Chronicles of a Training Camp
Hey everyone! My name is Taiga Moore, and this is my first year on Team Birkie. Given that we’re currently at our altitude camp in Park City, I figured I would give you all a look into the secrets behind the training of a professional ski team.
The average person watches approximately 7 movies every month, amounting to somewhere around 5,000 movies over the course of their entire lifetime. Some would say even that is a generous estimate, and many people that I know would hazard to guess a far lower number. After all, there are far better things to do with a day than to spend it cooped up indoors with the blinds shut, glued to a screen for multiple hours on end.
At least that's what they want you to think. Sometimes it is better to defy the average, to stray off the beaten path and carve your own tale into the ground of history. This is the mentality that Team Birkie carries into each and every camp. In just the first week of our Park City altitude camp, our household of 9 men has consumed 14 movies alone, and there we are exhibiting no signs of slowing down. We are going against all odds, seeking to upset all expectations of what is possible by consuming as much visual media as humanly possible. Is it easy? Of course not. But we are committed. We will not be swayed from our path.
Hiking with Roger and Adam
The common first question that arises from our less committed training partners usually falls along the lines of “How are you recovering from such a strenuous training load while also taking on such a monumental task?”. To this we reply simply – multitasking. At the heart of every successful professional athlete lies the ability to devote themselves to multiple tasks at once, all while keeping their most lofty goals in mind. The typical day in our training camp is thoroughly structured, with not a moment overlooked, not a second wasted.
From the moment we wake up at 6:45am, to the strictly enforced bedtime at 10:00pm, not an instant goes to waste. As soon as our morning training session is finished, our focus shifts instantly to recovery and preparation. Every athlete is acutely aware of our limited time frame before our afternoon session at 4:00. We assign tasks: two individuals man the recovery shakes and lunch preparation, another two prepare that day's film selection, and the rest unpack, clean, and shower to avoid illness. Those who have showered then relieve the others of their duties, allowing for every member to adequately prepare for the afternoon’s work. Foam rollers are laid out, legs are put up the wall, and floor space is reserved for stretching. With under 15 minutes having elapsed since the finish of our morning training session, each and every member of our house is accounted for, gathered in the living room, eyes glued to the task at hand.
The play button is pressed, and the movie begins.
