Zoe Atkin Prepares to Put Theory into Practice in Ski Halfpipe
What drives someone to push beyond their limits in one of the most high-risk sports at the Winter Olympics? For Team GB freestyle skier Zoe Atkin, it's not about seeking thrills or adrenaline rushes. Rather, it's a quest for mastery and victory.
Atkin's journey into the world of freeski halfpipe began with an academic degree from Stanford University, where she studied symbolic systems – a course that blends psychology, probability, mathematics, and how people think. This unconventional approach to understanding human behavior has helped her develop a unique mindset when it comes to fear and risk-taking.
"We all have these instinctual, biological-like fear responses," Atkin explains. "But if you want to grow as a person, you have to confront those uncomfortable feelings, be in those uncomfortable situations, and push through."
Her approach to facing her fears is methodical and calculated. When it comes to landing a particularly challenging trick, she approaches the task with precision and focus. "I'm very calculated and meticulous when I push the progression of what I'm doing," she says.
This measured approach has allowed Atkin to overcome even the most daunting obstacles. After two years of struggling to master a signature trick, she finally broke through by pushing herself to spend a fortnight failing until she succeeded.
Her perseverance paid off in 2022 when she won the world championship title. However, she acknowledges that setbacks are an inevitable part of the process. The memory of her disappointing finish at Beijing four years earlier still stings – finishing ninth and struggling with daily Covid tests and social distancing measures in the athletes' village.
Studying at Stanford has helped Atkin cultivate a strong identity outside of skiing, which has had a profound impact on her performance. "Cultivating that identity outside sport has really helped my performance," she says.
As Atkin prepares to take on the best competitors from around the world at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, she is primed and ready for whatever challenges come her way. Despite being up against formidable rivals like China's Eileen Gu, she remains confident in her abilities. "The girls I'm competing against force me to be better," Atkin says with a smile.
Atkin's elder sister Izzy has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation throughout her career. Winning Britain's first Winter Olympics skiing medal in Pyeongchang eight years ago was a defining moment for both sisters, and Atkin is determined to follow in her footsteps by winning Olympic gold.
What drives someone to push beyond their limits in one of the most high-risk sports at the Winter Olympics? For Team GB freestyle skier Zoe Atkin, it's not about seeking thrills or adrenaline rushes. Rather, it's a quest for mastery and victory.
Atkin's journey into the world of freeski halfpipe began with an academic degree from Stanford University, where she studied symbolic systems – a course that blends psychology, probability, mathematics, and how people think. This unconventional approach to understanding human behavior has helped her develop a unique mindset when it comes to fear and risk-taking.
"We all have these instinctual, biological-like fear responses," Atkin explains. "But if you want to grow as a person, you have to confront those uncomfortable feelings, be in those uncomfortable situations, and push through."
Her approach to facing her fears is methodical and calculated. When it comes to landing a particularly challenging trick, she approaches the task with precision and focus. "I'm very calculated and meticulous when I push the progression of what I'm doing," she says.
This measured approach has allowed Atkin to overcome even the most daunting obstacles. After two years of struggling to master a signature trick, she finally broke through by pushing herself to spend a fortnight failing until she succeeded.
Her perseverance paid off in 2022 when she won the world championship title. However, she acknowledges that setbacks are an inevitable part of the process. The memory of her disappointing finish at Beijing four years earlier still stings – finishing ninth and struggling with daily Covid tests and social distancing measures in the athletes' village.
Studying at Stanford has helped Atkin cultivate a strong identity outside of skiing, which has had a profound impact on her performance. "Cultivating that identity outside sport has really helped my performance," she says.
As Atkin prepares to take on the best competitors from around the world at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, she is primed and ready for whatever challenges come her way. Despite being up against formidable rivals like China's Eileen Gu, she remains confident in her abilities. "The girls I'm competing against force me to be better," Atkin says with a smile.
Atkin's elder sister Izzy has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation throughout her career. Winning Britain's first Winter Olympics skiing medal in Pyeongchang eight years ago was a defining moment for both sisters, and Atkin is determined to follow in her footsteps by winning Olympic gold.
I'm low-key impressed by Zoe Atkin's mental game 
. She actually studied symbolic systems at Stanford which is, like, super deep 
. It makes sense that she'd be all about facing her fears and pushing past limits 
. Her approach to mastering a trick is so calculated, it's almost like a math problem 
. I mean, failing 14 times in a row still stings, but it's clear she's got the perseverance to back up her skills 
. And it's dope that having an identity outside of skiing has helped her performance 
. I'm rooting for her at Milano Cortina, especially against Eileen Gu - that's gonna be some epic competition 
!
Her approach to pushing through fear and uncertainty is so inspiring. I love how she studies symbolic systems to understand human behavior, it's like a mental game-changer for her 
i love how she approaches skiing with a scientific mindset, it's like she's trying to solve a puzzle and overcome those fears. her dedication to self-improvement is truly inspiring 
and I'm loving the fact that she's not just focused on winning, but also using sports as a way to cultivate her identity outside of competition 
. And the fact that she's able to cultivate a strong identity outside of skiing has had such a huge impact on her performance 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to be able to focus and stay calm under pressure when they're trying something new? 
It's all about being intentional and calculated 
. Bring on those Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and let Zoe Atkin show everyone what she's made of!
but seriously zoey atkins seems really cool like she studies symbols and stuff 
, but what about the UK's support system? I mean, Zoe Atkin's got a solid academic background from Stanford, but Izzy's Olympic win was a British moment that still hasn't been replicated, right? It's like, when it comes to pushing yourself beyond limits, do we really value our athletes' personal growth and identity outside of competition? 
We need to rethink how we support our winter sports teams, especially in areas like mental health and performance coaching. Atkin's got this whole 'fearless mentality' thing going on, but what about when the pressure gets too much? We need more than just encouragement – we need a comprehensive plan to help our athletes thrive both on and off the slopes 
. It shows that even though you're training for something super demanding, having a life outside of it can actually help you perform better.
. I mean who wouldn't want to win gold at the Olympics, especially after seeing her sister Izzy take Britain's first skiing medal all those years ago? 
.
Can't wait to see how Atkin does in the competition 
she went 2 studij @ stanford uni 4 symbolic systems & now shes killin it on da ski halfpipe!!! 
i mean, its not abt thrills or adrenaline, its bout mastering ur fears & pushing thru 
