It has been a busy week for the team! From Thursday to Sunday we were in Colorado Springs at the US Olympic Training Facility in Colorado Springs for a training camp with the entire US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and US Sailing Development Team. We have since spent 60 hours traveling to Palma de Mallorca Spain for the Princess Sofia Regatta, which begins on Sunday.
The training camp in Colorado Springs was our second dry-land camp, though our first time in Colorado Springs. The coaching staff put together an excellent schedule including physical testing, nutrition learning with team dietician Bob Seebohar, sports psychology sessions with Rick Campbell, and exercise learning with the Jaguar Professional Training staff. The camp was jam-packed with activities, and we wasted no time by beginning our testing soon after our arrival on Thursday. We both bested our previous maximum number push-ups in one minute; Erik accomplished 54 and Trevor 59. We also improved our times holding a plank position (feet and elbows on the ground, body straight) up to 6:24 for Trevor and 6:40 for Erik. Erik was able to tie with Stu McNay for the top level achieved in the ever-feared “Beep Test,” which challenges athletes to sprint back and forth 20 meters at ever-increasing speeds. Trevor, meanwhile, bested the entire field in the grip-test with an astonishing 199 lbs of force. Overall, we showed that we are getting increasingly close to our target as the fittest 49er team in the world.
Another invaluable learning experience at the camp came from our time spent with team sports psychologist Rick Campbell. Knowing from our one year already spent together, how we communicate and manage our relationship is crucial to our success. Rick had some excellent input, and we are excited to have the tools to avoid any issues before they arise.
Upon leaving the camp in Colorado we flew directly to London Heathrow and caught a van to Weymouth, our last stop on the 2009 European tour. Having collected the team van in Weymouth, we caught the Dover to Calais, France ferry and drove through the night to Barcelona, Spain. In Barcelona we received a trailer with a coachboat, two 470s, and our 49er from the shipping depot. Once we were packed up, we boarded the overnight ferry to Palma de Mallorca to arrive this morning and checked in at our hotel. Once we catch up on some sleep we will rig up and make it out on the water for a few days’ training prior to the start of the event. Having a year of experience under our belts certainly made this travel seem less daunting, and it is amazing to reflect on how relatively easy it was now that we’ve made it.
Thanks again to our supporters and sponsors! Thanks to the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, sponsors Rolex Watch USA, Atlantis WeatherGear, Sperry Topsider, Harken, McLube, and Laser Performance. Also thanks to equipment sponsors Z Blok and New England Ropes. Sincere thanks as well to our sponsor Huntington Jeep Chrysler Dodge Hyundai. Not least, thanks to all of the individuals who support our efforts with personal donations.
Stay tuned for upcoming daily reports from the racing
here in Palma!
Erik and Trevor
Storckmooresailing 