R U Training Really Hard?
Training hard so that you're in shape is the first step in maximizing your fun and minimizing injury.
It's the first skill of the 4-key survival skills that you use to calculate your risk level in combination with your experience, physical environment and positive mental attitude. It's about the spirit to survive in all your outdoor activities!
Training hard is about practice, practice and more practice. After all, practice makes perfect!
It's not uncommon for elite athletes to cross train more than 1,000 hours during the year to prepare for competition! They know that hard work creates more opportunities for success, and helps avoid serious injury!
Remember, you're not out there planning to go to the emergency room, you're out there following your passions!
Get outdoors and get training! Show those around you that you have the spirit to survive when playing outdoors! Fostering a positive outlook is good karma. Always ask: Are U Ready? (Scroll down page for 4-key skill videos.)
What's Your Experience Level?
Experience counts! It's one of the 4-key survival skills that you can apply to calculate your risk level when playing outdoors. Be honest with yourself when evaluating your experience level. Listen to your intuition when unsure of what to do. There's nothing wrong with chilling out for a moment to plan your next move!
If your out riding on a trail, you want to match the difficulty of the trail to your skill level. At a skate park, make sure your BMX skills match the moves you are attempting. Learn to monitor yourself. Are you getting tired? Why push it? Most injuries occur at the end of the day when you're tired and hungry.
One of the most important decisions you can make when doing an outdoor activity is to plan to never do that activity alone. It's bad karma! It doesn't matter if your on a trail, a mountain side or in the water, if you're alone, there's no one to help you if there's an emergency. Ideally, you need three friends, one to stay with the injured person and one to go for help.
Calculating risks is a critical component of your experience. It can save your life and others. Always ask: Are U Ready? Don't you want to be back out there tomorrow with your friends doing what you love most? Of course you do! Use your survival skills and show those around you that you have the spirit to survive! You can not only save your own life, but the lives of your friends by applying these survival skills when playing outdoors. It's good karma to foster a positive outlook! (Scroll down the page for the 4-key survival skills videos.)
Photo: Kevin Vallely & Team, Eco-Challenge Race
Did You Check Your Physical Environment?
We all know about the environment, but what exactly is your physical environment? It's one of the 4-key survival skills that you apply to calculate your risk level when playing outdoors. It includes your body in relation to your immediate environment. Your physical environment also includes any gear you're wearing like your helmet, the weather conditions and what you're riding. If it's your bike - check the tire pressure, brakes and lights. If you're out on a trail, watching out for hazards or looking out for wildlife or domestic animals are important components of your physical environment. And, don't forget that water proof sunscreen!
Elite Athlete, Dave Norona, in the kiteboarding photo, dramatically shows how much control he has in his physical environment. He's uses his legendary positive energy and applies it to his 20 years of training and experience to control his kiteboard in the water turning effortlessly with the waves. He makes it look so easy! Check out his other gear that protects his body and head including a helmet and personal floatation device (PFD/Lifejacket).
Remember that karma will always get back to you! So make every one of your positive actions count and be prepared before heading outdoors to play. Always ask, 'Are U Ready?' You want to be back out there tomorrow living life instead of spending your time in the emergency room. Use your survival skills and show those around you that you have the spirit to survive! It's good karma to foster a positive outlook! (Scroll down page for 4-key survival skills videos.)
What's Your Attitude?
"Attitude transcends everything you do in life. When you have a positive attitude - everything else will follow. When I am out with my friends riding - it's good to encourage everyone, give your friends positive feedback. It will make them feel great and it will make you feel better, too!" quote, Ambassador & Freerider, Wade Simmons.
Saving your life or someone else's by applying the 4-key survival skills every time you participate in physical activities is a positive action! Showing those around you that you have the spirit to survive in all that you do is a positive action! Positive actions combined with an incredible focus can lead to lifesaving outcomes for yourself and those around you. It will help minimize risk and maximize fun in whatever outdoor activity you do. It's good karma to foster a positive outlook!
A positive mental attitude is the last and most important skill of the 4-key survival skills that you can apply to calculate your risk level in combination with your training, experience and physical environment. It's about fostering the spirit to survive in all your outdoor activities. Developing a positive attitude will help you make safer choices like staying focused, looking out for your friends and wearing protective gear.
Wade Simmons is a Legendary Freerider whose positive attitude is known throughout the mountain biking community intuitively applies the 4-key survival skills every time he goes out to ride or compete. He trains hard and is constantly challenging himself.
Get outdoors and live life to the fullest! (Scroll down the page to view the 4-key survival skills videos.)
Ambassador for BC Injury Prevention Centre
Wade Simmons
Legendary Freerider
Wade Simmons is one of the biggest names in the history of freeriding and is often called the “Legendary Freerider”. He is consistently ranked among the best and most influential riders of the movement and has been featured in publications around the globe.
