Mac Forehand's Road to Gold: 'Going Blind' in Freestyle Skiing
For Olympic gold medal hopeful Mac Forehand, the key to success lies in mastering a daunting freestyle skiing trick that requires him to "go blind" for a split second. The 21-year-old skier has been working tirelessly to perfect this intricate move, which involves adding an extra 360-degree rotation to his existing skills.
Forehand's journey began with a basic triple cork, which he learned at the age of 17. He then progressed to more complex tricks, including a switched-up cork 1260 mute and a switch triple 1620. However, it wasn't until this year that he successfully landed the 19[80], a trick he had been attempting since his early 20s.
The latest addition to Forehand's repertoire is a trick that has both intimidated and exhilarated him β the "go blind" variation of the switch triple 1620. In this move, Forehand must trust his instincts and let go of his visual feedback for a brief moment, relying on muscle memory to guide him through the air.
"It's do or die," Forehand says about the trick. "If you don't get it right, you're going to hurt yourself." The pressure is palpable, but Forehand has been training extensively and is feeling more confident with each passing day.
The key to mastering this trick lies in a delicate balance of power and timing. Forehand must avoid rushing his takeoff or committing too early, as this can lead to him landing on his face due to insufficient spin or speed. He must instead strike the perfect pace, allowing himself enough time to generate momentum while also avoiding any last-minute wobbles.
For Forehand, the stakes are high, but he is determined to bring home the gold. With hard work and dedication, this fearless skier will stop at nothing to push his limits and achieve greatness in the world of freestyle skiing.
For Olympic gold medal hopeful Mac Forehand, the key to success lies in mastering a daunting freestyle skiing trick that requires him to "go blind" for a split second. The 21-year-old skier has been working tirelessly to perfect this intricate move, which involves adding an extra 360-degree rotation to his existing skills.
Forehand's journey began with a basic triple cork, which he learned at the age of 17. He then progressed to more complex tricks, including a switched-up cork 1260 mute and a switch triple 1620. However, it wasn't until this year that he successfully landed the 19[80], a trick he had been attempting since his early 20s.
The latest addition to Forehand's repertoire is a trick that has both intimidated and exhilarated him β the "go blind" variation of the switch triple 1620. In this move, Forehand must trust his instincts and let go of his visual feedback for a brief moment, relying on muscle memory to guide him through the air.
"It's do or die," Forehand says about the trick. "If you don't get it right, you're going to hurt yourself." The pressure is palpable, but Forehand has been training extensively and is feeling more confident with each passing day.
The key to mastering this trick lies in a delicate balance of power and timing. Forehand must avoid rushing his takeoff or committing too early, as this can lead to him landing on his face due to insufficient spin or speed. He must instead strike the perfect pace, allowing himself enough time to generate momentum while also avoiding any last-minute wobbles.
For Forehand, the stakes are high, but he is determined to bring home the gold. With hard work and dedication, this fearless skier will stop at nothing to push his limits and achieve greatness in the world of freestyle skiing.