Day 2 started bright and early with our morning run, stretch, and 50 burpees! The campers rallied, powered through, and arrived at breakfast ready to fuel up for a very full day.
We wasted no time getting to work. The morning began with 12 hill sprints focused on power, strength, and a healthy dose of grit. Campers tackled tuck jumps, one-legged jumps, backward tuck walks, deadman carries, piggyback carries, and full-speed sprints. With teammates cheering, coaches jumping in, and energy flying everywhere, it became the very best kind of fun suffering!
Next, we moved on to two ELITEAM legends: Berg und Thal and Quickfeet Slalom, where agility meets speed and FUN! Our veteran campers helped coach the newcomers, and everyone spent the morning chasing and crushing personal bests.
After a much-needed lunch, it was time to exercise our brains during our Physiology notebook meeting. Campers learned about every major part of fitness, including power, strength, agility, cardiovascular endurance, mobility, core strength, and the importance of rest and recovery.
Then it was back to building muscle! Campers rotated through high-intensity core, upper-body, and lower-body strength sessions taught by a World Cup skier, an NCAA competitor, and a sports scientist. They learned not only which exercises to do, but also the proper technique and the “why” behind strength training.
From there, we headed back outside for obstacle courses and BlazePod quickness challenges. There were plenty of personal bests, along with plenty of failed attempts, because failing is simply part of reaching higher, learning, and eventually succeeding!
After dinner, we had just started Dodgeball and Agility Poles when rain and lightning sent us racing into the gym. No problem! We quickly pivoted to a new lineup of hilarious team challenges. Be sure to ask your camper about the Sheet Race and the Shoe Game!
We finished the night with journaling, dorm meetings, and lightning-fast showers. With so many campers to get clean, everyone is limited to two minutes, so even showering has become an ELITEAM speed event!
Tomorrow brings mountain biking, cooking, biathlon, and partner yoga. Somehow, the days just keep getting better and better!
What was the highlight of your day?
- Jacques S: The highlight of my day was SL. It was fun just because it’s just like an actual SL.
- Max D: THe Berg because it was my first time. The other highlight was going to the gym.
- Simms P: Hill sprints and mountain bike practice, also doing the Berg.
- Dante M: The highlight of the day was being able to work out in the weight room. I also enjoyed the hill challenges and sprints.
- Camden M: My highlights were hill climbs and fit lights. The hill sprints where the muscles burn and I like fit-light because you have to work with a team mate to beat the other team!
- Iver H: The highlight of my day was when I did the Berg. I had a lot of fun doing it.
- Cash M: Berg was the highlight of my day, it helps us work on speed.
- Ben H: The berg was the best part!
What are the most important things to do to be fast at the Quickfeet SL?
- Jacques S: Probably hits the gates out of your way. I think it’s the most important because that’s what you do in an actual race.
- Max D: The most important things are inside arm blocking or using just one hand. It is also good to do very quick feet through it.
- Simms P: I would say being good with the inside hand blocking, as well as going as straight as possible.
- Dante M: The be fast in Quickfeet SL you must lean on your outside foot, be fast and efficient through the gates, and have your hands ready to clear the gates.
- Camden M: The most important things are focus because it keeps you locked in. Another is power to push you through the course.
- Iver H: You must have super quick feet, you also have to be observant because you don’t want ta fate in the face.
- Cash M: Clearing the gates out of the way because of space.
- Ben H: Send it! And focus on what you are doing.
What was your favorite part of hill sprints and why?
- Jacques S: Since I hurt my ankle half through I did tuck jumps instead.
- Max D: My favorite part was doing squats with someone piggy backing you. After the squat you had to run up the hill!
- Simms P: Definitely the backward tuck walk because it made my calves burn!
- Dante M: My favorite part of the hill springs where the partner squats into a sprint. I enjoyed this because it was competitive and fun to have a partner for the challenge.
- Camden M: My favorite part was backward tucks because they made my legs burn like I’ve never felt before.
- Iver H: I like the partner carrying that we did because it was really hard.
- Cash M: Partner carrying because it was funny and hard.
- Ben H: Backward tuck walks because they help me get stronger.
