October 21, 2009 (Victoria, BC) – Twenty Of BC’s brightest young cycling stars gathered in Victoria on October16-18 for our annual fall Junior Training Camp. Things got underway quickly on Friday with athletes either heading straight to the Canadian Sports Center High Performance Lab for a Maximal Aerobic Power test or up to the boardroom for a Nutrition Seminar. The testing procedure is the same exact one as used by the National Team. Athletes are fitted on the SRM Ergometer which then runs them through standard warm up, followed by 3 minute stages that get progressively harder and harder, taking each athlete right up to their Maximal Aerobic Power. Along the way their actual power output is measured and charted along with their heart rate and blood lactate values.

Following the test athletes and coaches receive a detailed report to compare to past performances in the lab and for planning future training. It was also very exciting to see some of the athletes who tested for the first time this weekend put up some impressive power numbers!

Later on Friday afternoon the athletes got a 90 minute dynamic stretching and yoga session to help get them in tune with their bodies and learn how to stretch, breath and move in a way that will help recovery and optimize their performance.

Saturday was another day of testing for most, but a few of the athletes who had already tested headed out for a bit of a soggy road ride. The rain however couldn’t dampen the spirits of the juniors who were all excited to do a ride with their friends from the race season who they don’t normally get to ride and train with.

Saturday was also strength conditioning day. Athletes were divided into 2 groups for a morning and afternoon strength training session in the Canadian Sport Center High Performance Gym, an ultra high tech and brand new facility. Strength Training expert Matt Fisher lead each group through a session that stressed the importance of correct body mechanics and core strength so they could generate more power and get more power to the pedals.

On Saturday evening the team was treated to a home cooked feast courtesy local parents Claudia Logan and Sarah Ewart. Preliminary rounds of the Rock Band contest got underway upon arrival as the athletes relaxed their legs but warmed up their finger and voices for the real loud after dinner action!

Sunday we woke up to glorious sunshine! Everyone hit the road together and after a 10 minute road spin the MTB and Road racers diverged in their paths with each group heading off for 2.5 hours of great riding. Roadies headed up into the “Highlands” to wind their way through a twisting and turning roller coaster of forest roads. The MTB crew headed up to Hartland MTB Park and ripped through an array of old school west coast singletrack thanks to guest ride leader and Team BC alumni Jeff Clarkson, who despite working full time for Schwalbe Tires, still manages to maintain the skill and fitness that saw him win the National Junior XC title in 2007.

After the rides it was back to PISE (Pacific Institute for Sports Excellence) for some indoor X-Training. Following a couple warm up games of indoor soccer, then basketball it was time for the epic BC Road VS MTB Junior Dodgeball Fall World Championships! Team Roadie took the first match, but the MTBers rallied to take round number 2. The buzzer, however, went late in the third and deciding match. so the battle will have to continue at the next camp!

Thanks go out to our great BC Provincial Cycling Team sponsors Haywood Capital Markets, Adera Group, Fab-All Manufacturing and ATAC Sports Marketing as without their help, camps like this and the many other great opportunities for BC Cyclists probably would not happen.

Team BC Update
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