Leading New Zealand triathlete Kris Gemmell is enjoying the ‘high life’ of the Snow Farm, high above Wanaka as he and other leading triathletes complete an altitude camp on the eve of the Contact National Triathlon Championships in Wellington this weekend.

The entire High Performance Squad bar Bevan Docherty have been training at the tailor made altitude camp since the Takapuna round of the Contact Tri Series, with the aim to build a strong base for the international season ahead. An international flavour has been added with Laurent Vidal (France) and Anja Dittmer (Germany) training with the Kiwis.

Gemmell says the camp has been hard work, but enjoyable nonetheless.

“I have to say it hasn’t been tough getting up in the morning and seeing the Remarkables to one side, Lake Wanaka the other and Mount Aspiring straight ahead. We have had perfect clear days for the past week making training a treat; it makes me feel lucky to have the job I do.”

It has hardly been easy going for Gemmell and the HP squad though, with National Coach Greg Fraine putting each triathlete through a rigorous daily routine.

“I am feeling pretty tired but that is not a surprise. This is my 12th time at the Snow Farm so I know how my body works up here. I took a week to adjust but have just done a tough week with six to eight hours a day and 140 to 150 kilometres of running. That is what this is all about, a base training camp that is hard work and recovery to build the aerobic endurance for this year.”

Gemmell says while the triathletes will all benefit at Wellington this weekend, the bigger pay off is a few weeks away.

“Coming down from altitude for Wellington will be a direct benefit for everyone but will help more for Mooloolaba and world champs qualifying for the U23’s especially that are racing there in two weeks.

“For me, Andrea, Nicky and Clark the focus is really on Sydney (the first ITU World Champs Series race for 2010). We have put in a lot of distance in running and cycling that will benefit us in a month’s time heading into Sydney.

“But I also aim to race well in Wellington, it is part of my programme and I am looking for a good race against the young guys and a couple of very good Aussies.”

Indeed Saturday is another opportunity for the likes of Ryan Sissons (second in Takapuna), Clark Ellice, Tony Dodds, and Martin van Barneveld to race alongside Gemmell and world number 6 Vidal, although Sissons and Dodds have chosen to race in the U23 category, with the Budapest World Championships in mind.

In the women’s race Andrea Hewitt and Kate McIlroy clash again after finishing in the minor places at Takapuna while Nicky Samuels lines up in her first race since winning the sprint nationals at Kinloch in early February. The possible presence of world number 11 Dittmer will add further spice to an already high quality race.

The triathletes are at the Snow Farm until Thursday when some will make the journey to Wellington while Gemmell leaves for the capital on Friday afternoon.
 

TRIATHLON
Hewitt primed for attempt at World Chamionship title
Her thoughts are with those at home but the devastation in Canterbury after the earthquake has to be put to one side this weekend for Christchurch triathlete Andrea Hewitt as she heads into this weekend’s ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Grand Finale in Budapest knowing a world title is within her grasp.

Wednesday, 8 September 2010

CYCLING
Subway – Avanti's Vink makes world champs team
Subway – Avanti’s Michael Vink has been selected in the New Zealand cycling team for the road cycling world championships being held near Melbourne later this month.

Monday, 6 September 2010

MOUNTAIN BIKING
NZ Mountainbike Team, World Championships Final Day Wrap
Downhill competition filled the race programme today at the Mont Sainte Anne World Championships in Quebec, with the Junior and Elite Mens and Womens Championship races taking place.

Monday, 6 September 2010

CYCLING
Latham podiums on final day of French road cycling tour
Te Awamutu’s Pete Latham has finished third in the final stage of the testing As-en-Provence Tour that finished in France today.

Monday, 6 September 2010

MOUNTAIN BIKING
UCI Mountainbike World Championships, Mont Sainte Anne, Canada
NZ MTB Team Competition Days Three and Four - Wrap.

Monday, 6 September 2010

CYCLING
New Zealand cyclist gains Pro Tour contract with Radioshack
World track cycling medallist Jesse Sergent is the latest BikeNZ rider to secure a Pro Tour contract.

Sunday, 5 September 2010

MOUNTAIN BIKING
Patagonia takes on title sponsorship for challenging Queenstown 8hrs@jacks event
The multi-lap relay mountain bike event, 8hrs@Jacks, scheduled for October 23, has attracted leading outdoor sports company Patagonia as its head sponsor and the event is expected to attract a large field keen to compete on the challenging and scenic Jack's Point course overlooking Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu.

Saturday, 4 September 2010

CYCLING
BikeNZ team takes surprise lead in French cycle tour
Commonwealth Games bound cyclist Pete Latham takes the leader’s yellow jersey into the second day of the AS-en-Provence Tour in France.

Saturday, 4 September 2010

CYCLING
Powerful BikeNZ team for road cycling world championships
BikeNZ has named a powerful team built around their Pro Tour riders to make one of their strongest squads ever for the upcoming UCI World Road Cycling Championships in Melbourne.

Friday, 3 September 2010

MOUNTAIN BIKING
UCI Mountainbike World Championships, Mont Sainte Anne, Canada NZ MTB Team Competition Day Two - Wrap
Samara Sheppard was a black and silver Cross Country mountainbike machine today at the Mont Sainte Anne World Championships in Quebec today.

Friday, 3 September 2010

MOUNTAIN BIKING
UCI Mountainbike World Championships, Mont Sainte Anne, Canada Sept 1st to 5th 2010
NZ MTB Team Competition Day One - Wrap.

Friday, 3 September 2010

RUNNING
Marc Ellis Takes up Wanaka Marathon Effort for Charity
In 2009 New Zealander Mal Law made history by becoming the first person ever to run NZ’s seven Great Walks in just seven days – a total distance of 360 kms in the longest week of his life.

Thursday, 2 September 2010

Endurance Sport news is powered by infonews.co.nz