Hockey players and parents are the same anywhere. It was funny to see parents in Beijing come to ice level following our skills testing portion grabbing our clip boards from the edge of the boards to compare times of their young players. Parents also ask how old our kids are that are out there demonstrating drills so they can compare their 5 to 7 year olds with our 8 to 9 year olds. On that note, I should say I was very impressed right away when I saw the ability of these young players especially their level of skating. It will be a lot of fun these 2 weeks watching them develop even further and getting to spend time with them and their parents talking hockey. We are in such a different place yet inside that rink it feels like we could still be in any Canadian hockey hotbed.

Beijing is Hot and Smoggy. I could never imagine how bad it was during the Olympics when they always made such a big deal about it. Well it’s unimaginable. Everyday is like Edmonton down wind from the worst northern forest fires, then just add +35 and 90 plus % humidity.

Camp got underway 12 hours after landing here in Beijing. We are treated incredibly well by our hosts, I would call it spoiled actually, I feel like a Canadian dignitary. We are shuttled around, we are taken out for meals and tours and the coolest part was our arrival on day 1 to the rink where we were driven in and escorted like rock stars through a private entrance by lots of people with suits and walkie talkies.  

Day 1 of camp was such a blast, we were pumped up, and the kids and parents were excited to have us out there. To add to the fun there was also an opening ceremony done for the rink in the middle of camp, they do everything big here that’s for sure.  The rink we are in is actually in a mall, West Edmonton Mall style.  

No time was wasted either in getting out and taking in many of the incredible sights. We squeezed in tours of the Forbidden City and Tienamin (sp?) Square following our day of camp.

In addition to the on ice sessions, the kids are put through some Canadian style dryland training and the parents take in seminars by the coaches on things such as the minor hockey system, Collegiate hockey, player development and physical and nutritional education.

We are all fired up for week 2. Week 1 campers carry a litte fatigue in their legs but are excited about new adventures after a great first week. New campers arrive with nervous hesitations after hearing the stories but ready to see it first hand.

The first day of riding took us to San Salvador where Easter celebrations were still taking place (see pics of smokey bar b ques). It was a flat arrival to a ~ 5km climb made up of nice gradual switchbacks. Albeit a little bit of long day, ~120 km, for the new campers,  still one that provided all the material from the cycling stories they have heard and read prior to arrival.

Tuesday, brought the "Orient Express" and onto the Lluc Monestary. The riding up to the Orient climb is spectacular and grade and speed that everyone could take it all in and enjoy together. Once we hit the climb everyone had to climb at their own pace. It's another 5 km climb but winds through trees with almost zero traffic making it an intense drill or a nice social outing.

Lluc provided climbs to newer heights, more open road riding but the traffic is so respectful of riders that is is always 2 abreast and steady chit chat until the grades get to steep, then riders go t their own pace and meet at the top for pics.

The Coastal Classic, this provides the same lead up anxiety as an Ironman. Its a 140 km to 165 km ride with an enormous amount of climbing but the most beautiful scenery you'll find on the Island. Check out video of Chris McNeil through Deia and other pics along the coast. Also included is another stint on the infamous SaCalobra. I took a turn this go round making for a full self destructive day. As cycling fitness has declined to a certain degree over the past couple of years I pick my spots more for my turns working with group one. I told Chris Thursday that I would ride as hard as I could for as long as I could and then he would be on his own. Although he was detroying me km by km I managed to stay within striking distance until SaCalobra, for the 11 km cement snake climb. Coming out of the climb and heading into the final 45 km to home I died a slow death.

Plans were altered somewhat with the fatigue and a chance of rain on Saturday. We shortened our ride to ~90km to Sineu and had some fun on the velodrome track. It was a great time, after doing some teaching on the workings of the track, cyclists organized themselves into teams and we had a variety of team pursuit races. It made for a super fun day with soem disguised intervals. Because of the threat of rain for Saturday our Finale ride into Petra for the famous cakes was tacked on to todays Sineu  adventure. It worked out well as Petra provided te best it could with a Plaza full of cyclists from all over the world, what a spectacle.

Saturday, Day 6, and 5th day of big riding. Our plan was to hit Randa which meant a fairly straight forward ride to get there and then a nice gradual switchback of 6 km up to a fortress. Big stone walls surrounding buildings inside.  Early into our ride we leanred that even in Spain things are not perfect although still darn close. We got stuck in some hard rain in Sineu for about 10 to 15 minutes. The thing is here, versus at home is that the temperatures are so comfortable that outside of some soggy feet it is still quite comfortable to keep riding. The only hitch here in Spain in the rain is on climbs or up in the mountains where the roads get icy slick with moisture. If this happens then plans must be evaluated and possibly altered just for safety. Fortunately today the rain stopped in time for the Randa acsent to be safe so everyone was able to add another epic climb to their log books.

Sunday was a transition / and therefore rest day. The one week campers go home and the second week campers arrive. This always makes for a good excuse for an adventure outside the resort, and a break from buffets.

Check out a variety of pictures here on our site and facebook.