Training Services Case Study
In September 2010, Violet Miller, a 15-year old national
ski racer, began performance conditioning training with
YSJActive. For three months, Violet undertook a training
programme designed to enhance her speed, strength, power, and
co-ordination specific to her main events of ‘Giant Slalom’ and
‘Super-G’ in preparation for the winter circuit. Under the expert
guidance of YSJActive’s sports performance coach Dean Armstrong,
weekly sessions were carried out on-site at Queen Margaret’s School
in Escrick so as to not disrupt Violet from her academic
studies. Armstrong highlights the significance of achieving the
correct balance; “Even at such a young age Violet is considered an
elite athlete as she is competing at the top of her sport. However,
it is vital not to let the intensity of her training interfere with
her academia. This is why it is important for us to offer a
mobile service, so that we can accommodate athletes in Violet’s
position.”
Throughout the duration of the programme, a
number of advanced training techniques were utilised to achieve
improvements in core strength, lower body power and agility, as
well as co-ordination and reaction time. The use of kettlebells,
agility equipment and power balls provided the basis of the
sessions, with the addition of plyometrics and movement-specific
exercises to develop Violet’s fitness in accordance with her
sporting requirements. Violet gives her opinion on her sessions; “I
feel that the exercises are always pitched at the right intensity
to improve my strength and power, and my technique has also
continually progressed as a result. Despite being challenging, I
always look forward to, and enjoy each session.”
In December, as Violet completed her
pre-competition training with YSJActive, it was recorded that her
maximal vertical and horizontal jumps had increased significantly,
and improvements in her flexibility, agility and speed were also
measured. These training progressions made the transition into
results, as Violet showed fantastic form on the European FIS
Circuit, winning gold in the Giant Slalom and bronze in the Slalom
for her age category at the British Alpine Race Ski Clubs
Championships in Italy over the New Year. To add to these
successes, Violet also collected bronze in both the individual
slalom and the combined team event at the British Schoolgirl Races
in Flaine, France representing Queen Margaret’s School,
York.
In April this year, Violet competed in the
British Alpine Championships, where she put in a fantastic
performance in terrible weather conditions to pick up a second
and fourth place in the Junior Super G and Junior Downhill
events respectively. As an indication of just how impressive an
athlete Violet is, she actually finished ninth overall
in the junior and senior Super Combined!
After the British Championships, a
much-deserved recovery period of around six weeks will be
afforded before Violet gets back into her pre-season training
regime at the beginning of June in preparation for upcoming major
competitions.