March 24, 2009 (Rocky Bottom, South Carolina) – The Team Ontario Training Camp continued in South Carolina with more epic rides, including the ascent of 3547ft Mt. Sassafrass, the highest point in the state. Here are daily reports straight from the athletes.

South Carolina Training Camp – Day 6
by Devon Novakowski

Today saw many of the athletes overcome emotional, mental and physical difficulties to call the day theirs. The rides for many would be written in their books as a day of epic proportions. Tears were shed when it was let known of the ride to be undergone today and for good cause it was.

Today, the young campers underwent a journey that took them to the grueling 45 minute climb of the 215 up to and including the Blue Ridge Parkway. The rides varied between 4-6 hours in the sunny Carolina air which took them up several difficult climbs ending with the very prestigious Continental Divide sign sprint. Although the day would be one to tire out many of the campers, no complaints were made and everyone put in an all out effort leaving the coaches and more experienced riders stunned. Fortunately. everybody made it back through the thick and thin of the ride and we will all be looking forward to a little bit of extra sleep tonight as our ride time is one hour later.

Tip of the day: Keep the rubber side down.

South Carolina Training Camp – Day 7
by Colin Reinholt

Team Ontario athletes slumbered out of bed at the usual 8:30 knowing that they were facing yet another hard day on the bike. A little more peanut butter was smothered on the bread and a little more oatmeal was eaten than usual to prepare for the final epic ride of the camp. The first part of our ride took us to Pumpkintown and Marietta, South Carolina, a relatively flat area of South Carolina but with a stiff headwind and a couple jammer climbs it was still a hard and fast ride.

The ride came with the usual observations of Southern culture: trucks, dogs, Nascar, diesel trucks, and a sign that read “quilts, pillows, stun-guns, and knives available here!” We all thought that it was unbelievably hilarious. We eventually made our way back to Rocky Bottom knowing that the hardest part of the ride is still to come. SASSAFRAS!!!!

Arguably the hardest and least liked climb at the camp and at 3547ft in elevation it is also the highest point in South Carolina. It is a true climbers’ climb and fastest time and overall camp record was set by Zachary Hughes who had a blazing fast time of 24:49. (KK Michener’s very respectable time of 34:21 topped the women’s field.) I myself had been questioning my decision while climbing “Why am I doing this?” But like many other Team Ontario riders, I bit my lip and just gav’er! Mission Accomplished.

Tip of the day: Pillows and stun-guns are sold at the same store. Can you say multi-tasking?

South Carolina Training Camp – Day 8
by Katie Spittlehouse

The morning of the very last epic ride in South Carolina, began with many tired faces and a cool breeze. The ride was supposed to be a moderate ride followed by a sprint workout led by Frank and then a group ride back home. But that was all ‘s upposed’ to happen. What really happened was that two groups went the wrong way, two groups went the right way and Frank was with no group off on his own.

The group that went the right way did the prescribed sprint workout while the coaches froze on the sidelines due to the brisk northerly. The other groups ended up riding more climbs and having a short sprint workout at the end. We rode back up to Rocky Bottom for the final time as we head back to Ontario bright and early tomorrow morning.

The second workout of the day consisted of cleaning our respective cabins from top to bottom. Just when we thought we had it right, Dan Maggi came down to break up the basketball game after his inspection of Osterneck. The boys were greeted with a sign posted on the kitchen that described the state of it but cannot be repeated here. We had a final dinner consisting of all our left-overs then a wrap-up meeting of the camp.

Tip of the Day: Maps are always required no matter how easy the route appears to be.