June 16/08 10:25 am - Chris Colbeck Assumes Position of National Head Coach for DH/4X

Posted by Editoress on 06/16/08
 

Chris Colbeck Assumes Position of Head Coach for DH/4X

Letter recieved from Chris Colbeck

Dear Canadian Athletes

As many of you know I have been working hard to organize fund-raisers, training camps and support at the world championships for many years now. In conjunction with this I have been a liaison with national DH/4X athletes and the CCA while improving communication and representation of our discipline. This is never an easy job!

Over the past 8 months I have been working closely with Lorraine Lafreniere our Canadian Cycling Association's CEO, we have been trying to come up with a long term, more organized approach to problems facing DH/4X in Canada. The solution is simple one but not easy one to implement, by creating an internal job position with the CCA taking care of almost all national DH/4X needs, thus creating independence and long term prosperity overtime. This job would be National Team Head Coach of DH/4X.

This job of National Team Head Coach DH/4X is a non-funded position.

My roles include:

- Liaison with National DH/4X athletes, Provincial bodies and the Canadian Cycling Association regarding team selection, high-performance training camps and fund-raising activities
- Management of DH/4X program fund-raising and sponsorship
- Manage & Coach athletes during the World Championships including staffing, accommodations and travel arrangements
- Provide support and coach athletes during a minimum of 2 regular season world cups
- Hold a minimum of 2 training camp prior to the regular world cup season

Starting this year I will be organizing groups of coaches, physiotherapist, mechanics and athletes willing to work towards a long term approach of athletic excellence on the international stage. My long term goal is to ensure Canada medals during the 2010 Mont Saint Anne, Quebec World MTB Championships! This is not going to be an easy task, this will take discipline, vision, open communication, professionalism, leadership, team work, sponsorship and most of all COMMITMENT…

During the two world cups in Quebec I will be organizing a large group of support staff to assist you in performing your best during these events. This group will be made up of coaches, mechanics and physiotherapists. We are there to make it easier for you to perform not to give you riding technique pointers or change the way you ride. We will only do our best to help you learn and visualize the course, keep your bikes running smooth, improve your mental game and keep a high level of energy for the race!

The first thing in my agenda this year will be the 08 World Championships in four weeks time. We have 5 spots on our national team jersey open for sponsors that will need to be filled to help finance the 08 National DH team, racing at world championships in Val Di Sole Italy. If you know of any sponsors or anyone that would like to make a donation please contact me.

In the future I will organize testing, high level training and race simulation camps to help our national team members and up and coming team members become their best. Coaches and athletes must begin communicating openly, working hard as team, monitoring just about everything that affects your racing and continually work towards making each of you a highly competitive athlete. Eventually performance levels will begin to rise and you will see the results. Again this will take time and commitment.

If you would like to help out or have any questions please feel free to contact me any time via email at ccolbeck@telus.net