An error is defined as an action, or inaction, inconsistent with the intended objective, an unintentional deviation from what is correct and one of its causes is our human variability and limitation. According to James Reason, professor of psychology, an error is a planned action that fails to achieve the desired consequences. For us as skiers, an error would be a deviation from optimal performance.
Error is closely related to intention. We may have the wrong intention so our actions will not be appropriate, or our intention may be correct but our actions incorrect. An automatic process predominates over an intentional process. Our automatic processes are interrupted usually due to external events but also by internal causes such as, for example, our thoughts.
The conflict arises when our judging mind interprets errors as ‘bad’ and identifies with them. There are no good and bad errors but efficient and inefficient ways of acting. A failure-causing source arises when we focus on what ‘shouldn’t‘ be done, instead of focusing on what ‘should‘ be done. Focusing attention on the error is just another error.
When in contact with our body and with the error, each one of us experience it in a particular way. This link may favor or hinder its correction and may or may not collaborate in finding the solution by seeking new resources to reach the lost skiing harmony.
A mistaken consideration is to believe that, when skiing, only our body movements must be corrected when in fact, our conceptual mind is corrected first and then our body movements. Once rectified, the error will be controlled but not suppressed since it can become a latent threat.
When skiing many errors occur due to our lack of knowledge. Knowing how to do allows to be aware of what we are doing since we cannot correct anything without knowing what the fault is. To think that we can correct the mistake without a guide or reference is to make another mistake. The mistake occurs because we don’t know how to do it or as a consequence of forgetting how to do it.
According to psychologist Bernardo Stamateas, the key is to have tolerance for error and incorporate it as part of learning. He goes on to say that to fail is not to fall but to remain fallen, and that error is the master of any path to success.
Types of errors
It is a widespread belief that making mistakes in skiing refers exclusively to errors in certain technical movements. While these are the most common, there are other types:
- Action errors in which our execution of an action is incorrect, poorly sequenced, or poorly dosed.
- Errors due to goal ignorance: our objective is insufficiently defined or poorly evaluated.
- Diagnosis errors: error of evaluation of the causes.
- Perception errors: the situation or stimulus is not properly perceived.
- Interpretation errors: the perceived situation is misinterpreted.
- Representation errors: there is a gap between the real situation and our mental image to find the solution.
- Decision errors: wrong or untimely decision making.
- Rule-based errors: misapplication of appropriate rules.
Other errors are due to:
- Lack of or excessive attention.
- Omission of verification.
- Limited intentionality.
- Interference due to distracting stimuli.
- Overconfidence.
- Environmental causes.
- External causes such as slope congestion.
Errors can be further classified into three levels: behavioral, contextual, and conceptual. They can also be divided into errors of expertise and errors due to lack of expertise; chance errors (human variability) or systematic errors (human constancy); errors in choosing an objective or a method to achieve an objective.
