Latest News

HP Squad Training 9-12 FebResized Beach Running 3

Some of Squash New Zealand's High Performance players have been in Auckland for the week training. Evan Williams gives us the downlow on the week. 

The NZ squad descended on Auckland from Feb 9-12 brimming from ear to ear in anticipation of a camp made up by Squash NZ, Shelley Kitchen and Paul Wright. For us players, it was a treat to train, eat and live with quality players and characters from other regions - even though the daily banter reached newer and newer lows in complete contrast to the feisty card games and dinner magic tricks. For the coaches it was a chance to see us train, play and to try push us to our limits both physically and technically and for Pauls partner Nuttha, nutritionally as after a hard days slog we received nightly feeds fit for kings, made up of fine Thai cuisine, lasagne and fresh BBQed goodness that was guaranteed to stretch our stomachs threshold!

Resized Beach Running 6Every morning we arose and exchanged increasingly grizzly looks at a time this veteran still considers the night! These eyes quickly came to life as we scaled the impressive landscape of the Waitakere Ranges. We ran through the bushes and black sand at Bethells Beach to the cave T-Swiz shot her recent music video, we stopped up at the serene Lake Wainamu and ran the seemingly vertical sand dunes - not shy of a long jump comp and squash NZs first face plant! As our schronized shoes splashed speedily through the stream on the trek home, we made it back ready to face the days training, devouring Nuttas world famous scrambled eggs and scrubbing the sand off Benjis face!

On court, we worked through technical drills honing in on potential weaknesses and ramping up strengths as Megan "Deception" Craig can attest to, as she came out with the coveted trophy for SNZs most deceptive player. With Pauls eccentric guidance and Shelleys watchful eye we all came out with something to take back to our respective regions to hopefully keep our steady improvement moving upwards. We battled through the Auckland humidity, many shirt changes, nipple chafing, morning red bulls, games of odds, would you rathers, bicep curls, spontaneous photo shoots and Pauls english humour. Great week! When's the next one? And who's doing my washing?

By Evan Williams


<< Back

Major Partner

Programme & Team Partners


Community & Youth Development Partner

Community Trust Supporters


 

Website by nzsites.nz