Morning run was a bit more subdued today as everyone’s muscles are starting feel pretty sore. However, we cranked out 75 Push-ups anyway. We then fueled our bodies with a big breakfast of French toast and eggs before loading the bus to go to Green Mountain Trails – our mountain bike destination in Pittsfield, VT. Everyone was on the trail by 10am and the last group to make it to lunch came in at 12:30. Everyone got in at least a 90 minute ride that took them a minimum of 4 miles and a 500 vertical foot gain. Lots of smiles, stories, crashes and fun.
After the bus ride home, it was time to dance. We all learned this year’s ELITEAM dance that we’ll perform on Saturday. Dance was followed by an epic soccer tourney. A five team round robin followed by the Championship game. Lastly it was dinner and our final rotation of Archery and Swedish Dodgeball. Oh yeah, there was also some dirt moving and push-ups thrown in too.
Tomorrow is the Ropes Course and SUFFERFEST. We are psyched!
Mountain Biking with Coach Will-
Today was Bike Day! I say that with excitement as I’m an avid biker and look forward to it every camp. We arrived in Pittsfield and broke into our groups; experts, intermediate, and beginner. Our goal was to reach the top. We all entered Noodles Revenge and began to noodle our way up. Unlike years past, Pittsfield only offered buff single track and the kids ate it up. It was 1200 vertical feet to the top, with a beautiful view.
As we crested the top, campers got pumped for a snack break and a long downhill ride to the bottom. The majority ski, so they enjoy the downhill plunge. As we began to ride down I saw the sign “experts only”. Sounded like the right way to go for the expert group! The sign read labyrinth: a complicated irregular network of passages or paths. The trail was true to its name as we found our way down. We ended our ride down Escalator with brims, jumps and speed.
Along the way we practiced our downhill technique, keeping our pedals level, but weight back over our seat on the steeps. The hardest technique is learning to use more front brakes than rear brakes. This sometimes ends in the ever so funny endo, but as they figured it out, they began to ride with more confidence and control. Escalator consisted of brims on every turn allowing them to practice their cornering technique… enter high and pedal hard out. Overall, a great ride and more importantly, a safe ride.
“This is weird, but I actually like going up more than going down.” – Lydia
“I went off this jump, and I like got air!” – Samantha
Soccer with Coach Demi-
After a full morning of biking, the campers came back to do some work on the dance and then had a long soccer tournament (appropriate seeing as it is a World Cup year). Starting with a round-robin rotation, the 5 teams challenged each other and incorporated some of the “flopping” and victory dances that they’ve learned from the professional World Cup players. Rex lay down on the field in disbelief after he scored, ran a victory lap and then heard the ref call a hand ball before the goal was scored–therefore retracting his goal.
Counselors Allegra and Avery led their teams to the final where Allegra’s team won 4-0. Harry had two goals while Eliza scored on a full field breakaway and Win snuck the last one in.
It was great to see the excitement on campers’ faces as they scored and collaborated in celebration. Haley described the games as “fun and very competitive.” When I asked for the scores at the end of the games the few that did score ran up to me ecstatic that they were the one that scored for their team–I promised to write their names down next to the score which made them even more psyched.
If nothing else we had a field full of exhausted campers by the time dinner rolled around!
CAMPER QUOTES-
What did you think of the mtn biking today?
Colin – Like it a lot because there weren’t a lot of technical parts, which I am not very good at, however, there was a lot of brute force involved.
Connor – It was great and I really dug deep to get up the hills.
Ian – It was rather tough going up, as expected, but also going down was scary. I forgot to use the front brake and fish-tailed a couple times.
Sam – I signed up for expert, not suicide.
Frans – I thought it was pretty hard at some points and scary, but at the same time it was awesome.
Kyle – It was awesome on the uphill and even better on the downhill.
“It was a lot of fun.” Sydni
“It was okay.” Abi
“I thought it was tiring, but fun. Going downhill was scary at times but it was still a blast!” Zoe
“It was a lot of fun!” Kat
“It was challenging, but fun.” Emma
“I thought mountain biking was fun.” Phoebe
“It was challenging and fun.” Grace C
“It was really hard but also fun.” Carly
What is the key to being a good mtn biker?
Colin – Being able to push as hard as you can up hills and then being able to work all the flats they give you.
Connor – Having extra fuel after you tire yourself out and using it to get where you are going.
Ian – Balls of the feet on the pedal. Low gears are your friends. Use both brakes when going down hill.
Sam – Don’t brake. Ever.
Frans – Overcome your fear.
Kyle – Being able to switch gears before you need to.
“Using your gears well. Kind of.” Carly
“Not giving up and keep going.” Grace C
“Using your gears well.” Phoebe
“Using your gears well and keep pedaling.” Emma
“Look at where you want to go not where you don’t want to go!” Kat
“Looking where you want to go and not falling.” Zoe
“Look were you want to go.” Abi
“Not falling and looking where you want to go.” Sydni
How many times did you crash?
Colin – Only two or three times, but once I rode a berm too hard and my handlebars twisted and stopped dead, and the rest is self explanatory.
Connor – 2 times. One over the handlebars and the other was just into the side of the trail.
Ian – 3 times. Once into a tree because I clipped the trunk and flew into the handlebars.
Sam – Twice.
Kyle – I didn’t crash.
“A few.” Sydni
“Idk like…4.” Abi
“Four-five not sure.” Zoe
“A few.” Kat
“One to two.” Emma
“About 3” Phoebe
“Twice” Grace C
“Lots.” Carly
How are your rhythm, timing and coordination in the dance? What is your favorite dance move?
Colin – I’m about average in rhythm, timing and coordination. My favorite move is the sprinkler or meat grinder. I can’t tell.
Connor – My rhythm is good. My favorite move is the Fish as it makes me laugh.
Ian – Decent for rhythm and timing. Good for coordination. I need to do more Zumba.
Sam – Pretty good and my favorite move is the Fishing.
Frans – Not that great and my favorite move is the Disco.
“Ok. I like the disco” Carly
“I’m doing well…I like disco.” Grace C
“Good and the disco.” Phoebe
“Rhythm= Good. Timing=eh. Coordination=eh. Karaoke feet” Emma
“They are good. My favorite dance move is disco.” Kat
“Good. Just I’m not good at remembering what order the moves come in. SPRINKLER!!!” Zoe
“My rhythm is okay. Meat grinder.” Abi
“Not very good. The fish.” Sydni
Right now I am…
Colin – Tired, but not even close to my limit yet.
Connor – Very sore, but feel very accomplished.
Ian – Extremely sore. Excited for ropes. Less excited for Sufferfest.
Sam – Very, very, very sore.
Kyle – Tired and hurting.
“Doing a survey.” Sydni
“Doing a survey.” Abi
“Doing a survey.” Zoe
“Doing a survey waiting to go to dirt pile!” Kat
“Feeling sore.” Emma
“Tired and sore.” Phoebe
“Really tired and sore :-)” Grace C
“Sore and tired.” Carly
