Contact Us
I just spent time with One “Cool” Guy.
A lot of times I shy away from name dropping. I am so against it that I have an agreement with my “famous” actors, actresses, athletes and politicians who I train. If they want to go out and tell people that they work with me fine, but unless I ask them specifically or they tell me specifically to tell people I just treat them like everyday people.
I have some of the most physically fit moms, dads, and kids in Arizona that train with me. They have everyday jobs, with every day lives. I train them the same way I train the “celebrities”. I use the same techniques, same intensities, same protocols and same workouts. So why is it necessary to say I work with Mr./Mrs./Ms. “So and So Hot Shot Celeb” and have everyone think I am some hot shot myself?
Some of my colleagues tell me I am insane to not use my clients’ status to advance my career. I say that I love what I do, I make a great living and the people I work with trust me. That is more important than name dropping.
However, I believe this weekend was worth telling you about. For the past few years, my guys have attended a snow board camp run by Chris Klug. You may or may not have heard of him if you do not follow snowboarding. I have met a him a bunch of times over the past few years and he is by far one of the most friendly, down to earth, amazingly motivating teachers on the planet. He makes everyone feel comfortable and he never forgets a name. He has won:
* Four World Cup victories
* Three Grand Prix wins
* Five National titles
* A U.S. Open Victory
* and sixth place in the 1998 Winter Olympics!
For the past few years, I sent the boys to camp and went off on my own, did my own thing and stayed out of the way. I am an above-average boarder. I surfed as a kid and picked it up pretty easily. I like to hit the terrain park and ride the boxes and table tops and do a few tricks here and there. But I had no desire to “catch big air’, do the half pipe or become an X Game contestant.
This year I still didn’t join the camp but I decided to stay on the mountain and follow the group around. Chris keeps the camp small and brings in top notch pro snowboard athletes like Tricia Byrnes, Travis McLain, Justin Reiter, Mitch Stout. Much to my surprise, this camp was less about boarding and more about developing a great attitude and becoming passionate about something you love.
I would coyly sit back at the top of the hill and watch Chris and his instructors completely engage boys and girls, men and women from ages 8 to 58 with humor, anecdotal stories interjected with techniques for the upcoming tasks. I watched blatant novices who barely belonged on a mountain, let alone strapped to board aiming down in utter fear, take the lessons. After three days these same participants ended the camp doing “gnarly” tricks, catching “semi-big air” and even dared to enter the half pipe for a run or two.
I would listen in at lunch with my 14 year old and hear great stories of being a pro athlete and the way they learned to love something so much that they just have to do it. They just have the luxury of making a living and representing the United States all over the world competing.
Here is one of my favorite things that is usually unheard of when I see many sports celebrities do sport specific camps. Every morning started with a warm-up and stretch session. So many times these pros are set up to attend something like this by their agent and it turns out to be nothing more than a glorified autograph session.
For Chris Klug and friends it was a chance to teach and give back. They know they are lucky and that their hard work and determination paid off and they want to share it with tomorrows up and coming stars. They don’t just go out and show off. They teach and the students eat it up.
Olympic athletes of their caliber sometimes forget that kids look up to them. I often train professional athletes that have no business teaching. They are much better at doing their chosen craft, but somehow cannot pass on the info to students. Much like Tiger Woods, Chris and his crew are the best at their sport and he can interact and teach which is not common with today’s athletes. To the passer by these guys and gals were just like everybody else. This makes learning from them comfortable and fun but really informative.
Anyway… I am glad I stuck around. The Chris Klug Camp teaches kids to become student athletes with a passion for snowboarding. If you are interested in finding out about next year’s camp, get on his mailing list www.chrisklug.com and we can take his camp together next year because I doubt I am sitting another one out again.
Remember,
Better Bodies = Better Results
Bobby