mental state in jumping

I think the most important thing is to be balanced right at the top of the jump, pop off in a controlled manner at the crest, and spot your landing as soon as possible!!!

I think the worst thing you can do is sit at the top of the jump and stare at it for a long time.  You end up freaking yourself out and messing up.  Just don't think too hard, trust your skills, and go for it.  Let your buddies wait around at the top thinking how good you are.

I learned the hard way is that you never want to bail out halfway up the jump.

commitment is the most important thing, hesitation will be your enemy and cause you to wipe out!

I try to think about nothing and just hit the jump but most of the time i end up hoping not to fall.

oh crap i think im going to fast or this is going to hurt lol usually goes through my mind as i approach a jump

WHEN YOU GO OFF A JUMP, Just jump and land how you normally would...bend knees and extend when jumping and when you are about to land bend knees to cushion your landing..

Originally posted by MadSLOOPYyo Thats how i learned...of course there are many ways...but everytime i would jump i would always wipe out on the landing...Until a friend told me when i hit the jumps just bend your knees... like you would, coming down from any jump. BENT KNEES is IMPORTANT FOR LANDING...DONT THINK JUST DO IT...TOO MUCH THINKING OF WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO MESSES WITH YOUR HEAD AND YOU TEND TO PSYCH YOURSELF OUT...ALL EXPERIENCES...JUST DO IT...BEST WAY TO LEARN

oh crap that must have hurt...

"Ok, don't slow down now. This is a great speed, approach is looking great. You're almost there! Focus! Now fly! OH crap DON'T POP THIS YOU WILL SERIOUSLY DIE OMMMMG!" Then realize I jumped 3 meters in the air and landed on the flat and think shtooking IDIOT, THIS WAS A SMALL JUMP, DO BETTER ON THE NEXT!".
Rince and repeat 50 times and I've had a good day

When I go to hit a jump, Im just saying to myself  "You better not break your leg--you got things to do tomorrow!"

I learned it the hard way.. I think the most important thing is not trying to jump vertically at the lip of the jump. Many people try SO HARD to jump straight up when they are taking off, and this severely throws off your balance and you can't stay compact in the mid air. If so, you won't be able to do any grabs since you can't bring your knees to your chest... and you will fly very awkwardly and hence the painful landing.

Next time, Just try to do a very small ollie. Just think that you are doing a small ollie. but in fact, it will be pretty big when you are actually jumping.

Originally posted by endeaveri Next time, Just try to do a very small ollie. Just think that you are doing a small ollie. but in fact, it will be pretty big when you are actually jumping.

personally i think a lot of its just procedural memory. once your familiar with the approach and the launch its almost second nature, i guess the cognition is in spotting and stomping.

last time i jumped, i thought "oh crap" and took a spill. had a headache afterwards lol. i really need to think of other stuff so i dont fall

i usually think that the air i got was not near as much as i thought it was gonna be... pretty disappointing. ha

Originally posted by finny174 I just think to my self of all the girls watching me.

I know this is a joke, but I really think having chicks watch you makes you concentrate like nothing else in the park. 

i just go for it. if i think too much about it ill never go off it

it helps if you wax the sh*t outta your board too.

just tell yourself your gonna be fine...popping is key and definitely spot your landing asap

I have a hell of a time spotting my landing.  The jump always seems to go by in .02 seconds.  Usually I just go for it and hope for the best.

I havent been able to find my timing yet for popping, I seem to pop too late and then am all jumbled in the air. Ive mastered boxes and done that but just having the balls to go at it and learn. I know I will eventually be able to get the correct speed and timing to launch of bigger jumps

Originally posted by Attrox Can't you get a back protector that provides good support?

you know, I've never even thought bout it, I might depending on how it fits and feel. can't see it being too comfortable for all day riding. thx thou.

I look at the jump only for a second and breath deep and decide what goes up will come down and know that if I grab the board ill be more stabel in the air. Then I just go and pop at the take off and see how it goes. Some time you win sometimes you lose

Spend a little time in the park near the jump / kicker / or table that you want to hit.  Watch other riders hit it.  Watch them to see their speed.  Then, take another run through the park again and approach the jump with the speed that you think you need to safely clear it / land it.  Stop just shy of the top and get a good look at the distance needed to clear it from the top of the jump.  Last but not least (may sound stupid but it works), picture yourself hitting the jump and landing it in order to build up your confidence.  Then, go hit it.  If you come up short, you obviously know you need more speed.  If you over shoot it, scrub off some speed.  After hitting a jump a few times, no matter how big or small, you will start to get an eye for how fast you need to hit it and it will be easier for you to judge it each and every time.  Practice practice practice.  That's the key.  Good luck, you'll get it.