The second wave of Aussie paddlers hit Beijing last night with the arrival of Chantal Meek, Lisa Oldenhof, Hannah Davis, Lyndsie Fogarty, Tate Smith, Tony Schumacher, David Smith, Jacob Clear and Clint Robinson from the flatwater team. Robin Bell was the final member of the slalom contingent to arrive.
Only Ken Wallace and Torsten Lachmann are yet to enter the village and their arrival is scheduled for Augst 5.
After formalities at the airport and the Olympic village the women hit the hay and the men found the dining hall for a midnight treat.
Outfitting, lunch and a briefing from the AOC filled up most of the day as expected.
Robin Bell joined the other slalom athletes and quickly found his mark on the course in a session which was full of variety as he visited all the key features.
With more time in hand ahead of their competition, the flatwater crews favoured cross training and relaxation on their first day in the village ahead of a trip out to Shunyi planned for tomorrow.
The village is beginning to fill more and more each day and tomorrow will see a big influx of Australians with the arrival of men's hockey and the big swimming and rowing sections amongst others.
Robin Bell, Clint Robinson and Hannah Davis will take part in a press conference at the Main Press Centre tomorrow morning before heading out to their respective training sessions with their team mates.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
New arrivals get clear run on first day in Beijing
The first four Australian canoeing athletes flew into Beijing late last night and hit the water today in good clear conditions at the Shunyi Olympic venue for their first Games time training session.
After the 12 hour non stop Qantas flight from Sydney Jacqui Lawrence, Warwick Draper, Mark Bellofore and Lachlan Milne checked into their Olympic village accommodation at close to midnight.
This morning the team headed to the Western Academy of Beijing about 20 minutes from the Olympic village for uniform distribution. The WAB serves as a hub for the AOC for team processing as well as for relaxation and recreation.
It was all smiles after the shopping spree courtesy of adidas, Sportsmark and Mileno, the AOC uniform sponsors. The whole process is professionally staged right through to the last detail of the opening ceremony uniform which has been hidden from the media's sharp eyes.
Overnight the gate positions are changed presenting new options and challenges for the teams and tomorrow the training will step on in focus and intensity.
After the 12 hour non stop Qantas flight from Sydney Jacqui Lawrence, Warwick Draper, Mark Bellofore and Lachlan Milne checked into their Olympic village accommodation at close to midnight.This morning the team headed to the Western Academy of Beijing about 20 minutes from the Olympic village for uniform distribution. The WAB serves as a hub for the AOC for team processing as well as for relaxation and recreation.
It was all smiles after the shopping spree courtesy of adidas, Sportsmark and Mileno, the AOC uniform sponsors. The whole process is professionally staged right through to the last detail of the opening ceremony uniform which has been hidden from the media's sharp eyes.
Back at the village. Following a quick lunch and a briefing from the AOC on the key functional areas of the team's operations in Beijing, including the important medical and security measures that are in place for the Games, it was time to test the Olympic transport system on a trip out to Shunyi.
Access to exclusive Olympic lanes did little to inspire the driver to hit the pedal hard and we did the trip out to the venue in around 50 minutes, a chance to catch up with the French team en route and, in my case, clear text messages and emails on the run.
The temporary grandstands soaring high above the churning water gave a powerful first impression that we were no longer in a training camp environment. The big event atmosphere is in your face with the Olympic look branding all around, a giant scoreboard, media snapping the opportunity for action shots and hundreds of volunteers in colourful BOCOG uniforms catering for every need.
The training went well as the athletes familiarised themselves with the powerful water in a free session which included some downstream tempo work. The course remains unchanged since the last international camp at the beginning of June.
Overnight the gate positions are changed presenting new options and challenges for the teams and tomorrow the training will step on in focus and intensity.
Wednesday 30 July summary plan:
9am session at Shunyi - race paced half length runs.
12pm lunch at venue
Rest at Dragon Club facility close to course
3pm - technical session on course.
5:30 pm arrive back at village
8:10 pm arrival of the men's and women's flatwater team boat crews plus Robin Bell.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Kenny takes the lead in Hungary
K1 ace, Kenny Wallace is in Budapest training with a few top international athletes and young gun Aussie, Murray Stewart, who is helping set the pace for the final stages of Kenny's Beijing preparation.
Coach, Jimmy Owens, keeps the team posted via skype and email with Glen Workman our strength and conditioning expert also in daily contact with the satellite group in Hungary.
The final World Cup race saw Ken with a motivating fourth in the K1 1000m and a promising bronze in the K1 500m. Just enough to fuel the fire for more metal in Beijing.
According to Jimmy, Ken is thriving in the training group environment, leading from the front and going from strength to strength (literally).
With yet another new boat and on hand support from Nelo, there is nothing that is being left to chance.
Coach, Jimmy Owens, keeps the team posted via skype and email with Glen Workman our strength and conditioning expert also in daily contact with the satellite group in Hungary.
The final World Cup race saw Ken with a motivating fourth in the K1 1000m and a promising bronze in the K1 500m. Just enough to fuel the fire for more metal in Beijing.
According to Jimmy, Ken is thriving in the training group environment, leading from the front and going from strength to strength (literally).
With yet another new boat and on hand support from Nelo, there is nothing that is being left to chance.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Boxing Kangaroo
C1 slalom ace, Robin Bell, returned to the great Australian continent from a successful European tour with his haul of two World Cup medals and an overall World Cup title.
After five weeks on the slalom courses of Beijing (CHN), Prague (CZE), Tacen (SLO) and Augsburg (GER) the big man campe back home to complete his preparations in Penrith.
However, his first session back home was a punishing boxing session with team physiotherapist, Brett Kemble who has become a regular sparring partner since his stint with slalom in Prague.
I caught up with Rob for his first few whitewater sessions in Penrith where he was a lonely figure on the Sydney Olympic course while the rest of the team stayed on in Europe. In his new boat Rob looked focused and sharp and is clearly on track for his Olympic dream.
After five weeks on the slalom courses of Beijing (CHN), Prague (CZE), Tacen (SLO) and Augsburg (GER) the big man campe back home to complete his preparations in Penrith.
However, his first session back home was a punishing boxing session with team physiotherapist, Brett Kemble who has become a regular sparring partner since his stint with slalom in Prague.
I caught up with Rob for his first few whitewater sessions in Penrith where he was a lonely figure on the Sydney Olympic course while the rest of the team stayed on in Europe. In his new boat Rob looked focused and sharp and is clearly on track for his Olympic dream.
Viva Espana
Warwick Draper (K1) and Mark Bellofiore and Lachlan Milne (C2) raced at the Pre-World Championships in La Seu d'Urgell in the Spanish Pyrenees, the final race on the European circuit ahead of Beijing
For Warwick it was a breakthrough performance as he posted a personal best 4th place in the final while the C2 were soundly placed in 7th in their event.
It was the culmination of a successful tour for the Aussie team overall and a good send off for the trio of Olympians ahead of the challenges in China.
For Warwick it was a breakthrough performance as he posted a personal best 4th place in the final while the C2 were soundly placed in 7th in their event.
It was the culmination of a successful tour for the Aussie team overall and a good send off for the trio of Olympians ahead of the challenges in China.
Rocky road to Beijing
The flatwater team has been training hard on the Fitzroy river in Rockhampton (QLD) at their final Pre-Olympic training camp.
The camp which began on July 13th will run until July 25th allowing the team four days with their loved ones prior to their departure to Beijing on July 3oth.
All team members attended with the exception of Ken Wallace who has remained in Europe to perfect his singles skills at an international camp in Hungary and Torsten Lachmann who is training for his C1 event in good company in Potsdam, Germany.
Why did we go to Rocky? Check out the weather report for the past 10 days and you will see why. Warm sunny days, ideal on water conditions with a marked course and few distractions. As for the last few days...well we might wonder as the rain pours down!
Thanks to the Fitzroy Canoe Club for the use of their boathouse and jetty and to the city council for the use of the course, the team has given Rocky the big thumbs up for the future!
I made two trips to the camp to check up on the team in action and can report that everything is going to plan with the excitement building prior to the team's departure next week.
It is inspirational to see the power and flow of the team boats in action as they squeeze the speed out of every effort knowing that the time to fly is drawing close.
Off the water, a bike ride or run back to base and gym or cross training complete the schedule for the athletes.
Our support crew have stepped up to the plate making sure all the bases are covered and needs are met, so thank you team for your support and commitment on and off the water. You all know why and you all know how you make a difference.
The camp which began on July 13th will run until July 25th allowing the team four days with their loved ones prior to their departure to Beijing on July 3oth.
All team members attended with the exception of Ken Wallace who has remained in Europe to perfect his singles skills at an international camp in Hungary and Torsten Lachmann who is training for his C1 event in good company in Potsdam, Germany.
Why did we go to Rocky? Check out the weather report for the past 10 days and you will see why. Warm sunny days, ideal on water conditions with a marked course and few distractions. As for the last few days...well we might wonder as the rain pours down!
Thanks to the Fitzroy Canoe Club for the use of their boathouse and jetty and to the city council for the use of the course, the team has given Rocky the big thumbs up for the future!
I made two trips to the camp to check up on the team in action and can report that everything is going to plan with the excitement building prior to the team's departure next week.
It is inspirational to see the power and flow of the team boats in action as they squeeze the speed out of every effort knowing that the time to fly is drawing close.
Off the water, a bike ride or run back to base and gym or cross training complete the schedule for the athletes.
Our support crew have stepped up to the plate making sure all the bases are covered and needs are met, so thank you team for your support and commitment on and off the water. You all know why and you all know how you make a difference.
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