Former world surfing champion Layne Beachley mentors next crop of triathlon Olympics hopefuls
Former world surfing champion Layne Beachley mentors next crop of triathlon Olympics hopefuls
LAYNE Beachley's tales of rocketing down the face of a 7m foaming monster could inspire Australia's next generation of Olympic champions.
The seven-time surfing world champion yesterday told a squad of Olympic triathlon hopefuls what it takes to be the best, and how to harness the terrifying giant breaks of Oahu's North Shore.
Layne Beachley pictured with Emma Snowsill, Ashleigh Gentle, Felicity Abram, Emma Jackson, Brendan Sexton, Jamie Huggett, Dan Wilson, Courtney Atkinson, Emma Moffatt and Brad Kahlefeldt
Perhaps an unorthodox appointment as one of four athlete liaison officers to serve the national team, Beachley's message was immediately relevant as she spoke to Emma Snowsill, Brad Kahlefeldt and others about conquering fear and the process of winning.
She admitted she was frightened by the bone crushing consequences of being consumed by Hawaii's big waves, but trusted her instincts, showed faith in her ability and then looked back to appreciate the mountain she had climbed.
"One of my strengths was my mental aptitude. You have to be conscious of the self-talk and the negative thoughts. You need to turn them around and catch them in time.
"Every one of us on the day has the ability to be the best but (it depends) how you deal with the variety of components you're confronted with."
Beachley and her AOC-appointed colleagues Grant Hackett, Steve Waugh and John Eales will deliver many messages to Australia's best athletes before the London Games.
Yesterday, in the meeting room at the Australian Institute of Sport's canoeing facility at the Gold Coast, Beachley stressed the importance of positive thinking.
Rookies like Gold Coast triathlete Ashleigh Gentle, who at 20 is Beachley's junior by 19 years, identified with the doubts the surfer had when she first joined the world tour.
Brendan Sexton asked her about psychological warfare.
Olympic champion Snowsill nodded as Beachley described the pressure of defending a world title.
"I've got to know Layne. There's some people on your wavelength and you understand their journey," Snowsill said.
"I've read her book and drawn from that in my own career. There's always ways to do things differently. She's a great resource for us."
Snowsill is ganging up with another multiple world champion in a bid to return to the podium at next year's London Olympics.
The Queenslander and her namesake, Emma Moffatt, are planning a series of training camps in South Africa, Germany, France and at home on the Gold Coast.
They achieved some of their best results as training partners, including their gold and bronze medals in Beijing three years ago and in the lead up to their Emma trifecta with Emma Jackson in Hamburg last season.
"We both like to work hard and we're competitive but we have a good balance in training," Snowsill said.
"It's a job but we enjoy it at the same time. It can be about harmony and that's what works for us."
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