Telluride Training

I’m typing this as our ’08 Pontiac “Gutless Wonder”

 makes its way up the mountain passes of Route 825 between Gunnison and Denver, Colorado. Chris “Hobbit” Warris is at

 the helm and although the winding bends and spectacular scenery makes for many a Top Gear moment, the speed limit is being studiously adhered 

to after our silver beast was pulled over by the Colorado State Troopers not half an hour ago. Luckily Hobbit turned on the Aussie charm and Trooper Krasniski (I kid you not, that real

ly is his name) let our 73 mph in a 65 zone off with a warning.

The "Courtesy Warning"

Fellow passangers in the Gutless Wonder are Andrew Glover and Jonathan “Tats” Tatham. The four of us and an additional four Dingos (the Dowle twins, Paul Denyer and Mike Neild) have just finished up an intensive high-altitude (8750 feet or a touch over 2600 metres) training camp in Telluride Colorado. The little ski town that several of us have spent winter seasons at is arguably more spectacular in summer than in the winter months and we took good advantage of the sunny weather to complete some hikes and sprint sessions in the thin mountain air.

Housing the Aussie crowd was Greg Simpson, the Australian resident “snow shoveling pimp” that some of you may remember from my winter time communiques. Once again, Greg provided hospitality that would put a 75-camel-sheik from the UAE to shame. A wealth of local knowledge, all-area-access to Tuscan villa style Mountain Village mansions, the ability to spin a yarn like John Greenfield combined with an irrepressible enthusiasm for shennanigans large or small makes Greg what I title “a fully certified Aussie champ.”

After a relatively exhausting tour through the US south west and our final game against Johnny Bravo, we were keen for a relaxing few days in order to prepare for Worlds which kicks off this Sunday. Nonetheless we felt the need to put in several throwing and sprint sessions. All eight of us found the altitude to be a considerable factor as we gasped our way through the sessions. Hiking and sightseeing were a bit easier on the lungs, but not on my nasal passage which didn’t handle the thin, dry air very well and I managed to get what can only be described as an ‘explosive’ nose bleed that kept up for about 45 mins.

We are flying out to Vancouver tomorrow morning. Less than 72hrs until the first game at Worlds.  Very exciting stuff folks!!

Jonno