Giancarlo Pedote, skipper of the IMOCA Prysmian, follows well-established rituals to better manage pressure and fully concentrate on his performance.
“It’s always the same gestures. First the left leg, always. Sock, shoe, always. Then the right leg…”. No one has forgotten the sporting ritual of Zinedine Zidane highlighted more than twenty years ago in the famous documentary “Les yeux dans les Bleus” filmed behind the scenes of the French team during the World Cup, in 1998 (French documentary film directed by Stéphane Meunier and the Canal+ television channel).
The football legend explained it at the time: this little pre-match routine contributed to his performance, his well-being and his overall success on the field. It has long been proven that establishing this type of “habit” allows athletes to improve their concentration, strengthen their confidence and motivation, but also to manage pressure. “Rituals provide a sense of structure and routine. They make it possible to cope with high pressure situations because they act as a constant in the face of uncertainty, providing a feeling of stability”, notes Giancarlo Pedote who therefore organized his days metronomically during this long pre-departure phase. three weeks, in Les Sables d'Olonne. “Every morning after waking up, I open my computer and look at the weather files. At 8:30 a.m., I check in with the guys from the team. Then, I spend a large part of the day at the boat to refine the last details. At the end of the day, I do a swimming session with my pull-buoy, my pads and my bungee cord, then I walk on the embankment thinking of nothing before going back and completely cutting myself off from everything. Finally, I live a little in hidden mode, in a world that is mine. This allows me to be present in the race village without really realizing it, which is a good thing because with experience, I know that it is necessary not to get caught up in the excitement of the pontoons to keep all your energy and stay focused on your goal.”
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An identical recipe but with a few small adjustments
Is the way he manages this phase of the competition different from four years ago, when he first participated? “ Frankly no. At the time, I was super focused and I am just as focused this year. What changes is the fact of having the presence of the public unlike the last time because of the Covid-19 epidemic. What doesn't change is that I'm here above all to run a race! », continues the Florentine who, generally speaking, more or less reproduces the recipe he followed in 2020. And for good reason, why change a formula that works? “ The basis of my preparation remains the same. If I made it evolve, it's 10% at most », specifies the skipper of the 60' IMOCA in the colors of Prysmian. Examples? As for his supplies, he has only adjusted downwards in terms of quantity, while focusing on a little more variety. Same trend for his “spare” equipment which he has carefully selected to compensate for as much damage as possible, or his personal equipment which he has reduced by almost a quarter compared to the last time and which he plans to, if necessary, wash with a little organic liquid detergent. ” LThe big leap is coming soon. It is important to ask the last questions now because after the gun goes off, there will no longer be questions but only consequences. », relates the Italian sailor who nevertheless brought a new source of energy on board his boat with the installation of several solar panels, the latter aiming to improve efficiency while limiting the carbon footprint.
