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It’s bitterly cold in Flagstaff Arizona at the moment with an expected high of just 4 degrees Celsius today while the average nightly temperature is a spine tingling minus 9.
Add to this that the annual snow fall has arrived months earlier than expected and the oxygen levels are about 50% of what you are presently enjoying back in Australia and you quickly come to the realisation that the Gold Coast SUNS while having fun, certainly aren’t on holiday.
After the long flight from Australia, the team were put to work shortly after arriving in Flagstaff, given little time to adapt to the conditions. Josh Fraser who is on his fifth visit to the famed altitude camp has been pleased with how the boys have handled the conditions.
“I think most of the boys got through the night without too much sleep deprivation and after a good breakfast and a nice jog over this morning, the boys trained pretty well so it’s been a good start.”
Overnight six inches of snow fell across Flagstaff, and while the snowball battles have been intense, training has been held indoors with Strength and conditioning coach Andrew Weller putting the players through an exhausting program.
“One of the great things about training here at the University is that it’s got a number of great indoor facilities that we can use including the Dome and the recreation centre, a one hundred and five million dollar facility which has just been opened.”
When they aren’t protected from the elements at the University of Northern Arizona, the players and coaching staff will be trudging through the snow, trekking to the summit of Mt Humphries, a journey tough without the addition of continually falling snow.
“Mount Humphries is always challenging and the conditions are tough all the way up the mountain so it’s going to be tough, but all of the activities are harder to do here, the skills sessions, the running, it’s just that much harder to breath here.”
Fraser quick to point out from experience that it’s not just the physical aspect of the trip will benefit the Gold Coast SUNS as they prepare to tackle their second AFL Premiership season.
“This camp will set us up really well for the season ahead it gives you a great base and helps the team to hit the ground running in round one, so I think being away for two weeks together will really bring the group closer together and hold us in good stead going forward.”
Stay logged into goldcoastfc.com.au for the very latest updates from Arizona.
Click here for more on the pre-season training camp.
