Yep its that time of year again, when you start seeing posts about new teams, new kits, new bikes, and the enthusiasm for the season to come is at an all time high. Team camp time is one of my favorite times of the year because it is a bit like hitting the reset button. You get to take all of the ups, downs, spirals, nose dives, and lessons you learned from the previous season, and use it to shape your new season, new goals, and put the fire back behind all of those big dreams.
Our team camp this season was in Lanzarte! If you are like me and have no idea where this is (I had to look on a map ;) It is a part of the Canary Islands just off the coast of Africa (but belonging to Spain). It is an incredible but crazy island, spotted with volcanos, black sandy beaches, palm trees, and some of the most bizarre and beautiful landscapes I've seen. I'm going to make this a mostly picture blog, but I'll add captions and explanations here and there. :)
Every morning we did some sort of core or cross training. Different members of our staff led the sessions each day. Lars was in charge of our first one and it was a blast, and a challenge. Most of it was balancing drills on swiss balls with added in tricks with partners. It was core and team bonding all in one! I think I got a better workout from laughing so hard than from actually working out! ;) This picture is Trixi and Karol Ann mastering the balance ball toss!
I loved the sunrise walk to breakfast after our morning core sessions...and that is saying something because I am not a morning person, but I started to really love the routine!
Rolling out from the resort (we stayed at a place called Sands Beach Resort and it was awesome! I've never stayed somewhere with friendlier staff, they were all our buddies by the end of the first day!:)
Our World Time Trial Champion Lisa! :)
Our new team moto is Transformation through metamorphosis, and our kits shout this loudly with the beautifully designed monarch butterfly pattern. Our team went through quite a few changes for this season but change is not negative, change can be good, change can even be beautiful! If you like the new kit, you can buy it here and support the team! :)
Motor pacing in style!
Our sweet new Cervelo S5's blinged out with Zipp 404s, Selle Italia Saddles, Quarq power meters, speedplay pedals, and SRAM components. Photo Credit: Brakethrough Media
Photo Credit: Brakethrough Media
Beth shook things up when it was here day to lead the core workouts and she threw us in the pool! I am a terrible swimmer at best, my best/only stroke is doggy paddle and that is survival instinct only! Pretty hilarious!
On our recovery day we went for a hike up the Volcano closest to our resort. It was beautiful!
Trixi lookin like a marathon runner!
During out hike Lars had planned some team building activities. This was the start of the human knot! :)
At the top!! Some of my teammates have mad hops!
Team Selfie mid-hike!
Look closely, that is our mechanic Sebastian carrying Karol-Ann up the mountain! Pretty impressive! :)
Our next team building activity at the top of the volcano, the "trust" fall! ;)
Another team building activity where we all had to get from one side to the other through a tiny hole. They left me for last and had to literally pull my upper body from the ground up, it was hilarious and impressive all at the same time!
On one of the days we were filmed on a climb by a drone! Super cool, the only downside is the ten minute battery life of the drone, however we didn't mind stopping every ten minutes to take in the view and take some pictures of our own!
Andre our super video master and his rig! I love this guy!
Beth turning the tables on video man Andre and interviewing him for a change!
Is that a robot, or Andre?
One day we took a bit of a wrong turn...
Karol-Ann (aka Pocket Rocket) looking like the superstar she is on picture day!
Kristy working it for Jim and Iri (Brakethrough Media!)
World Champ! :) Dang thats a sweet jersey!!
More picture day shenanigans!
Rockin the red vests!
Tiff!!
Our little French ball of sunshine!
Legs up!
SRAM + Velocio = Speed!!
Showing off our sweet custom Kask helmets!
On another one of our recovery days we went go-karting! It was SO fun! We did a full on grand prix with multiple rounds. I made it to the final but crashed in lap one of the final, hah! Barbara, Tiff, Ronny, and Lars were the ultimate go kart stars (although there is some speculation about Lar's being a bit of a 'bully' out there on the track;) Lars ended up coming out on top, with Ronny in 2nd and Barbara in 3rd.
Proper podium with certificates, champagne and all!
I love this picture haha Lars may have won the go-kart race but Ronny owned him on the podium with the champagne!
Tree time!
Morning yoga! There are some tight hammies there!
This was a hilarious little pee stop at the bottom of one of climbs.
Winner winner! Top three in the bike mechanics competition. Sebastian had us guess tire pressures, bikes with errors, and do a timed tire changing competition. Believe it or not I came out on top! :)
Last team ride in Lanzarote!
We had a Christmas party the night before everyone flew home. Crazy glasses have become a tradition at our team camp parties ;)
Cheers!
Lisa and Elise!
Trixi and Lars!
Our fearless leader/DS Santa ;)
Lars is not only my soigneur but also my hair dresser ;)
Lars and I both got wigs as our christmas present! ;)
Last morning in Lanzarote, went for a little hike/job with Tiff and Alex. This island has some pretty crazy landscape, I loved it!
Thats a wrap! Watch out for these fierce butterflies in 2015! :)
Photo Credit: Brakethrough Media