Freestyle skier Mac Forehand's path to a gold medal at the Olympics has been meticulously planned. He breaks down each trick in his mind into three distinct parts: the first flip, the second flip, and the third flip, as well as where he will grab – tail grab, Japan grab, or double Japan grab. This mental preparation is crucial for air awareness, which allows him to maintain a sense of spatial awareness while airborne.
Forehand's progression has been gradual, starting with the switched-up cork 1260 mute at the age of 17. He has since mastered more complex tricks, including the switch triple 1620, which he successfully executed last year at almost every event. His most recent addition to his arsenal is the 1980, learned on an airbag in Mammoth Mountain, California this year.
The upcoming trick, however, is the most daunting – a variation that requires him to "go blind" for a second, trusting that he'll get around and execute a successful spin. The margin for error is slim, as a single mistake could result in injury.
Forehand emphasizes the importance of taking off with the right power, striking a balance between patience and getting enough momentum to complete the trick. A rushy takeoff can lead to disaster, while too much patience can leave him without sufficient time to execute the trick.
As Forehand prepares for his Olympic debut, he exudes confidence in his skiing skills, knowing that his months of practice have honed his abilities to near perfection.
Forehand's progression has been gradual, starting with the switched-up cork 1260 mute at the age of 17. He has since mastered more complex tricks, including the switch triple 1620, which he successfully executed last year at almost every event. His most recent addition to his arsenal is the 1980, learned on an airbag in Mammoth Mountain, California this year.
The upcoming trick, however, is the most daunting – a variation that requires him to "go blind" for a second, trusting that he'll get around and execute a successful spin. The margin for error is slim, as a single mistake could result in injury.
Forehand emphasizes the importance of taking off with the right power, striking a balance between patience and getting enough momentum to complete the trick. A rushy takeoff can lead to disaster, while too much patience can leave him without sufficient time to execute the trick.
As Forehand prepares for his Olympic debut, he exudes confidence in his skiing skills, knowing that his months of practice have honed his abilities to near perfection.
3 flips and a grab is like nothing i can even imagine, but at the same time i'm kinda jealous lol 
his mental prep must be insane, like breaking down each trick into parts... that's just crazy. but you gotta admire the skill level, he's not just throwing tricks out there, he's calculated risk-taking 
. All this "going blind" business just seems like a recipe for disaster, you know? What if he gets around but loses control and crashes into something? 
And what's with the emphasis on getting off with the right power? It feels like he's putting too much pressure on himself, which could mess up his whole mental game 
. I'm just saying, let him stick to what works, you know?
I love how he breaks down each trick into parts and visualizes the whole thing - it's literally like he's already done it before 
I'm also impressed by how far he's come since he was 17, like what a progression! 
The mental game is definitely key to his success, and it's awesome that he trusts himself enough to "go blind" for a sec 
, mac forehand's mental prep is on point but what if he doesn't execute the trick perfectly it's not just about him, there's the risk of injury for himself and others around him 
. but at the same time, his confidence in his skills is inspiring, like he's got this 
.
Mac Forehand's mental preparation is seriously impressive - he's basically got this trick in his head and can visualize the entire thing without even being on the mountain. His progression has been so gradual, too, from that cork 1260 mute at 17 to mastering more complex tricks like the switch triple 1620... it just shows how much dedication and hard work goes into getting to the top of your sport. 
But what I think is really cool (and a bit intimidating) is this upcoming trick where he has to "go blind" for a second - it's like, what if something goes wrong?! 
. The margin for error is super slim, as you said - a single mistake could be disastrous 
. Did you know that freestyle skiing has seen a 25% increase in viewership over the past 5 years? 
That's a lot of people tuning in to watch some skiers fly down a mountain 
!
. anyway, i'm hyped for him at the olympics this year and i know he's gonna crush it 
He's got to be so nervous about this new trick but at the same time, he seems super confident in his skills 
His dedication and patience are truly inspiring 
He's got this, Mac! You're going to crush it at the Olympics 
I mean, who wouldn't with all that mental prep? He's like a pro at breaking down tricks into tiny parts - first flip, second flip... that kinda stuff. And mastering the air awareness thingy is super key for him. But, for real tho, 1980 trick on an airbag in Mammoth Mountain this year? That's some next level skill right there 
.
Now he's tackling some serious tricks like the switch triple 1620 and just learned the 1980 on an airbag in Cali this year. That takes guts!
. Forehand seems confident, though - his months of practice have clearly paid off. Bring on the Olympics and can't wait to see him crush it! 
! anyway, love how forehand breaks down each part of the trick in his mind – i do something similar when working on a project, like making a mental checklist to ensure everything is just right 
. It's crazy to think about how much mental preparation and physical practice goes into something like that. I'm definitely rooting for him at the Olympics 
️