Tri Dynamic Darren Smith Dsquad Age Group Tri Camp Report
Martin Boddie from Tri Dynamic has sent in his camp report from the first ever tri camp in the world with Elite Coach Darren Smith which they organised. The camp was specifically for age group athletes. The lucky few participants got to spend 4 intensive days working closely with Darren Smith in Can
Martin Boddie from Tri Dynamic has sent in his camp report from the first ever tri camp in the world with Elite Coach Darren Smith which they organised. The camp was specifically for age group athletes. The lucky few participants got to spend 4 intensive days working closely with Darren Smith in Canberra over the Australia Day holidays. Athletes travelled from all over Australia and there were a great mix of ages, abilities, race distances and nationalities including World Age Group Champions, 1st place finisher at Noosa and the fastest AG Ironman bike split record holder in 2012. Everyone made significant improvements working closely with Coach Daz and his team on this unique camp.
Not only did the camp participants get to be coached by Darren Smith they also benefitted from watching his stellar Dsquad athletes training ahead of the new season. Immersed in the world class training environment that Darren Smith develops his athletes in they witnessed what is involved every day to be the best in the world. World # 2 and World Champ Grand Final winner Anne Haug, 5th place finisher at Hy-Vee Jodie Stimpson, Ireland’s Olympian Aileen Morrison, World Duathlon Champ, Cancun World Cup winner Katie Hewison and IM 70.3 Auckland winner Annabel Luxford to name but a few of the Dsquad were all training at the same time as camp participants who were also able to join in on a few sessions. During the camp a few of the Dsquad raced in Wollongong where France’s Gregory Rouault won the men’s race with USA’s Matt Chrabot coming in second and GB’s Jodie Stimpson narrowly missed the win against Gwen Jorgensen in a sprint finish by 1 sec.
Commenting on the camp Darren Smith said;
‘I really enjoyed my 1st opportunity to work with Age Groupers on a camp like this. It’s obviously a bit different to my normal set up but I am pretty certain I was able to impact significant change. It was really satisfying to see such big improvements in a short space of time. Martin at Tri Dynamic did a great job providing a safe and well organised platform on which to run our camp. I am fairly confident that we will run some more in the future if there is enough interest.’
The camp focused on learning and skills development under the watchful eye of Coach Daz. There were also some great opportunities to work with his world class support team who keep his athletes in top condition and injury free. Dr Liz Broad, AIS Dietician, Dsquad Rehab Specialist Rick van Riemsdijk, Team Physio Roz Penfold, Team Chiropractor Colin Clarey and Dsquad running technique consultant from Kenya Rob Higley (who advised Olympic Champ and 800m WR holder David Rudisha) were all on hand. There also some great social events to relax and get to meet the other athletes and the Dsquad athletes and entire support team came along to a last night BBQ.
One camp participant, Laura Siddall, who races for Team Wiggle said;
“It was an amazing opportunity to learn from Darren Smith and gain an insight into the world class environment and support team he has set up. We were able to watch and train with his elite squad which was an extremely motivating experience and I loved every minute of it!”
Tri Dynamic will be working with Darren Smith once again in London this weekend for 2 x 1 day triathlon master classes which will cover swimming and running technique at Hampton Pool & St Mary’s, Twickenham on SAT FEB 2nd & SUN FEB 3rd. There are very limited places left. This event proved very popular in its first attempt after the London Olympics so you’d better be quick!
