Going 'All In' - Red Bull Highlights Marco Odermatt's Winning Formula

In the world of Alpine skiing, reigning World and Olympic Giant Slalom champion Marco Odermatt is a name synonymous with excellence and unwavering determination.

As the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup returns on October 28-29, Odermatt takes center stage on the latest episode of the 'Mind Set Win' podcast, where he imparts invaluable insights into the mental strategies that have made him a dominant force in the sport.

In 2023, Marco Odermatt's dominance in Alpine skiing was nothing short of spectacular. He clinched World Championship gold in both Downhill and Giant Slalom disciplines, amassing 13 race wins and setting a new FIS World Cup record with 2042 points in the men's competition.

As he prepared for the 2024 season's kickoff in Sölden, Austria on October 29, Odermatt shared the mental approach that has made him the athlete to beat every time he stands at the starting gate. Here are all the learnings from the episode:

Embracing Routines and Adaptability

• The episode explores how routines can give you comfort in stressful situations, but that remaining flexible and adaptable can also help unlock the right mindset to show your best performance.
• "I like the challenge of trying different things, I think it's important that your mindset isn't too fixed within yourself." - Marco Odermatt

A Matter of Preparation

• "I think in every sport it's about the preparation. I really go all in during training because my mind and my body have to train on a level where they can react the way I want them to in the race." - Marco Odermatt
• Marco explains how it’s in the final 10 minutes before a race that he’s really able to zone in, focus, and prepare his body and mind for going “all-in”.
  Visualisation and Open-Mindedness

The Swiss champion shares that visualisation is a technique he does before every single race but that he also enjoys the challenge of being open-minded enough to try other methods, like taking a pre-race nap if he needs it.

• "I like the challenge of trying different things, I think it's important that your mindset isn't too fixed within yourself." - Marco Odermatt
• "My brain has already skied these runs many times, so if I make a mistake, it knows exactly what to do next." - Marco Odermatt

Dreams, Risks, and Memories

• Marco also reveals what the dream was that he wrote down as a kid, why he takes risks in training, and his recent memories from the Winter Olympics.

Confidence and Flexibility

Podcast hosts Cédric Dumont and York-Peter Klöppel offer some guidance on how to remain flexible while trusting your routines, and how we can all apply this technique to everyday situations.

• “I'm an athlete who goes all in. For me, this is the best tactic." - Marco Odermatt
• “At this point in my career, I know that I can perform and win. This gives me huge confidence.” - Marco Odermatt
• "In Switzerland, when we learn how to walk, we also learn how to ski - Marco Odermatt
• “It’s a really fine path between being too stuck in your routines, but still having flexibility.” – York-Peter Klöppel

Continuous Mental Training and Experimentation

• “Mental training is every day." - Marco Odermatt
• “Marco described it very nicely – mental training is a process. You have to keep practicing it.” – York-Peter Klöppel
• “Some routines will work for some people, and others won’t. You have to test and experiment.” - Cédric Dumont

Listen to the Latest Episode of 'Mind Set Win' with Marco Odermatt HERE.