Nyman’s belief in himself pays off on slopes
Just before the season, American skier Steven Nyman made a $20,000 investment to bankroll a 30-something downhiller he believed could still be one of the best in the world.
Maybe a risky expenditure to some, since this skier has been besieged by injury after injury in recent seasons, leading to erratic results and loss of funding by the U.S. Ski Team.
But Nyman strongly believed in himself. So he dug deep into his own pockets this season to pay for his expenses and prove he could climb back on top.
His stock is now soaring.
Nyman captured a World Cup downhill race in Val Gardena, Italy, in December. Just before that, he took third during a downhill in Beaver Creek, Colorado, site of the world championships that begin next week and where he will be one of the favorites.
“I feel like I’m 20 again,” said Nyman, who’s from Sundance, Utah, and will turn 33 in two weeks. “I don’t feel all that old right now.”
His secret? Simple, old-fashioned rest. The easygoing Nyman needed to relax as intensely as he trained, just to keep everything in proper balance.
“You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” Nyman explained. “So if I’m not rested enough, I’m going to start breaking down. Then I can work and work and work, but I’m not going to be that strong. Rest is a key ingredient.
“I’m not one to slack and I probably worked too much (in seasons past). I just didn’t rest enough.”
His body paid the price. Over his career, he’s endured a bulging disk in his back that pinched a nerve and required him to wear a custom-fitted cast for six weeks. He also had a badly bruised shin and underwent operations on both knees.
But the injury that concerned him most was a torn left Achilles tendon, which sidelined him for the 2011-12 season.
“I was like, ‘Is this it?’ ” said Nyman, who’s made three Olympic teams, including Sochi last February. “I’ve given my whole life to become one of best. To quit? That’s not my style.
“The whole reason I didn’t quit was I still believed I had it in me.”