Hello ELITEAM Friends!

We've had two amazing World Cup camps and are now spending our days with the Europa Cup athletes. Although these kids are a little smaller and younger, they're fast and know how to push their limits!

All of our athletes have embraced our "Do Hard Things" theme this summer. Everyday we have been challenged by this theme, and everyday the kids have stepped up to the plate and delivered with sweat, smiles and determination! Our collective burpee count is now at 157,900 WOW!!!... with more to come! Burpees may be our thing this summer... but what will YOU do today, tomorrow, or next month that will inspire and challenge you??!!

Next week we head back to Utah for one last camp, August 12th-16th. We've partnered with Park City Ski & Snowboard and the Utah Olympic Park to bring this camp to Park City. We have some great momentum going and are excited to take ELITEAM's action out West!

Hope you're all having a great summer!

Best,

Kelley & Doug Lewis

ELITEAM Camps

802-793-5055

2019's Theme - Do Hard Things

Each year we're very selective about the ELITEAM theme for our summer camps. We always strive to choose something that embodies the culture of ELITEAM. A phrase that releases some adrenaline into your system. A phrase that gives you confidence. A phrase that inspires and challenges. Then we make it our Mantra. This year’s theme is Do Hard Things!

For Champions, inspiration often comes from within. They rise up to the challenge and are able to find that energy and inspiration from deep in their bellies. They are willing to do the work necessary to pursue their goals, even when it would easier to skip it. This skill is something that needs to be practiced and learned from an early age.

Over the past two weeks, we have found that Do Hard Things is inspiring to ELITEAMers, not scary. Hearing it brings out the urge to do something special, to rise to the occasion, to get up and prepare to push your limits! Every time you do that as an athlete, and as a person, you will gain the confidence to answer the call again and again.

ELITEAMers have proven year after year that they love challenges. They know that although it usually means lots of sweat, muscle pain and some grunting, that awesome feeling they get after completing something extraordinary is truly a special feeling. Hearing Do Hard Things triggers a response of positive vibes in ELITEAMers and it is something they will take with them long after camp ends.

Dynamic Stretching Part of an Effective Warm-up

A focused warm-up that includes 5-10 minutes of dynamic stretching is an important tool that young ski racers and young athletes can utilize year-round. Dynamic stretching is a form of active movement that takes your body through ranges of motion that will better prepare you for a workout or competition.

A good dynamic warm-up increases ranges of movement, along with blood and oxygen flow to your muscles, tendons and ligaments before they're called upon to do a serious workout. Dynamic stretching not only increases performance, but also helps prevent injury. As an athlete, it's a must!

To warm-up properly before a workout, start by jogging for a few minutes, progress into some dynamic stretches, and then end with a few light sprints to activate the muscles for your workout. Below is a sample warmup to give you a general idea of how to prepare a dynamic warm-up routine.

Get Muscles Moving and Warm:

Dynamic Stretches:

Each individual exercise will be a 10m down and back. Pick 2 from each section.

Finish off with a few Light Sprints:

CLICK HERE to see our Europa Cup ELITEAMers doing some dynamic stretches.

After finishing your workout, do some static stretching along with a few more dynamic exercises and a slow jog to cool down. Taking the time to cool down and properly stretch after a workout is good practice for the body to recover efficiently and effectively. Be sure to stay well hydrated especially when workouts happen during peak hours of the day in the summer. Speaking of which, check out the Electrolyte Delight recipe below!

Electrolytes

Why are electrolytes important for the healthy athlete? Firstly, what are they?! Electrolytes are minerals that break into small, electrically-charged particles called ions when they dissolve in water. They are essential to physical activity because they regulate bodily fluids and help our muscles contract. Electrolytes are lost in sweat during hard physical exercise and can create imbalances in our bodies. They may be tiny little things, but they have a big impact when it comes to maintaining a healthy body, especially for athletes!

Types of electrolytes and some of their functions:

A good source of electrolyte minerals can be found in foods like bananas, spinach, milk and yogurt. Hmmmm, sounds like a great post-workout green smoothie! Sprinkling sea salt on a baked sweet potato is a good one. Other options include chocolate milk, watermelon, avocados, oranges and almonds.

And instead of buying Gatorade or other popular electrolyte drinks (which can have unwanted additives), try making your own. Experiment with the recipe below!

Thanks to USOC Sports Dietician and Performance Chef Megan Chacosky for this recipe!

ELECTROLYTE DELIGHT

3-4 cups filtered water

3/4 cup 100% fruit juice (OJ, apple, etc)

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice

1-2 TBSP real maple syrup or raw honey

1/8- 1/4 tsp. sea salt

Directions- Mix all ingredients. Refrigerate to get cold. Go workout and get sweaty. Then replenish those electrolytes with your homemade recipe!

**Tips**