Here it is… the video that proves just how much fun – and training – happens when we take our crew up to Sydney for a long weekend.
This was the fourth annual camp, and for Nick, Lucia, Laura, Dallas, Tommy, Joey, Arki, Evie, Charlotte, Sammy and Judah, it was all about making the 2019 installment better than their predecessors.
As an example, with the Palm Beach sand dunes, the 2019 crew managed to beat the total number of laps set by the 2018 group (377/34pp) by 180, pulling out a whopping 557 laps! An average of 46 per person, which even when you remove the two standouts – Dallas (69) and Joey (65) – an average of 42 laps still sits well above 2018.
To think… The 2017 (276/23pp) group smashed the 2016 (174/17pp) total, but itself was smashed by the 2018 group, of which Blake managed 54. One wonders how regularly Dallas mentioned his haul of 69 laps to his big brother… and whether it still gets a mention.
The sand dunes were closely followed by the most intense 3 hour session this crew would endure for the entire season. Working on fitness and technique… and how to keep your technique under extreme duress.
Sunday, upon us so quickly, brought with it ‘The Newport Beach Classic’. Four teams of three playing (in pairs) across a double elimination format, with side-out points. Bragging rights went to Lucia, Dallas and Tommy.
From Newport to Manly, and World Tour 3* event in conjunction with Volleyfest. The best players to visit Australian shores since the 2000 Olympics… and they did not disappoint. The best part was we had front row seats for the entire list of semi-finals matches. Unbelievable players, and one great big smacking of incentive for the crew. They met their idols and, in the case of Nick, received a signed singlet from his man-crush Stafford Slick.
Sushi Train, a whole lot of curry flavoured milk and little, to no sleep later, the crew were off to Manly for one last training session before heading back to Melbourne.
Always exhausting, always fun… thanks to the kids who made this weekend an absolute blast. Big plans are already in the pipeline for Sydney Camp 2020.
