Dr. Tom Hackett is an orthopedic surgeon at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. He also serves as the head team physician to the U.S. Snowboard Team, assistant team physician to the Colorado Rockies and medical adviser to the Major League Baseball Alumni Association.

The word taper refers to a gradual narrowing or thinning of an object and has direct implications to race day preparation. Several scientific studies and years of experience with athletes from all walks of life have shown that a well-thought-out and executed tapering program can improve performance on the big day.

Essentially it means giving your body rest but at the same time maintaining your fitness level. You need to be fully recovered from your training so you can give it 100 percent through the finish of a race and let all that hard work leading up to the big day payoff.

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