With the Australian domestic season approaching, the WAIS Canoeing Program has embarked on an altitude camp, some 2000m above sea level as it seeks the very best preparation ahead of next month’s State Championships.
The altitude concept is one that has attributed success to WAIS program athletes in the past, but via a simulated process of altitude tents, which are assembled in an athlete’s home, and requires the subject to sleep in overnight.
The decision to take the WAIS training squad to New South Wales’ Perisher Valley was reached with a more holistic training view in mind that would allow athletes a sustained “natural” exposure to altitude through both training and recovery.
WAIS physiologist Martyn Binnie – who has overseen the early part of the Perisher Valley training camp – said that primary benefit of such training is garnered through exposure to lower oxygen levels in the air at higher altitude that can help athletes to performance benefits upon return to sea level.
“When the body is exposed to reduced levels of oxygen when sleeping or training it is put under stress and forced to adapt,” Binnie said. “Ultimately, after a period of altitude exposure, the body will adapt in such a way as to allow for an improved performance at sea level through an enhanced aerobic capacity and other haematological mechanisms.”
As with any training program, the goals are tailored towards high performance gains in competition.
2012 London representative Jesse Phillips hopes the camp will result in a stronger season for the WAIS kayak team when they return for the state championships in Perth.
“We are looking for lifts in VO2 Max Testing and Blood Lactate Buffering which will translate to higher performance at sea level and another strong season from the WAIS Kayak Team domestically,” said Phillips.
“Our return to Perth is timed to coincide with the State Championships which will provide acute performance feedback before we all jump back into the WAIS Lab for another set of tests to measure our improvement.”
Whilst the natural exposure to altitude forms the most critical aspect of the training camp, Martyn Binnie said the greater benefits of the mountainous base made it a versatile platform for the athletes’ preparations.
“They have a great set up at Perisher with the ability to train on various lakes, rivers, and dams, as well as some great walking and running trails around Mount Kosciusko,” he Binnie.
“In addition to the altitude benefits, the fact that the athletes are isolated together in a specific training environment for three weeks has benefits in itself with a great focus and team environment.”
– Olivia Vivian
