Written by 2022 U.S. Figure Skating DREAM Program and Teams Elite Senior Member Ellie Lim
The 2022-23 competition season is just around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited! The beginning of a new season always holds so much anticipation, excitement and potential for unforgettable memories and stories. The pre-competition rituals, the pump-up songs you and your team scream at the top of your lungs, the adrenaline rush you feel once you step onto the ice, the embrace you share with your team at the end of the program and the rush of emotions in the kiss and cry as you see your hard work pay off. Competitions are one of the best parts of our sport and one of the most rewarding experiences an athlete can experience.
Along with that, competitions can also bring upon stress and anxiety, especially for athletes competing in new divisions.
Athletes, and humans in general, struggle to grasp the idea of the unknown. It is scary not knowing what your next step is, and it's like going in blindly to whatever you're doing. When competing in a new level, the unknown is all you know. You don't have the scores or the validation from the judges to back you up – all you have is your training. But that doesn't make the season you have ahead of you any less than special. We've all gone into a season where there are a lot of unknowns down the road, whether it be your first-time skating at a new division, at a new team with different athletes or competing in synchronized skating in general. Instead of thinking of this opportunity as negative and nerve-wracking, think about it as a chance to push yourself out of your comfort zone and to grow as both a person and a skater. It would be a waste to you and your teammates to not give it a shot and make the most out of what you have. "You won't know unless you try" is the motto you have to adopt for yourself because for all you know, this upcoming season of trying new things might be the best season yet and one you will never forget.
It is easier said than done to get yourself into that mindset, so here are a few tips to help you ease into this competition season!
How to calm your nerves
Regardless of the status you're in, like what your organization you skate for, the level or your level of experience, everyone experiences pre-competition jitters. So don't look at the butterflies in your stomach as a bad thing or that you're unprepared! Think of it as evidence that you care about this sport and your team. One of my favorite things to do when I feel nervous is to rely on my teammates. Having traditions/rituals with teammates always helps me remember that I am not alone and that they have my back. If you're skating with people you've never skated with before, even better! It is time to make those traditions and memories with both your old and new teammates.
I also recommend breathing techniques. At Teams Elite, our coach leads us in breathing to help center ourselves and keep us present. We breathe in through our nose for four seconds, hold for a count of eight and then exhale through our mouth for a count of eight. This also reminds me of my team's presence and how we are all in this together. Whether it is focusing on your breath, shaking out your nerves or giving your teammates a fist bump, there are some many ways to calm your nerves and make sure you're as ready as possible to take the ice.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself
In any sport, especially figure skating, we can get caught up in perfectionism. Believe me, it has taken me some time to realize that nothing will ever be perfect and striving for it is like striving for the impossible. We all want that "perfect" skate and those "perfect" moments with our team. But having that be your main focus can result in you putting too much pressure on your shoulders. Instead of focusing on perfection, focus on the personal and team goals you have set for yourself. If you don't have goals, maybe take some time and write a few down (these can either be for the whole season, for each competition or even for each practice). With my prior and current experience of competing in a new level, my team likes to set goals for ourselves that we strive for over the season. We make sure that these goals are within our reach and realistic because setting expectations too high can also be hurtful toward your team. These goals shouldn't be a burden or a weight, rather a way to remember your passion and what you're working for. If you ever feel like you're putting too much pressure on yourself, take a step back and go back to your basics: why you love skating and do what you do. Rediscovering your purpose for skating and your "why" can help center yourself and take the pressure off. Skate because you love it, not because you want a score or perfection.
Go into each competition and skate with confidence
When competing in a new level, you have a blank and clean slate. No one has seen what you are capable of, and the world is itching to see what you've been working on. This is the fun and beauty of competition: seeing the finished product of all your hard work. Take this as an opportunity to prove yourself. Show everyone what you have been doing behind the scenes. Take this opportunity and run with it. Even if you are new to a team or a division, show that you own it. If you sell that you're confident and ready, everyone else is not only going to believe it, but they're going to see it. Every second you are out on the ice, show it to everyone that you're not one to mess with and make a name for yourself. Set the bar high for yourself and for your season by going out onto the competition surface and giving it your all. Walk on and off that ice with your head held high and with the knowledge that you've done everything you can to earn this moment. Make this season yours!
Be open to new criticism and feedback
Being at a new level requires you to be malleable and to be open to new feedback. Whether this is feedback from a coach, a teammate and/or an official, it is important to take their advice and feedback. This may require you to put aside your own knowledge and to just listen. The people on your team want the absolute best for you. Don't take a correction as someone trying to tear you down. Think of it as someone trying to help you. Taking corrections personal is the initial thought you may have when receiving one but try to remind yourself that people are trying their best to make you the most successful skater as possible. Most importantly, just try. Attempt the feedback with full force, and if it doesn't work, then we will come up with a new solution. This also goes along with giving feedback to your teammates. Make sure you're delivering it in a way that you would want it delivered to you. This builds good teamwork and rapport/trust within your teammates. Be flexible in trying new things and open to feedback, as it may be an opportunity for you to grow as an athlete.
Be patient with the process
There are going to be moments in the season where you're wondering what and why you're skating. This a natural emotional rollercoaster that every athlete goes through. There are going to be growing pains throughout the season, but there are many ways to overcome them. You may not get the scores you want or have the skate you had dreamt of, but that shouldn't discourage you. It doesn't make your training any less important, and it doesn't mean you're not trying. Take this as motivation for the next time you skate, to push you to persevere and get up. To remind you to keep going, and that it is not over. Also, remind yourself, again, why you are skating. Think about the passion you hold for skating and for being with your teammates. Don't let your frustrations become your reality or ruin the experience for yourself and for your team. There are going to be dips in your season, and that's just life. We can't always get what we want, and sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. But if we focus on our reactions and what we can control, then the season will run more smoothly. Give yourself and your teammates some grace to feel what they're feeling. Working together will make life easier and more enjoyable.
When all else fails, rely on your teammates
Never lose sight of the support system you have behind you. Your teammates and coaches are going to be first people to know what you're going through. Fall back on them and rely on them. When it comes to your coaches, trust what they're saying. They want to help you and mold you into the best skater you can be. Rely on your training until it becomes muscle memory. Put 100% into all your practices, even when things aren't going the way you want it to go. You've worked hard to get here, and you've earned this moment, so don't let it go. Don't let a moment pass you by because before you know it, you're going to be looking back at all the beautiful memories you've made rather than experiencing it. Hold onto this sport for as long as you can. Remember to just live and enjoy your time with your team. Make the most out of every second you have because once it's gone, you're going to want to go back to this moment. Through the good, the bad, and the ugly, we have each other. That's the beauty of our sport: doing things together because we can.
I can't wait to see what everyone has in store for this season, and please come say hi if we cross paths at competitions. Wherever you come from or what your story is, we are in this together. I wish you all the best of luck and am so ecstatic for another amazing season!
With love,
Ellie
