Kitty cats and cloud fingers

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7628x5086+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F43%2F13%2F8498aeaa42c2affaa7e85c007fc1%2Fap26041407934931.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7628x5086+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F43%2F13%2F8498aeaa42c2affaa7e85c007fc1%2Fap26041407934931.jpg" class="img" alt="United States' Alessandro Barbieri practices during a snowboarding halfpipe training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026." fetchpriority="high"/> United States' Alessandro Barbieri, AKA "Kitty Kitty Meow Meow," sends it throughout a halfpipe coaching session on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Abbie Parr/AP disguise caption

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Abbie Parr/AP The professionals agree: It is scary on the high of an Olympic snowboarding run.

"I used to be scared yesterday, I am scared on daily basis," says Sean FitzSimons, a U.S. snowboarder from Hood River, Oregon, who competes in Large Air and Slopestyle.

The Large Air ramp is 55 meters tall, concerning the top of a 15 story constructing.Snowboarders launch off the ramp, performing flips and spins.

"You at all times have just a little little bit of worry of harm, however if you're doing the larger methods, particularly the primary few instances you do them, particularly on a brand new leap, it is at all times like – all proper, let's do it," FitzSimons says, including an expletive.

Competitors playlists By the point they get to the Olympics, elite U.S. snowboarders have spent years getting stronger, leaping greater, flipping quicker and honing all of their aggressive abilities, which incorporates calming their nerves. Many have developed their very own distinct pre-drop rituals, with particular songs and bodily practices that block out the noise and assist them lock in.

For FitzSimons, his pump-up playlist begins with old skool Metallica. "'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' is often my go-to," he says, "Then Metallica radio on Spotify, after which it goes to some Alice in Chains…That entire style simply will get me psyched."

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4670x3113+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F07%2F5054e08342f58b4a7264682a90ed%2Fap26040364911548.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4670x3113+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F20%2F07%2F5054e08342f58b4a7264682a90ed%2Fap26040364911548.jpg" class="img" alt="United States' Maddie Mastro speaks during a press conference at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026." loading="lazy"/> United States' Maddie Mastro speaks throughout a press convention on the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. Lindsey Wasson/AP disguise caption

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Lindsey Wasson/AP On the ladies's staff, snowboarder Maddie Mastro, from Wrightwood, California, will get pep talks from her coaches earlier than dropping into the halfpipe, although she's not at all times listening carefully to what they are saying. "I really feel like I black out from the second I stroll up 'til the run's over," she says, "However I am certain it is simply these phrases of motivation that assist me."Mastro additionally sings pop songs to psych herself up. "Usually it is Doja Cat, or currently it has been Natasha Bedingfield — bringing her again," she says.

17-year-old Alessandro Barbieri, an up-and-coming halfpipe star from Portland, Oregon, begins every run with three claps and just a little ollie earlier than dropping into the pipe. He additionally consists of his actual cat in his ritual - a silver tabby Maine coon named Bella. His mother sends him images of the cat earlier than competitions. "It retains me extra calm," Barbieri says.

His teammate Chase Josey from Hailey, Idaho says Barbieri's cat behavior has earned him the nickname "Kitty Kitty Meow Meow."

The U.S. males's halfpipe snowboarders have additionally been tapping into an historic Chinese language power observe. "I have been doing a bunch of qigong earlier than driving this entire season," says Chase Blackwell, from Longmont, Colorado. "Qigong is a type of meditation in movement. It will get me within the zone, calms the nerves just a little bit and will get me fired as much as go ship," he says.

Josey says the entire staff has been working towards qigong. "You are accumulating the power, harnessing that common energy," he says, "Then you'll be able to go on the market and push your individual physique to excessive limits within the halfpipe, and ideally do it gracefully and easily and land in your toes."

They've even received their coaches doing "cloud fingers," Josey says. "It retains it mild, too. In these moments of excessive stress, you'll be able to block out the noise just a little bit, simply breathe," he says.