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Originally Posted by Pat R.
I'm just disappointed that I drove so poorly. I should have been faster, but oh, well.
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Believe it or not, we all know the feeling. I was very disapointed with the way I drove both at the past Stead weekend, and at the natonal tour event at Atwater. After two consecutive weekends of less than desireable performance, I actually took some time to think about what I was doing, or more importantly not doing.
I knew I was going fast, and that my car was well prepared, so what was left? Turns out I had three problems, my eyes, my attitude, and my hands. I was not looking where I was going as well as I normally do, I was trying to hard to go fast, and because of both of those or in addition, my hands were not as slow and smooth as I know they can be.
I admit, I had a good weekend at Winnemucca, but I still could have driven better. I know exactly where I left about 2 tenths of a second in the big slalom and last turn on Sunday. The former was due to my hands, and the later due to my eyes. Saturday it was the same thing in the short slalom, and the pivot afterwards. hands and eyes respectively again.
I have changed my attitude by thinking about specific things I need to do, not just an all encompasing go faster. I think about these specifics as I walk, and befor and between runs.
Things like. "Must slow way down here/there.", "Must be looking there when I get here.", "Must be smooth here/there"...
Just keep reiinforcing specific things you can do to improve, and you will.
If you have ever riden with or watched Sue, she is a very smooth driver, and almost always on line, but she has been somewhat frustrated she isn't faster, so we talked about it. Her ability to visualize and describe where she is on the course, and where she is looking has greatley improved, but we found that she could not accurately describe where her right foot was at any given time. So that is now her focus for improvement. Knowing where that foot is, and why.
All I'm saying is that we all have our off days/weekends... Don't think so much about it as trying to analyze why. Do you know where you could have made up time, do you know where you over drove, and what can you do to improve next time.
See you at Stead