Snowboarding at the Olympics: Fear, Playlists & Calming Rituals

Livigno, Italy – As the 2026 Winter Olympics unfold, the pressure on athletes is immense. For the U.S. Snowboarding team, maintaining focus amidst the competition isn’t just about physical training; it’s about mastering the mental game. And their strategies, as it turns out, are surprisingly personal, ranging from classic rock anthems to ancient meditative practices.

The fear factor is real, even at the elite level. “I was scared yesterday, I’m scared every day,” admits Sean FitzSimons, a U.S. Snowboarder competing in Big Air and Slopestyle, speaking to NPR. The sheer scale of the Big Air ramp – 55 meters high, roughly the height of a 15-story building – is enough to unnerve anyone. “You always have a little bit of fear of injury, but when you’re doing the bigger tricks, especially the first few times you do them, especially on a new jump, it’s always like – all right, let’s do it,” FitzSimons explained.

To combat that fear and lock in, athletes are turning to carefully curated pre-drop rituals. For FitzSimons, the key is a potent dose of hard rock. “’For Whom the Bell Tolls,’ is usually my go-to,” he says, launching into his playlist. “Then Metallica radio on Spotify, and then it goes to some Alice in Chains…That whole genre just gets me psyched.”

The approach isn’t limited to adrenaline-pumping music. On the women’s team, Maddie Mastro relies on pep talks from her coaches, though she admits she doesn’t always fully absorb the message. “I feel like I black out from the moment I walk up ’til the run’s over,” she says, “But I’m sure it’s just these words of motivation that help me.” Beyond the coaching, Mastro finds focus through pop music, currently gravitating towards Doja Cat and, surprisingly, a throwback to Natasha Bedingfield.

Perhaps the most unique pre-competition ritual comes from 17-year-old Alessandro Barbieri, nicknamed “Kitty Kitty Meow Meow” by his teammates. Barbieri incorporates his pet – a silver tabby Maine coon named Bella – into his routine. His mother sends him photos of Bella before competitions, a practice he finds surprisingly calming. He also begins each run with three claps and a small ollie before dropping into the halfpipe.

The team’s mental preparation extends beyond individual routines. The entire U.S. Halfpipe snowboarding team has embraced qigong, an ancient Chinese practice involving coordinated movement and breath control. Chase Blackwell describes it as “meditation in motion,” explaining that it “gets me in the zone, calms the nerves a little bit and gets me fired up to go send.”

Teammate Chase Josey elaborates on the practice, describing it as “collecting the energy, harnessing that universal power.” He believes qigong allows athletes to push their bodies to extreme limits “and ideally do it gracefully and smoothly and land on your feet.” Even the coaches are participating, performing “cloud hands” – a specific qigong exercise – to maintain a calm and focused atmosphere.

These diverse strategies highlight a growing understanding within elite sports of the importance of mental fortitude. It’s no longer enough to be physically prepared; athletes must also cultivate the mental resilience to perform under pressure. The U.S. Snowboarding team’s approach, blending personal rituals with ancient practices, offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolving landscape of competitive sports psychology. It’s a testament to the fact that, even at the highest level, finding calm amidst the chaos can be the key to success.