MISHA: The most challenging thing for me is running 3 miles in 36 minutes, my favorite thing about training is when the helicopters fly above us. They have a special kind of beat that I like.
SHEA: The hardest thing about training is the running, the best thing is doing push-ups.
HARPER: Running is the most challenging part for me. I enjoy the ground exercises best...they are more peaceful.
SAJYA: The most challenging thing is running at 100% power, and working with Marianne
(25 lb weight). The best part about being here is the food and the fun times you have with your friends here.
NATHAN: The hardest part of training is the afternoon exercises, the best part is the food!
LAUREN: The hardest thing for me is running, the easiest is doing jumps and spins.
NICK: Running on soft sand is very difficult. I like the food and chilling with the people.
CHRISTINA: The exercises are what challenge me, the best part for me is the running.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Determination and Perseverance
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
What exactly did our campers do today in training?
Training consisted of 3 sessions including the following activities:
42 minutes running on soft sand rather than more solid, wet sand
for aerobic/cardiovascular exercise
Exercises included using medicine balls to increase ankle joint strength and ability to balance body. Coach Alexei used a slow approach to increase balance and strenth, and a fast approach to increase explosiveness and power.
Exercises were performed to increase jumping ability and length. Our youth jumped using both feet for 30 meters, in order to cover the distance with less jumps as they executed 6 sets.
They completed triple jumps with different variations which similate skating conditions during jumps such as double and triple axel.
Various exercises took place in the ocean. Running with water resistance increases endurance, strength, and the ability to manage power in the course of the exercise.
Core upper body strength exercises with and without weights ranging from
6-25 lbs each.
Students decided to name their weights in order to develop a bond with their training tool :)
(for example MaryAnn, Pocahontas, Jonas, Sacajawea)
Maximum intensity run for 3 miles on the soft sand
Multi-revolutional jumps and jumping combinations which allowed trainers to combine, in the same practice, various conditions crucial to skating with less risk of injury. (falling on sand rather than a hard surface benefits athletic trainers)
Photos from Busch Garden
Emily, Lauren, Nick, Addison, and Aleesha gobble up Dippin'Dots while waiting for the train
So many hats, so little time! Maksim has fun in the hat store
Shea, Addison, Christina and Sasha wait in line for the log ride....it is hot , hot, hot!
Maksim loves dragonland!
Saturday, June 5th: Adventures at Busch Gardens
Our campers thoroughly enjoyed their day off at Busch Gardens, despite the extreme heat and humidity! Shade and air conditioned shows were appreciated, as were icy refreshments.
Here is Coach Alexei Mantsorov at the beautiful entrance of the European themed amusement park.
These were a few of our favorite things:
MISHA: Alpengeist rollercoaster and cookies and cream fudge
SHEA: the big rollercoasters and the themes of the countries
NATHAN: the food was awesome, I stuffed myself, and I rode the Griffon(biggest rollercoaster)
five times
CHRISTINA: Apollo's Chariot and Alpengeist rollercoasters
HARPER: the fudge and chocolate cake and the Lochness Monster rollercoaster
EMILY: the Curse of the Darkastle and spending the day with friends
SASHA: the rides were so much fun, the lines were short and the people nice
LAUREN: the theme park is beautiful and I liked the Lochness Monster rollercoaster
SAJYA: the Alpengeist rollercoaster and hanging with friends
ALEESHA: Escape from Pompei and Dippin' Dots
NICK: the Griffon rollercoaster was fun, but I spent $15 on jellybeans in bulk, by accident,
and wished I could return them
ADDISON: the rollercoasters and the relaxing train ride
MAKSIM: the Elmo ride, the purple dragon my Dad won for me, and trying on hats
Friday, June 4, 2010
Small and Mighty
Imagine training to imitate the endurance of a marathoner, the strength of a weightlifter and the precision of a dancer in the blazing sun, three times per day, for many successive days . . . and then imagine doing that as an 8-year-old.It is easy to be amazed by the power pack of Christina Mantsorov, Lauren Moor and Addison Dunbar. These three, spunky young girls, comprise the youngest of our camp participants and have poured their hearts and souls into performing at a high level this past week.
Christina Mantsorov is 9-years-old. She has skated since she was 4. As you may have guessed, Christina is Coach Alexei's daughter. When asked how that impacts her skating, Christina said that she appreciates having her dad involved in teaching her and that she is happy that he is helping her to be successful in the sport. She likes camp an awful lot and appears to be particularly skilled in the distance running portions of training, having finished in a tight third place during a training run ahead of considerably older runners a few days ago. 
While the trainings are somewhat painful for Christina, she stated that she likes the pain as it reminds her that she's working hard. For her, the best part of camp has been working out with friends and those whom she views as extended family - the members of Premier FSC. She is motivated to continue on in her training and keep a good attitude as she progresses. Christina currently skates at a preliminary level. She definitely wants to skate until she is in high school and would like to become a senior-level skater, like her teammate Irene Pullum. Christina feels pulled about her future career plans, stating that mom and dad would like her to investigate a medical profession, such as becoming a doctor, and she would really like to become a pop music singer. Who knows? There may be a good niche for a singing doctor in the future . . .
Lauren Moor is, as she says, basically 9-years-old. She began her skating career at age 6 and has enjoyed all aspects of the sport, from practice to competitions. Lauren has really enjoyed camp and has aspired to keep up with the older kids. While her legs hurt her early on, she has adjusted to the endurance portions of training and is now feeling great. She believes that having the opportunity to train with Coach Valentin is truly a special experience. Lauren knows that Valentin expects a lot from her, but she is up for the challenge. Her near-term skating goal is to land her axel sufficient to qualify for regionals this fall. She currently skates at a high-beginner level, but is edging into pre-preliminary. Lauren likes to learn new things and spend time with her Premier FSC friends. She aspires to become a country singer, much like Taylor Swift, in the future.
Addison Dunbar is the baby of this group at 7-years-old. From 4-years-old on, Addison has been training with Coach Alexei. For Addison, the biggest challenge of this camp is keeping up with the older kids during the endurance portions of training and she views the running portion of camp as the root of evil. Addison is most proud of the now "large" bicep muscles she has developed as a result of the strength exercises. While she has enjoyed the training, her favorite parts of camp have been the times where she has gotten to swim in the ocean and the backyard pool. Addison is 
consistently the last one in the door from the pool and there are times some of us thought that she might just turn into a fish. She is motivated to continue skating by thinking about the many jumps she hopes to learn. Addison is skating at a high-beginner level and aspires to go to the Olympics, which was originally suggested to her by her Grandma Cyndi. Following her Olympic experience, Addison would like to be an architect and design buildings and cities, much like the kind she makes in her room with Legos or saw from the window of the plane on the way to camp.
consistently the last one in the door from the pool and there are times some of us thought that she might just turn into a fish. She is motivated to continue skating by thinking about the many jumps she hopes to learn. Addison is skating at a high-beginner level and aspires to go to the Olympics, which was originally suggested to her by her Grandma Cyndi. Following her Olympic experience, Addison would like to be an architect and design buildings and cities, much like the kind she makes in her room with Legos or saw from the window of the plane on the way to camp.
These small, but mighty, girls have provided energy, vitality and spunk to our group this week. Their enthusiasm keeps us on our toes. Their drive is an example for us all.
Sibling Support
Being the sibling of a figure skater isn't always easy, well, unless you get to travel along with that sibling to Virginia Beach for training camp!Aleesha Singh, Emily Moor and Maksim Mantsorov have been busy providing sibling support and soaking in the sun this past week here at camp.
Aleesha is the 7-year-old sister of Sajya and Nathan, both camp participants. Besides playing and swimming, Aleesha has had fun writing about her experiences at Virginia Beach. She and participants Addison Dunbar and Lauren Moor, have come up with the concept of holding a "writing competition" detailing their camp and vacation experiences.
Emily's siblings are Nick and Lauren, also both camp participants. Emily, a bright and kind 12-year-old, has been helpful in many ways, assisting with meal preparation and babysitting. Emily has most enjoyed swimming and taking walks along the beach with her mom, Kelly.
Maksim's sister, Christina, is a camp participant. Maksim is a crazy little man who just loves spending time near the pool, just not in it. His favorite activity is throwing items in the pool and then telling Aleesha to "go fish."
Both Emily and Aleesha find the ocean to be a fun playground. They love the waves and think it is really fun to collect seashells. Both have also found opportunities to spend quality time with their moms on the seashore, something that is hard to come by in our busy lives.
All three kids are enjoying their time here. The older two, Emily and Aleesha, were very excited to become a part of the blog so that their dads could see that they are doing okay. They (and we) hope that their dads are doing okay in their absence!
The siblings seem to be most excited for their trip to the amusement park on Saturday and their trip to Coldstone Creamery tonight. These sweet kids are ready for a sweets break with their siblings and friends.
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