills- strokes, ups, ferries, rolls, edging, reverses, offsets, surfing, etc. But if you aren't an athlete, you won't have the strength, speed, endurance and movements necessary to be truly great in the sport.
Athletes are not like the general run of the population. They take care of their bodies in special ways that enhance their bodies' performance. Athletes are strong, healthy, flexible, and tough. They spend a great deal of time developing their bodies to perfection.
People off the street can't compare to athletes. Most people in our modern society fail to take care of their bodies in important ways and athletes can't afford to act this way. Most people fail to eat properly to provide the best nutrition possible for their bodies. Most modern people do not get adequate rest or sleep.
Many people stay out late and short-change their bodies on sleep. Athletes can't fall into the trap of acting like the people around them. Athletes have to look for optimal conditions, not the normal conditions of our society.
To be an athlete, you need to develop your strength through strength training. You need to increase your range of motion and flexibility. You need to develop your endurance. You need to take care of your body by providing it with optimal fuel and getting plenty of quality rest.
Simply acting like a regular person in our society and then going out on a slalom course is not being an athlete and won't lead to top performance. Most competitors fall into this category. They essentially act like non-athletes, yet they get in a boat and race. Because they are decent boaters, they will have decent results. But they won't have the top results.
The top placings are reserved for those who act like boaters and athletes, not like the general run of the population. They take the extra measures necessary for top performance, such as strength training, stretching, active rest, good food, quality sleep, etc.
Look at the top athletes for guidance in how to be an athlete, rather than the people around you. Rather than simply accepting normal standards of the people around you, look to the best possible way you can help your body be in top condition. If you act like the others, your results will be the same as the others. If you treat your body like a top athlete, you will become one.
Comments