Rugby legend inspiring Australian skier’s Olympic hopes
Murray Wenzel |
Cooper Woods will stand in the gates on the Livigno slopes reciting the same three cues John Eales whispered to himself in Wellington more than 25 years ago.
The Australian moguls skier was born one month after Eales slotted the famous penalty goal that retained the Bledisloe Cup for the Wallabies in 2000.
But the unlikely duo share a bond, and a mental mind hack, after Eales was paired with Woods ahead of the 2022 Beijing Games as a mentor through the Sport Australia Hall of Fame scholarship program.
What Eales taught a bright-eyed Woods worked – he surprised even himself to finish sixth – and has remained a key tool as he eyes the Milano Cortina podium in February.
“There’s a reset process he taught me, something he did when he kicked goals and I do it every time at the start gate,” Woods said.
“It’s a three-step process that centres me and gets me in a good headspace before I drop.”
First, Woods pictures the things he can’t control and, one-by-one, removes them from his mind.
Then there are three simple cues corresponding with certain sections of his run.
“Then, when I push out, it’s a ‘Let’s go’ to fire right up,” he said of step three.
“We haven’t spoken as much recently but he (Eales) is always there and that was unbelievable advice.”
The other slice of wisdom that’s stuck with Woods is Eales’ reminder to not “forget about why you’re actually there”.
Beijing’s pandemic-hit Games meant no crowds and fewer distractions but Woods insists he won’t lose focus with the world watching in Italy.
“As a team we’re very excited and individually, I’m going there to get a medal,” he said.
“With the ups and downs over the last few years, I’m keen to give it my all and look back knowing I did give it 100 per cent.”
Woods credits time spent off his skis rehabilitating a torn patella tendon for reinvigorating his love for a sport that now promises two chances of Olympic gold, with dual moguls to debut at the Games next year.
“I was like, ‘Wow, it’s good to be back’, so I changed it up a bit and made an effort to ski with mates again, just frothing skiing,” he said.
Now, any lingering thoughts about his surgically repaired knee are out the window, particularly in the duals discipline.
“You just push out of the gates and you’re just thinking, ‘I’m going to smoke the person next to me’,” he smiled.
“It’s all guns blazing.
“It’s super exciting, very on edge, lots of crashes.
“It’s going to be awesome for our sport, but terrifying for us.”
AAP
