Grant Stockman is an Icebreaker Ambassador, Swiss and New Zealand alpine ski racing and demonstration representative, international alpine ski race coach at Stockman Sports and Ruapehu Snow Sports – a man of many talents, who’s bi-lingual in English and German.
Grant is a unique athlete who chose sport over a possible career as a stand up comic. And not only is he a pro on the ski slopes, he is also a PGA qualified goIfing coach. This makes him the perfect competitor for the Ski and Golf World Championships in Austria, which started yesterday and runs until the 23rd of May. We caught up with him before the start to ask him some questions about the upcoming champs.
Why have you chosen to compete in the Ski and Golf World Championships?
It’s every athlete’s dream to test yourself against the very best in alpine skiing and professional golfing. It’s the most authentic way to put myself and Stockman Sports out there.
Ski and golf is an interesting mix. Do you find there is a beneficial relationship between training for both sports?
I feel there is a strong connection relative to the individual who both ski’s and plays golf. The biomechanics are in many ways similar, it’s just the way we execute the movements can be very different. It’s very interesting to coach the higher level skiers and ski coaches when you bring in the mental strength of what golf and skiing is about. The main hurdle is helping them to see the relation between the two sports from the same perspective as I see it.
What makes you most passionate about golf?
I love coaching golf as it is always a challenge to improve every level of golfer as well as your own game. I find the mental toughness, ethics, history and evolution of the sport so fascinating. Also, it is a great way to relax and meet people. You can certainly learn a lot about someone by playing golf with them!
Who are some notable names you have coached over the years?
Shania Twain (Grammy award-winning country-pop singer/songwriter), Steve Hansen (All Blacks coach), Kevin Nealon (US actor/comedian), Grant Dalton (Emirates Team New Zealand yacht racing Managing Director). Current and former World Cup alpine ski racers I have coached include; Kjetil Andre Aamodt (Norway), Lasse Kjus (Norway), Dominique Gisin (Switzerland), Rainer Schoenfelder (Austria), Leif Christian Haugen (Norway), Christoph Gruber (Austria), Nicole Hosp (Austria), Nadja Kamer (Switzerland) and Fabienne Suter (Switzerland), to name but a few.
Check out how Grant’s going through his Facebook Page and for images check out his photos on Flickr.
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