Labrador City Training Camp
By Lisa Patterson
In my role as Eastern High Performance Coordinator with CCC, I had the privilege of returning to Labrador City to work with the Newfoundland & Labrador Ski Team once again. This was my third year in a row and I enjoyed my work with the team just as much as previous trips.
The team is guided by new coach, Andrew Casey, a former NDC Thunder Bay ski team member. Andrew is originally from Corner Brook on the west coast of the island but is currently finishing up school at Memorial University in St. John’s. Andrew’s enthusiasm for the sport is infectious and will undoubtedly have a positive effect in building a strong team leading up to the Haywood Ski Nationals scheduled for Corner Brook in 2014.
The camp of twenty two athletes was made up largely of young up and coming athletes. There was a sizable turnover in athletes this year with many of the older athletes choosing to head off to university.
The annual Lab City camp has a focus of technique and volume training. This year was no different with athletes making huge grounds in their technique. The two separate snow falls of 20cm each didn’t deter the athletes from getting the necessary ski kilometres in to build their aerobic base. The camp concluded with two races as part of the Labrador Open, an individual start Classic distance event followed by a mass start Skate distance race. Results can be found at:
Classic Event: http://www.zone4.ca/results.asp?id=4148
Skate Event: http://www.zone4.ca/results.asp?id=4160
After the first day of racing, some of the training camp attendees were interviewed by CBC radio and the podcast can be reheard at:
http://www.cbc.ca/labradormorning/episodes/2011/12/05/cross-country-skiing---well-underway-in-labrador-west/
As was the case of many trips past, the hospitality shown by the Menihek Ski Club was outstanding. Many thanks to long standing president, Gerry Rideout and the rest of his organizing committee members for making the camp and my stay most enjoyable. Can’t wait until next year!
