My guest for this episode of the podcast is Chris Heron, who is the Director and Head Coach of Waterski and Wakeboard Scotland. Not only is he a coach, he is also the 3 time Scottish National Waterski Champion.
This podcast happened because I just happened to open an email that came in through my contact form on my website. Nine times out of ten, those emails are junk solicitations. In this case, it was members of Chris’s waterski team reaching out to say that they were fans of the podcast and thought he would be a good guest. I’m so glad I opened that email – because he WAS a great guest, and I had some much fun with this conversation.
We spoke about everything from the routines and rituals that he has found useful in competition to getting over fears to his philosophy of learning. Chris comes at waterskiing from both the coaching and athlete perspective, which adds depth to his viewpoints. Plus, he is STILL skiing in the winter! We talked about the benefits of cold exposure, which he takes to a whole level beyond what most do.
Whether you are a water skier, or your performance happens in other domains, there’s something in this podcast for you. I’m sharing his slick bio below.
Topics
- Introduction and Guest Background (0:02)
- The Addictive Nature of Water Skiing (2:38)
- Challenges of Limited Practice Time (5:21)
- Mental Aspects of Water Skiing (17:09)
- Coaching and Athlete Development (20:19)
- Business and Community Building (26:17)
- Personal Growth and Adaptation (59:09)
- The Role of Expectations in Performance (1:00:47)
- The Importance of Community and Support (1:02:42)
- Balancing Practice and Performance (1:03:02)
- Handling Animals with Confidence and Humility (1:03:18)
- Balancing Fear and Expectations in Competitions (1:09:25)
- The Importance of Mental Preparation (1:12:53)
- Overcoming Challenges and Finding Balance (1:24:27)
- The Role of Ego and Confidence in Performance (1:47:47)
- Learning from Mistakes and Adapting (1:50:24)
- The Impact of External Pressures on Performance (1:51:11)
- The Importance of Community and Support (1:52:23)
- Balancing Life and Sport (1:54:35)
- Future Goals and Aspirations (1:54:49)
Guest Contact Info
Email: chris@wws.org.uk