Hello parents and skiers, with the end of school for many of the skiers in the Blue Squad, I thought it would be a good time to provide some updates on the Blue Squad program.
With many new skiers joining the Blue Squad program this spring, I am writing an update to keep everyone informed of what is happening.
This year, one of the main focus for the dryland training period is to improve strength for our skiers. This will include learning proper strength technique and various strength movements as well as improving flexibility in our athletes. This was identified as a general weakness for many of our skiers in past years and we are hoping to address it in the next few years. Sam Lindsey and Ritchard Thomson have been wonderful in providing the strength support to the team and the same can be said of Jessica Read who has led us through our weekly yoga sessions. We can already see significant gains so the effort is well worth it. The strength testing has started and will continue during the next few months. It will be interesting to see the progress that will be made now that we are investing more time and energy on strength training. The testing that we performed with the team is really an opportunity for each athlete to set personal goals and work towards improving their individual skills. The purpose of both tests that we do is to provide an opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of their training.
The CCY High Performance Committee has met a number of times this spring in order to improve the selection process that will be use to select skiers for the various trips during the winter. A revised draft of the selection criteria document will be reviewed by the CCY Board this summer so that a meeting with athletes and parents can take place in September with the CCY High Performance Chair, Allan Frostad. It is important to note to the new skiers and parents in the Blue Squad, that only athletes who meet the trip selection criteria get to travel on trips outside the Yukon. I have started the education process with the new skiers this spring and will continue to do so during the summer in order to ensure everyone becomes familiar with the selection process.
Finally, I am attaching the information for the camp in Atlin so that everyone can start planning for it.
I am very happy with the attitude that the team has shown since the start of team training in May. I am really looking forward to the rest of the summer as it is an energetic and keen group that is open to learning. Cheers everyone and enjoy the bike relay if you are taking part. Take care. Alain
Information for the camp in Atlin
867 334-9220
xcyukon@gmail.com
With many new skiers joining the Blue Squad program this spring, I am writing an update to keep everyone informed of what is happening.
This year, one of the main focus for the dryland training period is to improve strength for our skiers. This will include learning proper strength technique and various strength movements as well as improving flexibility in our athletes. This was identified as a general weakness for many of our skiers in past years and we are hoping to address it in the next few years. Sam Lindsey and Ritchard Thomson have been wonderful in providing the strength support to the team and the same can be said of Jessica Read who has led us through our weekly yoga sessions. We can already see significant gains so the effort is well worth it. The strength testing has started and will continue during the next few months. It will be interesting to see the progress that will be made now that we are investing more time and energy on strength training. The testing that we performed with the team is really an opportunity for each athlete to set personal goals and work towards improving their individual skills. The purpose of both tests that we do is to provide an opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of their training.
The CCY High Performance Committee has met a number of times this spring in order to improve the selection process that will be use to select skiers for the various trips during the winter. A revised draft of the selection criteria document will be reviewed by the CCY Board this summer so that a meeting with athletes and parents can take place in September with the CCY High Performance Chair, Allan Frostad. It is important to note to the new skiers and parents in the Blue Squad, that only athletes who meet the trip selection criteria get to travel on trips outside the Yukon. I have started the education process with the new skiers this spring and will continue to do so during the summer in order to ensure everyone becomes familiar with the selection process.
Finally, I am attaching the information for the camp in Atlin so that everyone can start planning for it.
I am very happy with the attitude that the team has shown since the start of team training in May. I am really looking forward to the rest of the summer as it is an energetic and keen group that is open to learning. Cheers everyone and enjoy the bike relay if you are taking part. Take care. Alain
Information for the camp in Atlin
867 334-9220
xcyukon@gmail.com
