He’s Not A "Madman” - The Real Matt Hall
Dr Deidre Anderson
High Performance Coach
People often ask me what Matt Hall is really like. Their first impression after seeing him fly is that he must be some sort of “madman” to take on those risks.
Sure, it would be mad if you or I flew under a bridge with a nine-metre clearance, but being a former fighter pilot, Matt is very accustomed to operating under ultra-high levels of pressure and threat. Working within the finest of margins is completely normal for him.
We tend to view the risks of others through our own lens and skill set. If something is out of our sphere of comfort, we can quickly deem what others do as being mad or crazy.
For someone who has trained as much as Matt, who is so methodical in his preparatory work and who has encountered countless flying scenarios, it is more accurately mastery and the opposite of madness.
It’s no different to facing a cricket ball at 160km. Anyone who doesn't play cricket at international level would be mad to put themselves in that situation, but if day-by-day, over the course of many years you had developed the ability to do so, the risks are quite manageable.
Matt as a person
The real Matt Hall is hyper conscientious, very deliberate and extremely thoughtful. He is so authentic in living his values and moral standards, that life can be quite tough at times because others are not living those shared values.
Even though his abilities and achievements are world-class, Matt’s humility never waivers. He isn't a tough guy with nerves of steel, he is a sensitive, self-aware, highly intelligent man who loves mastering his craft. His situational awareness and responsiveness in his racing are so advanced that he is the current world champion.
Matt is a big one for taking the honest and most fair path. He accepts responsibility for failings or setbacks and can be very hard on himself, but equally bounces back with incredible fortitude. He often puts himself well down the queue of need, gives so much of his time to others and he does this in such a humble and authentic way.
Matt draws strength and inspiration from his family, and while he loves his planes, his family is his greatest love.
Matt as an athlete
Matt at times is tortured by perfection as he explores improvements that bring about even the most microscopic advantage.
His strength and conditioning program focuses on wellness and injury prevention. He tends to invest more in highly targeted training drills and chooses not to over capitalise on unnecessary fitness goals that don't translate on race day.
Dr Deidre Anderson and Matt Hall - Red Bull Air Race 2019
Matt’s work is highly skill-based and requires very specialised physical adaptations like enduring the impacts of G-forces. What’s critical to his performance is handling of the control stick through the hand and fingers.
It is Matt’s touch, instincts, situational awareness and technical skill that sets him apart. His dedication to meditation and repetitive visualisation is inexplicably linked to race day. Scenario rehearsal for example if the plane stalls, wind changes, unexpected environmental conditions, shades of light, G-forces, variations in plane functioning and so on, these scenarios need to be rehearsed.
Conclusion
Matt’s contribution to the Royal Australian Air Force as a fighter pilot and top gun are huge achievements, followed by his Red Bull Air Race debut in 2009 in which he placed third. Matt went on to accumulate seven wins and 25 podiums, making him the most successful air racing pilot in the modern era.
Above these achievements, Matt is a very special and good human being, who has a terrific sense of humour and personality. He is absolutely the real deal.
Regards
Dee Anderson - High Performance Coach
Learn more about Matt’s life and approach to success.
About Dr Deidre Anderson
Dr Deidre Anderson has held senior roles within the private sector and federal and local government and has held executive positions both at international and national level within elite sports and the university sector.
She has been acknowledged worldwide for her contribution to elite athletes and has a lifelong commitment to supporting the development of young people.
She is currently chair National Rugby league Players Ass (NRLPA), ambassador for the Michael Hughes Foundation, high performance coach for world champion racing pilot Matt Hall and the Travel Lodge Aussie Spirit Softball Team.
She has been a recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow for her contribution to international relations, a recipient of the Princeton International Business Leaders award, recipient of the Eunice Gill Coach Education award, an honorary member of the Golden Keys International Honour Society and a Justice of the Peace.
She is the co-author of several books and has published extensively in the areas of athlete transition. Deidre holds a PhD, Masters, several Post Graduate Degrees and a Bachelor of Arts.