How to I Stay Focused and Memorize the Track?
Personal Watercraft Racer:
I currently race personal watercraft. I have been racing for
15 years now and I currently race two classes Expert Stand Up and Pro-am
sport. My current issues are staying focused on the track and memorizing
the track before my race. It seems that I have lost my aggressive drive
off the start. How do I need to get back in the right frame of
mind?
Dr. Cohn’s Answer:
Staying focused on the track and memorizing the track might
be two different issue altogether, but at the same time, not being comfortable
with the track could cause you to lose focus. So they might be related
to each other. I think you are not being aggressive off the start because
you are unsure of the track and your lines. You must get committed to
a plan – a race plan – and your lines before you get on the
start line. One way you can do this is to mentally rehearse the track
in your mind, what I call doing your mental laps and see the lines you
need to take on the track.
Second, I want you to identify 2-3 cues you must focus on to have a good race.
When you get off focus, you must be able to pull your mind back to the present
task at hand or the cues you decided to focus on. For example, maybe you decide
to focus on driving harder into the corners and being smooth through the apex.
Then you job is to stay focused on these cues to the best of your ability.