Visualisation June: The power of talking to yourself
When I started Visualisation June, I thought I would nail this quickly. Close my eyes, imagine myself landing that strapless handstand 360, and my brain would handle the rest. Easy, right? Well, not exactly.
Instead, I ran into a familiar problem: my mind kept wandering. I would start visualising and, two seconds later, I was thinking about random stuff. My kite crashing, what I should eat for dinner, that one seal staring at me last session. And even when I did stay focused, I kept seeing myself wipe out more on that struggle here.
I kept practicing, every day, using the tips from my second post to sharpen the images. But something was still missing. Until an odd idea popped into my head: What if I became my own guide?
Becoming your own coach
That is when I started talking myself through the visualisation. Not just thinking it, but actually narrating the steps out loud. I noticed that speaking kept my mind engaged. It stopped drifting because I was actively coaching myself through each move:
Edge hard.
Pop.
Look over your shoulder.
Spot your landing.
Absorb.
Suddenly, I was not just watching the trick happen. I was actively performing it in my head.
The next level: recording yourself
Then I took it one step further. I started recording my own little guided visualisation sessions. Nothing fancy. Just a voice memo where I talk myself into the zone and though the trick.
Here is roughly how my recording goes:
Start with a quick body check. A minute of relaxed breathing and attention to my body, releasing tension.
Set the scene. I describe the beach, the weather, my kite in the sky. The sound of the wind. The feel of the bar in my hands.
The warmup ride. I imagine cruising up and down a few times, feeling comfortable and steady.
The trick prep. I narrate every step of the trick, nice and slow, guiding myself like a coach.
Repeat the trick a few times. Letting the flow build and confidence grow.
Listening to my own voice helps anchor the focus. It is weird at first, but also oddly comforting. You become your own coach and biggest cheerleader.
Why this works
There is science behind self-talk. If you want to dive deeper, check out Hardy et al. (2009), A framework for the study and application of self-talk in sport. Instructional self-talk helps athletes focus on the process rather than just the outcome. You break complex moves into smaller, clear steps, which makes it much easier for your brain to process and execute. Visualisation can easily drift into vague, blurry highlight reels. Talking locks you into the details.
And recording yourself adds an extra layer. You take away the mental effort of remembering every cue. Just close your eyes, hit play, and let your own voice guide you.
You can even use it on the water
The nice thing? You can also do this during your actual session. Not by blasting your recording on the beach (unless you want weird looks), but by quietly talking to yourself before takeoff:
Set your edge.
Keep tension in the lines.
Eyes up.
Go.
And if you hesitate or feel stuck, just count yourself in: "3, 2, 1... go." Sometimes you just need that little push to commit. It is like having your personal coach whispering in your ear. Only it is you.
Wrapping it up
Visualisation June has taken a strange but cool turn. From struggling with drifting thoughts and crashing mental images, to becoming my own guided coach, my sessions feel more focused and controlled. I am not nailing every try yet. But my brain feels sharper. My confidence is up. And my crashes are at least a bit more intentional now.
If you feel stuck with visualisation, try it. Talk to yourself. Record yourself. Coach yourself. You might feel a bit silly, but your riding brain will thank you.
And who knows, maybe by the end of Visualisation June, I will have an entire collection of weird self-guided pep talks. Whatever works, right?
xox Berito