Figure skaters, please help me!?

Question

i have a competition in 6 days, and i'm already freaking out about it...i feel like i'm going to puke! how do you calm your nerves before a competition?? i really need to know how!

Answer 1

Being nervous is normal, but you need to just try to relax and almost pretend like you are just going for a practice. I usually listen to music and stretch a lot before a competition or even a swim meet (I swim also) which just helps me to relax and "go into my zone" I would suggest trying some different things and seeing what helps you relax. Good luck!

Answer 2

Remember that everyone going out there is in the same boat as you. Nervousness is natural . . . and it's actually a GOOD thing . . . the adrenaline gives you that extra kick so you can get through your program. It's a matter of controlling your emotions about it.

Think positive. Think that you are EXCITED to do your program - and that you CAN do it. Have good expectations - visualize doing a program perfectly from now til then. You practiced so hard and now the moment is nearly here . . . go out there and show 'em what you got!!

Warm up well and stay warm til it's time to go out there.

Take your time getting to your starting point. I used to do a round of crossovers and wave hello to my audience - hee hee - the cheering pumped me up. At least this bought me some time to gather my thoughts together before starting. Don't rush anything.

Take a DEEP breathe before you begin your program - close your eyes and tell yourself SHOW TIME. Remember to breathe throughout . . . people tend to hold their breath when they're nervous - which won't help your muscles or stamina . . . so breathe breathe breathe!!! And don't forget to BEND those knees (nerves tend to make a skater straighten their legs - causing a skater to look stiff).

Think in the present . . . think of the move you are doing at the moment - not what you just did or what you are going to do. Take each step one step at a time (like I said, don't rush anything!).

If anything, never show you are nervous - in body language or facial expression. Look confident and skate like you are confident . . . often that helped me to psyche myself out of letting the nerves get the best out of me! SELL YOUR PROGRAM . . . skate like the proud skater you are!!!

Go out there and have FUN!! Enjoy your time out there - it is a privilege to skate in front of an audience!! Before you know it, you'll be bowing at the end and you'll be glad you did it!!!

Best of luck!!  Skate great!!!

Answer 3

b4 u sk8 listen to some music and get yourself pumped up. don think about what you might do wrong just play your routine in your head over and over. dont think about being nervous. or you can try chewing gum or something to calm your nerves..

Answer 4

On the actual day, like right before you compete when you're warming up and waiting and all that, make sure you breathe regularly and bend your knees a lot. If you dont bend your knees the nerves will make them lock up and it will be hard to skate! To get rid of the nerves you need to not concentrate on the fact that its a competition so much, or just pretend you're in a movie and make your outside LOOK confident and it might just spread to the inside =]

Good luck for your comp xx

Answer 5

=O

Answer 6

christ

Answer 7

I have this problem all the time and I find if my coach leaves me alone my nerves ease up. LOL!

Answer 8

Breathe, Go through your routine, and think about things that calm your nerves. At my first competition during the warm ups, i fell. I was really upset and i thought i would get last. I ended up doing better than i'd ever done before and recieved first.