Gemmell enjoying the 'high life' of Tri Nationals

Leading New Zealand triathlete Kris Gemmell is enjoying the ‘high life’ of the Snow Farm, high above Wanaka as he and other leading triathletes complete an altitude camp on the eve of the Contact National Triathlon Championships in Wellington this weekend.

The entire High Performance Squad bar Bevan Docherty have been training at the tailor made altitude camp since the Takapuna round of the Contact Tri Series, with the aim to build a strong base for the international season ahead. An international flavour has been added with Laurent Vidal (France) and Anja Dittmer (Germany) training with the Kiwis.

Gemmell says the camp has been hard work, but enjoyable nonetheless.

“I have to say it hasn’t been tough getting up in the morning and seeing the Remarkables to one side, Lake Wanaka the other and Mount Aspiring straight ahead. We have had perfect clear days for the past week making training a treat; it makes me feel lucky to have the job I do.”

It has hardly been easy going for Gemmell and the HP squad though, with National Coach Greg Fraine putting each triathlete through a rigorous daily routine.

“I am feeling pretty tired but that is not a surprise. This is my 12th time at the Snow Farm so I know how my body works up here. I took a week to adjust but have just done a tough week with six to eight hours a day and 140 to 150 kilometres of running. That is what this is all about, a base training camp that is hard work and recovery to build the aerobic endurance for this year.”

Gemmell says while the triathletes will all benefit at Wellington this weekend, the bigger pay off is a few weeks away.

“Coming down from altitude for Wellington will be a direct benefit for everyone but will help more for Mooloolaba and world champs qualifying for the U23’s especially that are racing there in two weeks.

“For me, Andrea, Nicky and Clark the focus is really on Sydney (the first ITU World Champs Series race for 2010). We have put in a lot of distance in running and cycling that will benefit us in a month’s time heading into Sydney.

“But I also aim to race well in Wellington, it is part of my programme and I am looking for a good race against the young guys and a couple of very good Aussies.”

Indeed Saturday is another opportunity for the likes of Ryan Sissons (second in Takapuna), Clark Ellice, Tony Dodds, and Martin van Barneveld to race alongside Gemmell and world number 6 Vidal, although Sissons and Dodds have chosen to race in the U23 category, with the Budapest World Championships in mind.

In the women’s race Andrea Hewitt and Kate McIlroy clash again after finishing in the minor places at Takapuna while Nicky Samuels lines up in her first race since winning the sprint nationals at Kinloch in early February. The possible presence of world number 11 Dittmer will add further spice to an already high quality race.

The triathletes are at the Snow Farm until Thursday when some will make the journey to Wellington while Gemmell leaves for the capital on Friday afternoon.