I relate most things to skiing, since it is my primary sport. In fact, I suggest to everyone that they pick the sport they know best and relate everything to that. When my weight is in the right spot on my foot and ankle, my ski practically turns on its own. When I step onto my surfboard in the right spot with my body positioned in an athletic stance, similar to skiing but sideways, the board is as stable as a table. When I weight my bike on the outside foot (like skiing), turns become incredibly easy and the bike grips like Super Glue. Sure, sports have huge differences, but the similarities are amazing. Tell a tennis player who is learning to ski to assume the position when receiving a serve, and voilà, things suddenly get much easier. When you find that sweet spot, your equipment becomes a natural extension of your body, not an awkward piece of junk that you swear at frequently.

There are two factors I find help me in learning or transitioning to another sport and finding that sweet spot. The first is visualization. I watch movies or television of the other sport. I close my eyes and picture the movements. I look at the stance, how is it similar or different to skiing? How is it the same? Where is the weight distributed? I practice in my mind. I think of succeeding. (There is physical evidence to support that this works; different chemicals are secreted in our bodies when we think 'I can' and when we think 'I can't'). Second, I ask for advice from, preferably, someone who teaches the sport. I ask for similarities or differences to the sports that I already know...