World Cup 2 started today with a bang. After a stretch in the gym, we all headed to the Eliteam Woods for some low element challenges. The rain that threatened at 2pm turned to sunshine by 3pm.
We split the group into five, and each group had to conquer five challenges. I have been doing this a long time, but today I saw at least two strategies I’ve never seen before.
1. In the nitro challenge, the group of nine must swing across the “nitroglycerin area” to land on a 2’x2’ platform. Usually there is lots of hugging as everyone is packed together, forced to stand on tippy-toes, desperately trying to stay on the little box. Not so with one group. One by one they swung across and proceeded to lie down. Two by two they were stacked like lincoln logs. And they did it! Incredible.
2. On the wire box, the team must tightrope across three sides of a triangle. To assist them, they are allowed to use a bamboo pole and a rope hanging from a tree. Never has a team tied the rope to the bamboo and used them together. This group was definitely thinking “outside the triangle.” Genius!
In addition to originality, the kids upped the ante by adding a blindfold to the Ladder of Doom, and speed to the Fidget Ladder. One camper completed the Fidget in 9 seconds. That's some serious balance. What an impressive group of athletes.
After the challenges, it was time to learn the obstacle course. The jumps, hops and gates proved easy compared to the 50’ hill climb at the start. With the recent rains, the hill was even more slippery than usual. The kids had to use both their hands and feet to dig their way to the top. Mud was flying everywhere! It was a definite leg burner.
After loading up on pasta, it was out to the field for Andrew’s Crazy Relays. Loads of fun, but a tough anaerobic workout too. Andrew included the usual drills… high knees, butt kicks, grapevine and shuffle. There was also the unusual, including the now famous “butt kick-high knee” combo.
After 2 weeks of "vacationing" with her grandparents, Maddy Maddog finally made her Eliteam debut. She arrived as the kids were doing pole games on the field. She was so excited to be there, that despite a torn ACL, she jumped out of the car and did two full high speed laps around the kids. When she finally came to a stop, it seemed like there were 40 sets of hands petting her. She was in heaven.
Exhausted after Andrew's Crazy Relays, the kids did a quick relaxation session, and then to the dorms for a meeting and to get ready for bed.
It’s 8:50pm now, so I will say goodbye and go put the kids to bed. Lights out at 9:15pm. They’re going to need lots of sleep this week!
Tomorrow is high ropes and leg routine day.
