Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 (Spars-QFX Racer) 728x90 TOP

Road To Gold Live Q&A with sports psychologist Dr Tim Herzog - Effective Mental Imagery & Self-Talk

by Andy Rice, Co-Creator, Road To Gold 20 May 12:55 PDT 22 May 2024
Road To Gold Live Q&A with top sports psychologist Dr Tim Herzog - Effective Mental Imagery & Self-Talk © Road To Gold

We've all heard the importance of the Mental Game - the factor that separates the top athletes from the rest. At a certain level, it's not your sailing skills that make the difference, but your mental state going into the competition.

No matter how well you do during training, if you crumble under the pressure of Race Day, it doesn't count for much. That's why we dedicate a whole chapter of Road To Gold to Mental Strength, and it's why we've got top sports psychologist Dr Tim Herzog back for another Q&A.

Tim is an in-demand clinical psychologist who works at many levels of the sport, including the Olympics and America's Cup, as well as providing 1-to-1 coaching support to athletes. Last time we spoke to him back in 2021, we covered key topics such as avoiding negative thinking patterns so they don't turn into self-fulfilling prophecies, and how to achieve optimal arousal levels for major events.

That first discussion was full of practical advice, and RTG premium members can rewatch it here.

What we'll be covering...

While mental practice is crucial if you want to perform at your best, it's not always obvious where to start. Dr Herzog will be sharing the same methods he uses when working with top athletes, and how you can incorporate them into your regular training regimen.

  • Science-based breathing techniques, for flexible focus around the racecourse
  • The ABCs of Self-Talk Habits: how to get back to making the boat go fast after things go wrong
  • Beyond "normal" video or mental imagery - practical tips on how to incorporate mental rehearsal into your training regimen

No matter your level, these techniques are sure to give you the edge in your next race. And they can all be practised from the comfort of your own home!

(By the way, RTG has its own how-to ebook on Mental Rehearsal - read it for free [PDF] and get a head start before this Q&A.)

Aside from the main topic of the call, the Road To Gold team will be digging into whatever burning questions YOU have. This is a unique format - half podcast and half phone-in. You can either sit back and enjoy the call, or you can put your questions directly to Tim during the call.

What do YOU want to know about racing faster?

Feel free to ask your question(s) during the call, but if you can't make it live then you can send them in beforehand - hit Reply to this email, or fill out our quick survey.

Save the date: Wednesday 22 May, 1800 UTC

Check how that time zone relates to where you are in the world. It's not always easy to get on the call live, but we do provide a recording for our paying subscribers.

Free Zoom invite
Join Zoom Meeting with Road To Gold + Dr Tim Herzog
us06web.zoom.us/j/81245981005?pwd=XXbXbYPfLX5nzIGb4E8LKhaUtzajzr.1
Meeting ID: 812 4598 1005
Passcode: 030836

Whether you're a dedicated weekend warrior or full-time professional racer, don't miss this opportunity to gain insights from one of the top minds in sports psychology and take your performance to the next level.

Related Articles

Road to Gold with Jacopo Plazzi
Live Q&A and Race Analysis with SailGP coach It's just a few days out from the Season 4 finale of SailGP, with the showdown set to take place in San Francisco on 13/14 July. In a break with the usual format for Road To Gold Q&A live calls, we'll be looking at the unique challenges of SailGP. Posted on 6 Jul
Emerging Nations follow World-Beating Blueprint
World Sailing has incorporated the Road To Gold program for the past two years With just three weeks remaining until the start of Paris 2024, sailors from 65 nations are making final preparations before travelling to Marseille. Among the sailors are athletes from countries who have never competed on the Olympic stage before. Posted on 5 Jul
Road to Gold with Hugh Styles
Maximise your Time on the Water with the Olympic sailor & medal-winning coach It's no coincidence that Hugh Styles' coaching business is called Time On The Water. A former Olympic competitor in the Laser and Tornado classes, Hugh knows all about the importance of making the most of your time on the water. Posted on 1 Jul
Road to Gold with Olympic medallist Aaron McIntosh
Live Q&A: From Olympic to America's Cup coaching Three years ago, Aaron McIntosh joined Road To Gold to talk about "The Power of the Squad", where we covered the importance of building a supportive culture and how to have fun while training. Posted on 25 Jun
Road to Gold: Richard Parslow
Multiple dinghy & keelboat champion Richard Parslow has stayed at the front of the fleet for more than 40 years. From winning the Fireball World Championships with Kim Slater in 1980, through many championship wins in other dinghies and small keelboats. Posted on 17 Jun
This Monday: Live Q&A with Allan Norregaard
How to punch well above your weight After a successful career in Olympic campaigning, including a bronze medal in the 49er at London 2012, Allan Norregaard has transformed into the Ethan Hunt of the coaching world... Posted on 7 Jun
This Monday: Road To Gold Q&A with Chips Howarth
Fireball world champ & Cyclops tech boss "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." Which is why high-performance sailors are increasingly turning to Cyclops for the accurate data they produce from their range of load sensors. Posted on 2 Jun
Road To Gold Q&A with Konstantinos Trigonis
Multihull world champion and Olympic coach Technology and tools can be beneficial for learning and development, but ultimately it depends on how you use them. For Konstantinos Trigonis, it's crucial for sailors to be able to *feel* the boat and the conditions around them. Posted on 24 May
Road To Gold Live Q&A with Annie Lush
3x Ocean Race veteran and Olympian After a successful career on the Olympic circuit and representing Great Britain in women's match racing at London 2012, Annie Lush has become one of the most in-demand professionals on the offshore scene. Posted on 12 May
Live Q&A with Vilma Bobeck & Rebecca Netzler
Road To Gold this Monday: How to Hone your Boat Speed Vilma Bobeck and Rebecca Netzler are hot medal prospects for this summer's Olympic Games. Sweden's 49erFX skiff stars have finished 2nd, 1st and 2nd at the past three World Championships. Posted on 13 Apr
ETNZ-STORE-728X90 two BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd - For the ObsessedSelden 2020 - FOOTER