Inside the Mind of a Winter Olympian: The Science of Stoke

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Show notes

Lesley McKenna is a pioneer in the world of action sports. A three-time Olympian (2002, 2006, 2010), she represented Great Britain on the snowboarding World Cup circuit, becoming the first GB snowboarder to win a World Cup event, and led the World Cup standings as the number 1 ranked snowboarder at the peak of her powers. Following her retirement, she transitioned into coaching and full time management, and was Team Manager of the GB Park and Pipe team from 2014 to 2022. As a veteran of six Olympic Games, she shares unique insights into the preparation, training and mindset of Winter Olympic athletes in the action sports.

She further expanded her understanding by embarking on a PhD with Leeds-Beckett University, that studied and explained how snowboarders and other action sports athletes develop skills, manage risk, and perform in high-pressure competition environments while staying true to the culture and authenticity of their sport This led to the development of a framework she called "The Risk Aesthetic Framework", which explains how action sports maintain meaning, creativity, and community in the competitive cauldron of the Olympic Games.

In this wide-ranging interview, Lesley draws from her experience and her research to share fascinating insights that ultimately reveal the science of "the stoke", and the hidden side of some of the most spectacular, jeopardy-filled sports in the world.

Links

• Here is Lesley's website with more detail on her framework
• The documentary Lesley recommended is called Pipe Dream - you can watch it on Netflix
• Fancy a "backside air" - here's Lesley teaching you the way!
• A documentary about Lesley with some footage of her in action

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