Race Mentality: How to Get Your Head Right for Onewheel Competition
When you're gearing up for a Onewheel race — like the upcoming Dirtsurferz in Arkansas this May — it's easy to get caught up in upgrades. Rails, footpads, tire swaps, motor tuning... we’re all about that. But when the horn sounds, none of it matters unless the rider behind the board is mentally dialed in.
Racing is a whole different beast than trail riding or group rides. There’s pressure. There’s adrenaline. There are other riders breathing down your neck. And in the middle of that chaos, the biggest advantage you can have is your mindset.
Train Like You Race — But Not Just the Miles
Everyone knows you need to be putting in hours on the board (and time on your feet) if you want to compete seriously. But don’t just rack up miles and call it training. Instead, simulate what you’ll actually experience on race day:
Ride when your legs are tired.
Practice technical sections again and again, even after a fall.
Push yourself in short, intense bursts.
The idea is to build not just endurance, but resilience. When your body knows what to do even while your brain is screaming "nope," you're in a good place.
The Fall Trap: Don’t Let One Wreck Your Race
One of the hardest parts of racing isn’t the terrain or the competition — it’s what happens after your first fall.
That first crash can mess with your head. It can make you tense up, second-guess your lines, and start riding not to fall instead of riding to win.
Falls happen, and they happen to the best of racers. In fact, most race footage we’ve seen from podium winners includes multiple falls. What sets them apart isn’t the fall itself — it’s how they bounce back.
The trick is to plan for it mentally. Before the race even starts, tell yourself how you’ll respond: quick reset, deep breath, back in the zone. Everyone crashes. What separates the solid riders from the top racers is how fast they recover.
Caution vs. Hesitation: Know the Difference
There’s a line between smart caution and paralyzing hesitation — and it’s thinner than most people think.
Caution means you're in control, aware of your limits, and picking your lines with intention. Hesitation, though, comes from fear. It's when you’re second-guessing everything, braking too often, or bailing when you didn’t need to.
In racing, hesitation is a killer. Commit to your lines. Even if it’s not perfect, decisive riding is almost always faster (and safer) than indecision.
Don't Burn Out Before the Starting Line
Most Onewheel races only allow practice runs a day or two before the actual heats begin. That’s not a lot of time to learn a course — especially when your instincts are telling you to ride it over and over until it’s burned into memory.
But here’s the thing: you still have to race. And if you go full-send on every practice lap, you’ll be racing on tired legs, and you’ll feel it.
There’s an argument to be made for learning the course efficiently without draining your energy reserves. Walk it. Film it. Ride it once or twice. Then rest. Save your real push for when it counts.
Visualize Like It’s Your Job
This might sound woo-woo, but it’s something almost every elite athlete does: visualization.
Close your eyes and imagine yourself riding the course. Nail every carve. Handle every feature clean. Feel the flow in your body before you even step on the board. If you've already "ridden" it in your head, it won’t feel so foreign when the race starts.
Practice the Segments — Lock in Your Lines
Even if you only have a day or two on the course, focused practice can go a long way. Instead of just riding the full trail over and over, break it into segments — especially the tricky parts. Ride those sections repeatedly until your body knows them. The more time you spend on a segment, the more likely you are to instinctively remember the best line when it matters most.
Want to take it up a notch? Strap on a GoPro and film your practice runs. Watching the footage later can help you spot better lines, visualize flow, and catch mistakes you didn’t notice in the moment. Replaying those segments in your head — or on screen — helps reinforce your instincts even more, so come race day, you're reacting, not second-guessing.
Upgrades Matter — But Mental Game Wins Races
We build and upgrade boards for a living, and we’ll be the first to say: a better board does make a difference. A fully upgraded board can give you the confidence, stability, and edge you need when every second counts.
But here's the thing: the best mods in the world won’t carry you through hesitation, fear, or mental fatigue.
If you put as much effort into sharpening your mindset as you do into perfecting your board, you’ll be unstoppable.
And if you're looking to elevate your setup, we’re here to help. Hit us up here to get your board dialed in for race day.
Words from the Trail: Race Mindset According to the Community
We asked a few friends from the Onewheel racing world what the mental game means to them. These are riders who’ve stood on the several times — so if anyone knows what it takes, it’s them. Here’s what they had to say:
“Smooth is fast, always. You’re always at your fastest when you're in that flow state; when you’re comfortable. If you feel like you’re fighting against the nose of the board or leaning way too far to get speed, that’s when mistakes happen. Chill!
Also, get to know the trail. Knowing what's around the corner helps you prepare your next move. Know when there’s a chunky patch, or when you can punch it for a while. Having the trail memorized is a huge advantage.
Lastly, practice and warmup! Especially on race day. Hit all the features you can, ride through the chunk, and get those legs ready! Racing is not for the meek.” - Austin Cravens, 1WheelParts Rider & Podium Finisher x
ALSO… It's Not Just About Winning
Racing is fierce, and not every race ends with you standing on the podium. That can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when you’ve poured so much time and energy into training. But here's the reality: not every race is about winning.
It's about racing your best race. It’s about pushing your limits, improving with every lap, and doing the best you can in the moment. Sometimes, that’s enough.
There will be times when you have a bad race — when you’re not pleased with your times or how you performed. Those are simply learning experiences. Every race is an opportunity to identify what you can improve, so the next time around, you're better prepared.
At the end of the day, it's not the hardware you bring home or the position you finish in that matters most — it's the experience. It’s about having a great time, giving it your all, and getting better with every race. Be kind and patient with yourself, and let any failures or disappointments serve as fuel for your next training season.
And let’s not forget the community. Racing strengthens friendships, builds relationships, and connects you with a group of riders who share the same passion. The friendships you build on the course — and the support you give each other along the way — are victories in their own right.
Final Thoughts
Racing a Onewheel is about more than just speed or skill — it’s about mindset, resilience, and connection. You can have the most dialed-in board on the trail, but if your head isn’t in the right place — if you spiral after a fall, second-guess your lines, or forget to enjoy the ride — it’s going to show.
Train smart. Practice with intention. Learn the course. Ride your best race, no matter the outcome. Some days you’ll fly, some days you’ll struggle — but every race is a chance to grow, connect, and have a damn good time doing what you love.
Upgrade your board, absolutely. We’re here to help with that.
But more importantly, upgrade the rider.
