While most Gold Coast SUNS fans are warming up for the festive season, Guy McKenna will have the 2012 playing List working harder than ever before, at heights that make you dizzy just to think about.
Josh Frazer, Danny Stanley ,Sam Iles, assistant coach Shane O’Bree and of course Bluey know all too well what awaits the squad when they arrive at Flagstaff Arizona, however for the rest of the playing group there is a nervous anticipation with Josh Frazer more than happy to fill his team mates heads with stories of pain, heart ache and mind numbing challenges.
“Yeah it’s fair to say that I have had a little bit of fun, telling the boys about what awaits them in Arizona, but truth be told, it actually will be some of the hardest and most challenging training they will endure during their professional careers.” Said Frazer
“It's incredibly rewarding getting through each day and becomes enjoyable spending all that time as a group.
I have no doubt it will improve our playing group and will be a great opportunity to unearth some young leaders!”
While the snow-capped mountains give an impression of a wintery wonderland, Arizona, however for two and a half weeks in November, 43, Gold Coast SUNS players and 12 staff members will have their mental and physical strength tested thousands of metres above sea level.
It’s going to be an Oxygen sapping trip for the 2012 List with the SUNS coaching staff designing a program which will take the clubs young players to thresholds they haven’t previously experienced, while for the more experienced campaigners there is little rest with Oxygen levels less than half of those the rest of us will be sucking in back on the Gold Coast, ensuring the players are working harder, even as they sleep.
I've found Arizona to be a great launching pad into the new season.
It's mentally and physically demanding but knowing your all there and in it together makes it easier to get through.
Punctuating the daily training and weights sessions, a nine hour hike through the Grand Canyon, Mountain bike rides and river swims will continually test the group.
General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft saying the training Camp is something that no one at the Club will be taking for Granted.
“This has been a couple of years in the making, so I’m pleased to say we have finally been able to lock it away.”
“We wont have a huge number of staff on the trip , so everyone will have to chip in and do their bit to help out, it’s a great experience for everyone involved.”
Ten Corporate Partners will also join the team for the second week of the Camp, the VIP guests chaperoned by Gold Coast SUNS CEO Travis Auld.
The Corporate partners will train, eat and bunk in with the playing group during their trip. It’s a true inner sanctum experience for the group who will forever have a much heightened appreciation of what it takes to be and sustain the levels required by professional AFL players.
Our Corporate partners wont be thrown into the deep end though with the club providing each travelling member with a detailed training program which they will complete, using the clubs altitude chamber.
Do you think you can handle Altitude with the Gold Coast SUNS?
If your interested, contact Gold Coast SUNS football co-ordinator Scott Pyle scott.pyle@goldcoastfc.com.au or mobile +61414676081 for details on how you can join the touring party in Arizona.
