In Episode 5, Justin Maass steps away from the arena and gets into the part of roping most coaches won't talk about: the mental game. Maass breaks down his coaching philosophy, explaining why he doesn't try to completely rebuild a roper's swing and why embracing your own style is often more productive than chasing someone else's technique. He also opens up about the one year in his 20-year career where everything clicked, what it felt like to be in the zone, and why he thinks the pressure to win was quietly working against him the whole time. From finding your trigger to the fine line between cocky and confident, this episode is as honest as it gets. If you've ever wondered why you rope better some days than others, this one is worth your time.
Up Next in Breakaway Practice
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Ep. 8: Q&A with Jimmie Smith
Jimmie Smith sits down for a candid Q&A covering her journey from college roping to barrel racing rookie of the year to competing at the highest level of breakaway roping. She also gets honest about the mental side of competition, what it took to come out of semi-retirement, and why she drove str...
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Ep. 1: First Breakaway Runs with Just...
NFR tie-down roper Justin Maass opens up Maass Performance Horses for a full day of breakaway roping with two athletes who couldn't rope more differently. Jimmie Smith runs close and controlled. Kayla Graham is a self-described bomber who likes to throw it long. In this first episode, Maass puts ...
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Ep. 2: Delivery, Position & Scoring
In Episode 2, Justin Maass gets into two of the most debated topics in breakaway roping: delivery and horse position. Maass breaks down why "throwing" your rope is the wrong way to think about it and why the delivery is simply an extension of your swing. He also tackles the get-inside-the-left-hi...