AUTM Millennium FLAME Magazine - May 2019 issue

MARCH - MAY 2019

Youth athlete holiday academy High functioning Gym Multiple Sclerosis hydrotherapy BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE MARCH - MAY 2019

Our reason for being is to be great.

We want this place to be brilliant.

Bold statements?

They’re meant to be. We’re not here by accident.

We arrived on the shoulders of legends past.

The Lovelocks and Lydiards, the Rutherfords and Pickerings.

They’ve shown us that we can take on the world

from New Zealand, which is the

not-so-secret ingredient of our success.

We’re inventive, we connect,

we share, we’re on the same page.

We can get a government, a city, a university, clubs, teams, benefactors and communities working together.

We don’t let egos get in the way of a good idea.

We don’t compromise.

We don’t complain.

We don’t bail out.

We come in one size. Big.

Big dreams.

One Big hearts. Big on effort.

is our favourite number.

It means first place,

one of a kind,

one organisation, one vision.

We’re here to make history, have fun, learn, educate,

discover stuff, make a difference and

be the best we can be.

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Contents TITLE

PAGE

Message from the CEO, Mike Stanley .................................................................................. 4 Welcome to Flame ............................................................................................................5 AUT Millennium happenings............................................................................................... 6 A collection of our Everyday Champions ............................................................................. 8 High functioning: Behind the Gym’s new functional zone ...................................................... 10 Community group fitness.................................................................................................. 13 Multiple benefits from hydrotherapy.................................................................................. 14 Not your regular holiday programme................................................................................. 16 Walking before you can run .............................................................................................. 18 Friends of AUT Millennium ............................................................................................... 19 Transitioning into ‘real life’ ............................................................................................... 22 Unique environment ideal for injury rehabilitation .............................................................. 24 The best seat in the house ...............................................................................................26 The spice of life .............................................................................................................. 29 Minute with a member.................................................................................................... 30 HealthZone Medical ........................................................................................................ 31 SPRINZ research spotlight ................................................................................................ 33 North Harbour Water Polo Club ........................................................................................ 34 North Harbour Bays Athletics Club .................................................................................... 35 NorthSport Olympic Weightlifting ..................................................................................... 36 North Shore Swimming .................................................................................................... 37 Spotlight on the 2018 AUT Millennium Scholarship Athletes .................................................. 38

CONFERENCE

Call 09 09 477 20ine or go onl ! to book

Team meetings, workshops or special events?

AUT Millennium Conference is the Venue of Champions!

MARCH - MAY 2019

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Message from the CEO, Mike Stanley Welcome to our first AUT Millennium magazine for 2019, the first under the Flame name. The name is a nod to our own history as an organisation, but also to an iconic sporting symbol. You can read the story behind Flame on the following page.

As we’re well into the new year now, it’s a good time to reflect on two topical conversations around the sporting landscape.

The first has to do with the value of sport in general.

Kiwis of all ages are involved in sport, actively or as coaches, managers or volunteers, but only a small percentage will go on to realise their potential as high performance athletes. In that case, why do we participate in sport? What value does sport bring to our lives and our communities?

Sport is beneficial in a multitude of ways on both an individual and collective level. Sport New Zealand’s 2018 Value of Sport report breaks down the economic and social value, as well as the well-known health and wellbeing benefits. The overall takeaway statement from the report is that “sport and active recreation creates happier, healthier people, better connected communities and a stronger New Zealand.”

Through organised grass roots sport, communities come together for a common goal. Individuals become team members within a club of likeminded people, and become engaged in the happenings of their sports communities.

There are an incredible number of good people involved behind the scenes as coaches, managers and volunteers at all levels. In youth sport in particular, these people are helping to develop our young people, contributing to their wellbeing and sense of belonging. Sport has significant benefits to mental health also, relieving stress and boosting happiness and self-esteem.

On an individual level, sport teaches our children resilience and self-reliance. Playing sport is not just about learning new skills – children are learning the importance of discipline and practice, responsibility, how to focus, and the value of self-belief. Supported by the cognitive and social development nurtured in sporting environments, children are picking up life-long qualities through their involvement in sport.

The Sport NZ report demonstrates the role sport plays in our sense of pride in local areas and as a nation. Over 80%

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of Kiwis believe sport is tied to our national identity, and when you see people dressed in club, franchise or national colours, it’s hard to argue that point. Sport contributes so much to our Kiwi way of life, socially, physically and economically. While this is not unique to New Zealand, it’s my experience that in few countries is sport such an important and constructive part of society, as an indelible strand in the fabric of our nation.

The outstanding successes of New Zealand athletes in 2018 was tempered by reviews, here and overseas, that highlighted a number of issues and areas for improvement for all in sport to consider. Our national cycling, hockey, football and cricket programmes have undertaken significant reviews into the structure and culture within their organisations, either as a result of underperformance or athlete concerns. While the particulars in each instance have varied, there are some consistent themes which have emerged from each process. These included the need to appropriately and meaningfully engage with athletes, and to be more conscious of their wellbeing during, and following, their sporting career. All in sport have a responsibility to ensure that the pursuit of excellence takes place in an environment where all are supported and treated with integrity and respect.

This examination of sport comes at a time when there is unprecedented and timely consideration of health and wellbeing, and particularly mental health, across society.

This is resulting in a change in expectations and norms in all sectors, representing, in many cases, inter-generational change. What occurred in the past is not necessarily fit for purpose today. The challenge for sport, and in particular high performance sport, is to embrace change and to use it to our advantage.

Transparency is important in any organisation, and a sporting environment is no different. Athletes need to know they can trust the people within their environment and that their views matter. Today’s coaches, managers and the supporting governance structures need to foster an open and honest environment, while being focussed on the best possible performance. How the athletes are treated as they are coming through the ranks, how they are respected and valued when competing at the highest level, and how they are supported as they transition into retirement will help ensure we have a next generation of passionate “sport sustainers” working in our communities.

I hope you enjoy being active in our facility over the coming months, and enjoy the value sport and active recreation brings to your life.

Throughout 2018, we breathed new life into how we share our stories with you. The AUT Millennium Magazine doubled in size, launched on a digital platform, and shone the spotlight on our people – our members, our staff, our guests and our athletes.

With our stories and purpose now firmly established, we’ve been looking forward to how we can continue to evolve. The first step – we needed a name.

There’s one story we’ve told consistently since opening our doors as Millennium Institute of Sport and Health in 2002, and it hasn’t been through words. Our logo has evolved as we’ve moved forward and grown to become cemented as AUT Millennium, New Zealand’s leader in sports, health and wellness.

The torch logo was chosen as a symbol of sporting excellence. Evoking an Olympic feel, the design took inspiration from the feats of our Kiwi athletes on the world stage. We carried that torch forward, lighting the way for athletes and the community alike to find their feet, their strength and their own motivation.

The logo then transitioned to a flame, which ignites possibility. A flame lights the way. It blazes a trail. Flames can be seen from a distance. They can be functional but also ceremonial, to celebrate. That’s perfect for us, and for you. Once you’re in these doors, you’re part of our community. You will be challenged here, but you will also be celebrated here.

The visual progression of our logo serves as a reminder of where we’ve come from. Much like New Zealand as a country, we’re charging forward off the solid foundations of what and who has come before us. We’ve arrived on the shoulders of legends past, who have carried the torch for Kiwis around the world.

We hope to spark a flame in you with the inspirational stories of our AUT Millennium community - athletes, gym goers, budding swimmers, staff and overseas guests.

Welcome to Flame.

MARCH - MAY 2019

AUT Millennium Happenings December 2018 - February 2019 Following a brief break to celebrate the festive season, normal service has resumed at AUT Millennium – and normal service means busy!

Over the break, our school holiday programmes were pumping, keeping children occupied and active. Our School Holiday Programme ran in both December and January, with activities ranging from swimming, Christmasrelated crafts, rock climbing, team building, athletics and some exciting off-site excursions.

Our more specific Athlete Development Holiday Academy ran an intensive week of movement-based activity.

Designed for 10-15 year olds who love to move, the AD coaches planned days of physical activity, movement challenges, and promoted team work and mental skills.

The athletes’ progression throughout the week was recorded so they could see the benefit to their sports and overall athleticism. You can read more about the Athlete Development Holiday Academy on page 16.

Also before Christmas, we celebrated the end of another successful year of Swim School with our annual Pool Party.

It’s a chance for our young swimmers and their families to jump in the water at the National Aquatic Centre and have fun. With over 2,500 children working hard throughout the year to improve their swimming and water confidence, we feel it’s only fair they have the chance to play and enjoy themselves. All good parties have cake, ours was poolthemed and disappeared in no time, and there was also a special visit from Santa!

Both programmes had a wait list of children keen to be part of the fun. If you know a child who would enjoy either programme in the coming April holidays, you can find dates and a breakdown of the respective activities on our website.

Some of our Swim School community chatting to Santa at the Pool Party in December.

The Schools Programme team practicing in-water survival techniques, thanks to the Coastguard Safe Boating programme.

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In the relatively quiet first weeks of 2019, our Gym team were working hard on a few changes. Cardio equipment was updated, circuit machines were relocated, and the functional area opened. This new space caters to those with a strong interest in functional training, which is a growing movement in the fitness industry. The Gym team held introductory sessions to ensure all members had the opportunity to learn how this area can benefit them.

If you’re keen to give the functional equipment a try, talk to the Gym staff who will be happy to chat about how and why functional training works. We also took the time to re-grout the shower area in each of the changing rooms, so thank you to all members who worked around this minor inconvenience while we attended to that important work.

A new layout for our Gym, including the latest cardio equipment thanks to Life Fitness.

We’ve welcomed a new Accommodation and Conference Assistant Manager to our AUT Millennium family. Vivek Sinha joined us early in the new year, bringing knowledge and experience in the hotel industry. His expertise will greatly benefit our Accommodation facility, which is perfect for sports teams attending tournaments or holding training camps in Auckland, or Conference guests from out of town.

Our Schools Programme team are looking forward to a great year of increasing the water safety knowledge and general water competence of schools from all across Auckland. The team took the time to undertake a refresher course with Coastguard Boating Education, making sure they practice what they preach!

Summer is peak school sports season for us. If you’ve been around the National Aquatic Centre during the day, you would’ve heard the passionate chants and support of multiple schools during their swimming sports days. It’s great to support our local schools, such as Kristin, Albany Junior High and Murrays Bay Intermediate. The Stadium has been just as busy, with school athletics days bringing colour and noise to the facility. Our neighbours, Rangitoto College, and other local schools such as Westlake Boys High, have shown great school spirit and some incredible performances!

The Wests Tigers NRL team made AUT Millennium their training base in the lead up to their pre-season game against the Warriors. While we were happy to have them, we must admit our support is 100% behind the Warriors for the upcoming season. It’s been great to see the Northern Mystics training on site as well, as the ANZ Netball Premiership has kicked off for 2019. We've also been seeing a lot of the Black Sticks as they've prepared for the Hockey Pro League.

Recently we held an event for the Lunar New Year, where Gym members came together to celebrate the Year of the Pig. Featuring a Tai Chi session, kung fu and traditional treats, it was great to see a cross-section of cultures

A keen group of Gym members learning Tai Chi to celebrate the Year of the Pig.

enjoying the day. A big thank you to Group Fitness Manager Pax and Tai Chi instructor Liang for their efforts in putting on the day.

The two cafés on site, Little French and WholeFoods, are now under new ownership. Alex took over the reins towards the end of last year. He and the team are valued members of the AUT Millennium community, and many of our members are regulars at either location. Remember, WholeFoods has a special Monday deal for AUT Millennium Gym members – buy a meal of eggs (any style) and you’ll get a free coffee of your choice! Show the team your membership card when you order, and kick off your week right – a workout, eggs and coffee!

With club swimming, water polo, Flippa Ball, swimming lessons and athletics in full swing, it’s bound to be another busy quarter ahead! We look forward to seeing you keeping active and healthy over the coming months.

KEY DATES FOR THE COMING QUARTER • Monday 1 April - April Fool's Day • Friday 12 April - Term 1 ends • Friday 19 April - Good Friday • Sunday 21 April - Easter Sunday • Monday 22 April - Easter Monday • Thursday 25 April - ANZAC Day • Monday 29 April - Term 2 starts • Sunday 12 May - Mother's Day

MARCH - MAY 2019

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A collection of our Everyday Champions @autmillennium #bethebestyoucanbe

@autsportandrec

@cacakiky

@charmaine_smith5

@devgeek

@egac_aus

@estherkeown

@healthy.diego

@iam.kiwikat

@lauz_langman

@stefniko_pt

@karlynpipes

@kedrictsg

Tag @autmillennium on Instagram for a chance to be featured! @tgbadi 8

@valerieadams84

@willisnick

STRONG SWIMMERS. CONFIDENT KIDS.

JOIN TODA Y! Learn to swim in New Zealand’s premiere aquatics facility!

PASSIONATE INSTRUCTORS.

STRUCTURED LESSONS

CLASSES FOR ALL AGES* *Classes from 3months to 80+!

09 477 2074 swimschool@autmillennium.org.nz www.autmillennium.org.nz/swimschool

MARCH - MAY 2019

High functioning: Behind the Gym’s new functional zone It’s hard to miss the new functional area on the upper level of the AUT Millennium Gym. The vibrant green astroturf, accented with brightly-coloured new kettlebells draws the eye, but Gym Manager Maria Calderon hopes members are doing more than just looking. “Anyone can have fun and achieve their fitness goals with this equipment,” she says.

“It’s not just for top athletes or fitness groups. It’s a way to challenge yourself and your routine, no matter your age or stage.”

Functional training has become a popular form of exercise within the fitness industry, and Maria has been working for three years on the most effective way to incorporate it into the Gym. Along with the K45 class which was introduced last year, this new area gives members the opportunity to

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bring functional workouts into their routine. “Functional training can be misunderstood by those who aren’t familiar with it,” Maria tells. “It’s not about going as hard as you can and smashing yourself, it’s about exercises which mimic movement patterns in your daily activities. It forces you to be more aware of how you’re moving, rather than relying on a machine.”

Maria researched other gyms and fitness clubs who had integrated functional fitness areas into their set-up to see how they were running their space and gain an understanding of what was required. “I had a vision of what was workable for us,” she recalls. “Our space is small, and we have restrictions given the area is above a radiology clinic, so we needed to plan how it could be

effective given our circumstances.” The Gym’s longstanding relationship with Life Fitness also played an important part in the planning of the area. “Colin at Life Fitness lives and breathes for things like this,” Maria tells. “He had endless options for us to consider, and was able to guide us along the way. It’s always a pleasure working with him.”

To help familiarise members with this new zone, the Gym team held introductory sessions where members could watch staff demonstrate the types of exercises possible with the new equipment. “These were really important for us to run,” Maria says. “In the first few days of the area being open, before we ran the sessions, we saw only a few people using it, as only a few people felt comfortable there. Since the sessions, we’ve seen a variety of our Everyday Champions using the area. Their confidence in functional training has increased.” The area is also used heavily by personal trainers and the fitness groups in the mornings and lunch times. “The team have loved the opportunity to keep things fresh and fun, to challenge our members in new ways,” she adds.

Understanding that change is a process, Maria wants to assure members that this new area is just as effective for their fitness goals. “Once you know how to use it, this equipment can be utilised so much better than the machines we used to have in that area,” she tells. “All good

things take time, so for me, the initial measure of success will be helping members to understand what they can do and why this type of training is beneficial.” The Gym team are aware that every member has their favourite exercises, so they’re not expecting everyone to completely shake up their routine. “Of course the strength and fitness gained from machine-based programmes are beneficial,” Maria explains. “Incorporating a day or two or functional training can improve your body in different ways, including balance, stability and core strength, which all help to make your everyday activities easier to perform.”

Of course, the Gym team are on call to help members who might want to dip their toe into functional training.

“Members are encouraged to come and book a one-on-one session so we can talk about what you want and need,” says Maria. “We can look into general training, or design a specific programme for you to do in the new area which will complement your current routine.”

Programming appointments with an AUT Millennium Gym instructor are free for all members, and you can make your appointment by calling 09 477 2082, or by swinging by Gym Reception next time you’re in for a workout.

Thanks to Maria and her team for their hard work on this project, and we look forward to hearing how members are enjoying the new space!

KEEP WARM THIS WINTER

Deck Coat children’s and adult’s sizes available!

SHOP.AUTMILLENNIUM.ORG.NZ

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

MARCH - MAY 2019

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DEEP WATER RUNNING

FITNESS. RECOVERY. REHAB.

GROUP AND ONE-ON-ONE SESSIONS! Build strength and endurance without the stress on your body.

Great for people of all ages and abilities!

For more information, please visit reception or email aquatics@autmillennium.org.nz WWW.AUTMILLENNIUM.ORG.NZ/AQUATICS

COMMUNITYGROUP GROUPFITNESS FITNESS COMMUNITY Make fitness classes AUT Millennium!

Makethe themost mostofofour ouropen groupgroup fitness classes at AUTatMillennium!

COMMUNITY GROUP FITNESS TIMETABLE COMMUNITY GROUP FITNESS TIMETABLE Monday 6.00am 7.00am

Tuesday

Beginner Running Group 6.00am-7.00am

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Deep Water Running 9.30am-10.30am

Deep Water Running 9.30am-10.30am

Running Group 6.00am-7.00am

8.00am 9.00am 10.00am

Deep Water Running 9.30am-10.30am

Deep Water Running 9.30am-10.30am

Deep Water Running 9.30am-10.30am

10.30am

Deep Water Running** 10.45am-11.30am

11.00am 11.30am 12.00pm 1.00pm

Adult Swim Squad 12.15pm-1.00pm

5.30pm 6.00pm

Adult Swim Squad 12.15pm-1.00pm DWR 5.30pm - 6.30pm

6.30pm 7.00pm 7.30pm

DWR 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Swim Squad

12.15pm-1.00pm Adult Swim Squad 6pm-7pm

DWR 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Adult Swim Squad 6pm-7pm

Deep Water Running (DWR): What we do in this class:

AUT Millennium Deep Water Running (DWR) is an enjoyable and challenging activity suitable for all fitness levels. Originally developed for running athletes rehabilitating from injury or wanting to improve aerobic capacity, the popular sessions are now enjoyed by all ages, from youth through to the elderly. You will learn proper running technique in the sessions which are designed and led by qualified running coach Kiri Price. With over 160 marathons to her name, Kiri can help you be the best runner you can be. ** A lower intensity session suitable for beginners, recovery and rehabilitation.

Adult Swim Squad:

What we do in this class:

AUT Millennium Adult Swim Squad will help you refine swimming technique, improve aerobic capacity and build aquatic confidence.

The classes cater to a range of ability levels and are led by expert coaches who are committed to helping new members feel comfortable and included. Whether you’re building up for your first ocean swim, are a seasoned professional or simply want to shake up your fitness regime, our squad is an ideal option. Distances covered in a session range from 800m - 2.5km depending on your own ability.

Running Group:

What we do in this class:

Join our passionate running coach, Kiri Price, for a 60-minute track running session. With over 160 marathons to her name, Kiri uses her expertise to guide members through every class. Monday is for novice runners, working off a walk/run programme suitable for all fitness levels. Wednesday is a speed work session catered to a range of abilities. This class is held rain, hail or shine!

(09)477 4772024 2024 TT(09) aquatics@autmillennium.org.nz EEaquatics@autmillennium.org.nz W www.autmillennium.org.nz/aquatics SHOP.AUTMILLENNIUM.ORG.NZ W www.autmillennium.org.nz/aquatics SHOP.AUTMILLENNIUM.ORG.NZ

MARCH - MAY 2019

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MULTIPLE BENEFITS FROM HYDROTHERAPY

Carrying groceries, getting in and out of cars, and even walking are everyday tasks taken for granted by most people. But for those living with Multiple Sclerosis, common symptoms including muscle weakness, loss of balance, sensitivity to heat, and a lack of coordination can make simple activities extremely difficult. “For some people it’s a case of being able to function pretty well, but they’re really affected by fatigue, so they get tired quickly,” tells physiotherapist Janine Manga. “Fatigue is a huge symptom. People are impacted quite differently depending on whereabouts in the nervous system they’ve been affected, how long they’ve had it, and the severity.”

No two people with Multiple Sclerosis experience it in the same way.

Multiple Sclerosis, often called ‘MS’, is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which is responsible for our conscious and unconscious body functions. The term multiple sclerosis refers to multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis) on the myelin that covers our nerve fibres and acts like the coating around electrical cords. “MS is a condition where there’s demyelination of nerve fibres,” Janine explains. “So what that means is it’s difficult for the nerves to conduct impulses.” These impulses direct body movement as well as the response to sensations such as sight, touch and hearing.

While the cause of MS is still unknown, the disease is generally more common further from the equator. This intriguing environmental feature sees higher rates of MS in areas such as New Zealand, Canada, and Northern Europe.

Within New Zealand, the prevalence of MS in the South Island is approximately twice that in the upper half of the

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North Island. About one in every thousand Kiwis has MS, with women and people of European descent being more susceptible. Diagnosis is most common in young adults, with symptoms usually appearing between the ages of 20 and 50. Currently there is no cure for MS, but it is possible to manage its symptoms with medication and physical therapy.

With 14 years of physiotherapy experience and specialising in neurological rehabilitation, Janine runs weekly hydrotherapy sessions for those with MS at AUT Millennium’s National Aquatic Centre. Janine’s practice, Neuro Rehab Results, is one of three clinics contracted

by Multiple Sclerosis Auckland to deliver hydrotherapy classes across the Auckland region. “Towards the end of 2017, we put in a tender and we got the contract to lead the Albany group,” says Janine. “I’ve got quite an interest in hydrotherapy and I’ve done some courses in hydro, so Suzie Mudge, our Director, asked if I’d be interested in running the class.” The Wednesday session at AUT Millennium is the only MS hydrotherapy class servicing the North Shore, and attracts a core group each week.

When asked to summarise hydrotherapy, Janine responds, “The simple answer is exercising in water. The class that we run here, it’s not just swimming or water walking.”

Many people with MS who have lost their strength can find it really difficult to exercise on land. “But when they hop in the water, they can move more freely, they’re not worried about falling over, and balance isn’t a problem,” explains Janine. “So a lot of people find they can actually exercise in the water. For some, it’s a matter of being able to move their limbs through a full range of motion. On land they

might be quite limited as to how much they can do, but when they hop in the pool they can really move their whole body.”

MS Auckland arranges volunteers from the area to assist Janine at each hydrotherapy session. “We have quite a few volunteers, maybe six or seven different ones at this pool, and they’re on a roster.” Usually there are two in the pool per class. “They’re fantastic,” Janine acclaims. “They get in the water, help with equipment, and help getting people in and out of the pool when needed.” An honourable mention also goes to the National Aquatic Centre. “It’s great here because some people find it hard to get in and out of the pool if they’re quite severely affected. But here they’ve got the hoist to assist. And the lifeguards are awesome.

They’re always really friendly. We haven’t needed them yet, touch wood!”

Classes typically involve a combination of strength and cardiovascular exercises. Due to the National Aquatic Centre’s Main Pool being over two metres deep, members of the group wear buoyancy belts to aid floatation. “Some of the high functioning group members, they don’t wear a belt. They can swim really well and are very confident in the water.” Janine likes to start the sessions with a warm up before moving into exercises for upper and lower limbs. “We use things like pool noodles and my own little cut up noodles for strength, they’re like dumbbells. We use flutter boards, all kinds of things.” Each class is carefully planned keeping the needs of those with MS in mind. “I mix it up with a bit of strength and then some cardio exercises to try and get people’s heart-rates up. I also do some core exercises to help with balance when they are out of water and a bit of stretching as well.”

The properties of hydrotherapy provide numerous advantages for those with MS. “The benefits for people are that they don’t have to try and balance or exercise on land,” explains Janine. One of the key aspects is buoyancy, which reduces body weight and alleviates pressure on joints. Because balance is no longer a factor, group members can exercise without the fear of falling.

Working against the resistance provided by the water helps with strength training, while the temperature of the water can make exercising more comfortable for those who are sensitive to heat. “Just the mere fact that they’re exercising, it not only helps physically, it can help with your psychological state of mind,” says Janine.

Despite the health and wellbeing benefits, Janine cites social interaction as one of the major drawcards for the group. “For the hydro class we run here, the social side of it is quite a big factor. They get along really well and it’s a chance to talk about having MS with people who understand.” While there are support services and resources available for those with MS, Janine acknowledges “Family members and health professionals know about the symptoms, but we don’t what it’s like to have the symptoms.” The solidarity is a big component.

“They seem to have a lot of fun as well!”

People with MS who are keen to try hydrotherapy at AUT Millennium are advised to contact MS Auckland directly. “MS Auckland has field workers who get in touch with people in their area,” says Janine. The private and confidential field worker service aims to provide information and education to people with MS, their families, carers, friends and employers.

They also offer support, advice and referrals related to MS. Following a referral, Neuro Rehab Results will run a free 30 minute screening assessment. “It gives us a chance to meet the person, talk about their medical background, see where they’re at, and check what their goals are,” Janine tells. “It’s also a brief physical assessment to check their strength, balance, and coordination. That gives me some idea of what to expect when that person is in the pool.” she says. “It’s just a nice chance to meet them and talk about any questions they might have about hydrotherapy and what to expect.”

Janine encourages anyone with MS to consider joining the hydrotherapy group. “At this stage we have plenty of capacity to up the numbers and it would be really awesome to have more people benefiting.”

To find out more about Multiple Sclerosis and the hydrotherapy group, visit MS Auckland’s website: www.msakl.org.nz For more information on Janine’s clinic and their neurological rehabilitation services, check out: www.neurorehab.co.nz

MARCH - MAY 2019

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NOT YOUR REGULAR

HOLIDAY PROGRAMME

A refreshed Athlete Development Holiday Academy programme was a success over the summer, with 30 keen young athletes enjoying movement-based activities for an action-packed week.

Athlete Development (AD), AUT Millennium’s researchbacked movement programme for young athletes, runs morning sessions during term time, focused on the fundamentals of movement. The popular sessions are a hit with the athletes, so it made sense to extend the programme into the school holidays to provide parents with an option for their sports-mad child.

Patrick Davenport, AD’s Programme Manager, was thrilled to see the uptake over the summer, resulting in the most successful Holiday Academy to date. “We put a lot of work in to make it a truly sport/athletically-minded experience which caters to the youth athlete specifically,” he says.

“We kept our young athletes in mind the whole time, and wanted to dial in on what would help them. They could tell that what we were doing was going to help their sporting development.”

The Holiday Academy was targeted at young movers between the ages of 10-15, and featured a range of on-site and off-site activities, such as speed and agility work, swimming, weightlifting and a trip to JUMP Trampoline Park. The most popular sessions were based in the AUT Millennium Sports Hall, focusing on power and explosiveness. “We like to think of movement ‘riddles’,” Patrick explains. “We set up complex obstacle courses where we expect the athletes to fail first time around.

Watching them think it through and apply themselves, and figure it out in the end is really rewarding.” Many of the movements are based around the fundamental skills needed in most sports, such as jumping and landing, and the athletes also cover theoretical aspects, such as the importance of stretching.

Throughout the week, the coaches saw the social barriers break down within the group, to the point where some of the regular AD athletes took a leadership role and were coaching first timers. “That seemed to be really enjoyable and powerful for some of our newer athletes,” Pat recalls.

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“The group got more and more confident, and more willing to engage with the coaches and each other as the week went on.”

Another group to benefit from the week of intensive sessions was the AD coaches. Alongside Lead Coaches Mathew and Yash, AUT co-op students Lynn, Aaran and Joel had the opportunity to apply their coaching skills in a fully immersive environment. “There’s a lot of planning which goes into the Holiday Academy,” Patrick says, “and it’s a good opportunity for our coaches to try things, learn and develop their coaching skills across the week.”

Other than seeing the confidence and physical advancement of the athletes throughout the week, the best validation has come from parent feedback. “One parent emailed to let us know that it’s the first holiday camp her son had raved about,” Patrick shares. “He actually used the words ‘best holiday programme ever!’

That kind of feedback was incredible to hear, and makes us more keen to deliver the same experience next time.”

Off the back of the success of the summer Holiday Academy, the Athlete Development team are gearing up for an even bigger April programme. “We want to keep up the momentum,” Patrick says. “We had a wait list for January, so we’ve been working towards increasing the capacity and working with more young athletes.”

IS ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUR CHILD? Athlete Development isn’t just for the most talented kids in their age group. With the programme focused on overall movement skills, the only prerequisite is that your child loves to move and be challenged. “We’re all about young movers staying active, particularly over the school holidays,” Patrick tells. “We challenge them with activities which test their problem solving skills and team work, as well as building their general athleticism. It’s an inspiring environment, being at the home of High Performance Sport New Zealand, so the athletes are immersed in a place which caters for some of our country’s very best athletes.”

For more on Athlete Development and the Holiday Academy, email info@athletedevelopment.org.nz

TRYOUR OURYOUTH YOUTHATHLETE ATHLETE TRY ACADEMY ACADEMYFOR FORFREE! FREE!

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by Athleteby Development for youth The Academy on-going training programme Athlete Development for youth aged 8-18 years who want to improve faster and achieve more in the sports that they love by aged 8-18 years who want to improve faster and achieve more in the sports that they love by developing their athleticism. developing their athleticism.

For academy information, costs and to find out what we believe in, please get in contact with us!

For academy information, costs and to ďŹ nd out what we believe in, please get in contact with us!

W athletedevelopment.org.nz P (09) 477 2024 W athletedevelopment.org.nz PE info@athletedevelopment.org.nz (09) 477 2024

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BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE M A BE R C HTHE - MBEST A Y 2 0YOU 1 9 CAN 17 BE

BEGINNER RUNNING GROUP

Monday mo rnings, AUT Millenn ium

6-7am

Stadium tra ck

RAIN OR SH INE!

WALKING BEFORE YOU CAN RUN “A mile is still a mile, no matter how long it takes you to run it.”

These are the words of Kiri Price, AUT Millennium’s running coach. Kiri has recently introduced a running group for beginners – a safe, non-intimidating group session aimed at those who have never run before, or are in the early phases of their running journey.

A qualified coach with over 160 marathons to her name, Kiri is passionate about running. She has been coaching runners at AUT Millennium since 2010, and is the brains behind the popular Deep Water Running programme.

Many people have mentioned to Kiri that they would like to give running a try, but are unwilling to join her regular early morning sessions, which are frequented by marathon runners. “There are lots of people who would like to start running, but don’t know how or where to start,” Kiri says.

“These beginner sessions are targeted at those people, and will be specifically structured to give them confidence to develop at a pace which is right for them.”

The sessions are based around a generic 12 week programme, which can commence at any time, and each runner completes it at their own pace. The group starts with a warm up, moves into a technique and skills set, and then completes a 30 minute run/walk programme. “Some

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people may not be able to run for a minute, some might be able to run for five minutes,” Kiri says. “I assess everyone and place them at an appropriate place in the programme.

This allows everyone to know how to start running and build up safely.” With a strong emphasis on injury prevention, the group finishes each session with dedicated stretching time.

A 12 week programme gives new runners chance to adapt to the exercise and new forces on the body. 70-90% of runners get injured in their first year of running, due to doing too much too soon. Under Kiri’s experienced, watchful eye, new runners are able to have their form and technique monitored, learn efficient training techniques and have dedicated recovery time. “It’s important to start slow, with proper technique, and focus on the goals which are important to you,” Kiri advises. “I’ve seen many people in beginner programmes like this one go on to enjoy running, complete 5 and 10km events, and some even extend out to half or full marathons.”

For those worried that a running group isn’t for them, Kiri wants to reassure that this group is made for them.

“It doesn’t matter what age, shape or size you are, we will work at a level suitable for you. We all have to start somewhere!”

FRIENDS OF AUT MILLENNIUM

As a charitable trust, support from our Friends of AUT Millennium is invaluable to our ability to support Kiwis in being the best they can be. All of our Friends are local businesses who share our values, and we want to show you the people behind the names and faces you see around our facility. In this edition, we introduce you to Adam Jackson and Allproof Industries, based in Beach Haven.

means we employ over 85 members of the local community, and provide for their income and lifestyle, which is important to us.”

You probably don’t give much thought to drainage products, but for Adam, it’s top of mind. “Everywhere I go, I can’t help but look to see where the water is going!” he says. “Unless there’s a heavy downpour, it often doesn’t register unless you’re in our industry.”

When he’s not thinking about plumbing and drainage, Adam is a family man, spending time with his wife and three children. He is involved with Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving, racing surf boats at competitions around the country.

Having lived in Italy for a period, he enjoys getting back when he can – he’s looking forward to a trip to escape the coming Kiwi winter. “The Amalfi Coast is just beautiful,” he says, “it’s a stunning spot and a nice way to inject a bit of culture into your life.”

Regular users of the National Aquatic Centre will have noticed Allproof’s products, albeit perhaps subconsciously.

The poolside grating and drainage system, as well as changing room drains, are manufactured and supplied by Allproof. A trade-based business, Allproof were pleased to be involved in the National Aquatic Centre project.

“Competitive, Olympic-standard swimming pools don’t come around that often in New Zealand,” says Adam, “and the NAC was one of the first projects we had which used that particular product, and it’s nice to see it in action.”

With strong, multi-generation ties to North Shore Swimming Club, the Jackson family are proud of Allproof’s support of AUT Millennium. “North Shore is a foundation club of AUT Millennium, and we have a personal interest in what happens there,” Adam says. “When you see the scale of activity – swimming, water polo and performance sports – and the fact that the community has access to all of that, it’s quite amazing. I remember what it was like being a swimmer before AUT Millennium was around, and it’s awesome to have my kids swimming in a facility like this.”

With all manufacturing taking place in their Beach Haven location, Adam is proud to have ‘Kiwi made’ as their point of difference. “It’s quite unique, people assume we import everything. But we’ve invested pretty heavily here, and we have a lot of know-how which isn’t easy to replicate. It also

AUT Millennium thanks Allproof Industries for their continued support as a Friend of AUT Millennium. www.allproof.co.nz | 09 481 8020

MARCH - MAY 2019

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Athlete Development Holiday Academy in action.

The 20 Gym's new functional training area ready for use.

December's Super Spin Session raised funds for Auckland City Mission.

Swim School families had a great time at our Christmas Pool Party.

MARCH - MAY 2019

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Transitioning into ‘real life’ Changing jobs can be an anxious and nervous time for anyone, but for an athlete, the trepidation around leaving the sport they’ve dedicated their life to can be daunting.

For weightlifter and Gym staff member Tracey Lambrechs, this is her new reality. Where previously her days were structured around trainings, nutrition and recovery, she’s now finding her place in the world as a “normal person”.

Tracey has worked in the Gym for years as a fitness instructor and now in a membership support role, and her trademark laugh has been heard more regularly in the Gym since her retirement. “I’ve always had great support from AUT Millennium, and from our members,” she says.

“They are awesome. I don’t think they realise just how much I appreciate them and the support they’ve given me throughout my career.”

Tracey retired at last year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, signified in weightlifting by removing your shoes on the platform. “I hadn’t planned on retiring there and then,” she recalls. “I was too focused on competing. The idea of retirement had been floating in the back of my head, but I had been thinking it would be towards the end of 2018.

It just happened in the moment.” One year on, there are no regrets. “I was worried I’d be filled with dread, or ‘what have I done?’, but I have no regrets,” she says. “I’m able to eat what I like, and go on holidays with my friends and not have to worry about finding a place to train. There’s no more double training days, no more sore body, no more painkillers. I have been to watch weightlifting competitions since, and I don’t miss competing. I am happily retired!”

With a long career which took her to three Commonwealth Games, including bronze in Glasgow in 2014, and the 2016 Rio Olympics, Tracey was happy to finish on her own terms.

“I had such a sense of relief that I got to make the call myself, and retire with so many of my family and friends there. There was never going to be a better time,” she says.

“You hear about athletes who retire overseas away from their families, or due to injury. You never want to finish your career because you’re forced to.” Tracey made the most of her final days as an athlete, celebrating back at the New Zealand village, and supporting other Kiwis as they competed.

The last few years of her career were closely linked to the story of transgender lifter Laurel Hubbard. With Laurel competing in the same category, Tracey was faced with dropping 18kg to compete in the 90kg category on the Gold Coast. Her personal drive and competitive spirit saw her achieve this in three months, an incredible feat given the time period and unchartered circumstance.

Acknowledging that a transgender athlete is a new situation that no one within weightlifting or the wider sporting community had a roadmap for, Tracey feels

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that Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand (OWNZ) left the athletes without support in the months leading up to the Games. “I think OWNZ were too concerned with how they would be seen and the benefits of this situation, rather than supporting all the athletes," says Tracey. “I was forced into a new category with no support, and I don’t know if Laurel got the right support either. It all got a bit complicated, and I found there were more negatives than positives in my last couple of years in regards to the management of athletes and their needs to ensure success on the international stage.”

That said, she is excited by some of the talent coming through in the sport. “Our numbers are up, and there’s a lot of potential in the emerging athletes,” Tracey tells.

“There’s some with the ability to do amazing things. We just need to make sure they have the right support.” Not shy about discussing the matter, she feels that the only thing hindering the sport’s advancement is politics. “There are politics in every sport, and weightlifting is no different,” she says. “We need to make sure the people involved in coaching and management are in it for the love of the sport and all athletes, rather than personal gain for themselves or just their own athletes. You can’t be playing athletes off against each other – they all need the same support.”

PAYING IT FORWARD With her own coach being a positive influence in her career, Tracey was keen to pass on her experience and advice to her fellow athletes in any capacity. Athlete villages are a good place to connect with people from different sports, and a friendship with trap shooter Natalie Rooney has blossomed into a management role. “We first met in Delhi in 2010, and stayed in touch across the years,” she recalls. “On the Gold Coast, I could tell something was a little different, so asked if there was anything I could do to help her. Within a few months, she reached out and asked if I could come on board as her manager.”

Tracey’s job description with Natalie is fluid, but she generally takes care of anything that allows Natalie to focus on shooting. “I make bookings, ensure there’s a gym for her to train in, and assist in the process of checking in the gun at airports,” she says. “During trainings, I make sure both she and her coach are fed and hydrated, and that ammo is sorted.” One area which Tracey finds particularly interesting is the coach-athlete relationship.

“I try to make sure they have a balanced relationship, because athletes are prone to having an excuse for everything. I’m there for Natalie to chat to and help her figure things out, while at the same time I’m listening to her coach, hearing what he has to say and helping them both out in my own way. They have a great coach/athlete relationship, but like all relationships, they have their ups

and downs. That’s healthy, and I’m there to help them when needed.”

While it might not be immediately apparent how weightlifting translates to shooting, Tracey finds that her years of performing at the highest level does carry across into Natalie’s sport.

“Shooting can be a long game, but one missed target and you’re potentially out. So I try to remind Natalie to relax and breathe, and that the background might be a little different, but you’re still shooting a target. That was the case with me. At the end of the day, it was still lifting a weight on a platform, me and the bar and nothing else. I can pass on the feedback that helped me during my career.”

The experience of supporting an athlete has been an enjoyable one for Tracey, and she’d like to do the same for more sportspeople. “I love being there for athletes,” she says. “I want them to have the same support and opportunities that I had, and to treat them as more than just an athlete as well. I’d love to continue that sort of role.” It has opened her eyes to another side of high performance life, however, and makes her even more thankful for her own coach throughout the years. “I’m just realising how much work an athlete is!” she laughs. “I always thought I was an easy athlete but I’m starting to think I wasn’t!”

WHAT RETIRING ATHLETES NEED With retirement being such a big shift in an athlete’s life, Tracey has some advice for those in the close circle of sportspeople transitioning into ‘real life’. “The biggest thing friends and family of a retiring athlete can do is not rush someone,” she tells.

“It’s a complete lifestyle change, it doesn’t matter who you are or how happy you are to be retired. You’re asking yourself ‘Who am I, really? What am I supposed to be doing?’ And if they’re struggling with that question, it might be helpful to sit down and make a plan of what they want to achieve, to keep that goal aspect in their life.”

For athletes who seem to be floundering without the structure of their routine, Tracey recommends reaching out to someone they trust within sport. “Ask that someone to speak to them,” she says. “It always helps when you’re talking to someone who understands what you’re going through.”

For Tracey, she at least knows where her passion lies beyond sport. She enjoys working with people, which is why she loves her membership support role at AUT Millennium Gym. Having completed a degree in event management during her time as an athlete, she thrives in organising events for Gym members and seeing them come together outside of the Gym. Another avenue she’s interested in exploring is the speaking circuit. “I love public speaking, talking about my different experiences in sport,” Tracey says, recalling talks at schools, the ASB Sports Awards, Warriors Club lounge, and even the New Zealand Women’s Boxing team.

Whatever the future holds, Tracey’s sporting career taught her resilience and adaptability to cope with whatever arises. “I’m not sure what will come my way, but I’m ready for anything!”

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Unique environment ideal for injury rehabilitation The AUT Millennium community are fortunate to have access to the experienced group of physiotherapists and sports massage therapists at HealthZone Physiotherapy.

And for the practitioners, they feel fortunate to be based at AUT Millennium, where the on-site facilities make it easier for them to deliver patient-focused rehabilitation plans.

Natalie Parlane and Shane Grannell, who have both been at HealthZone since 2017, are big proponents of getting patients active in the gym or pool as part of their recovery.

Along with their colleagues, you can often find the pair working through treatment plans and ensuring their patients are comfortable and ready for rehab exercises.

“I’m regularly in the gym for my own workouts, and as such, I’m a gym-heavy practitioner,” says Shane. “I had a few injuries as a rugby player and noticed that when I kept myself consistently stronger in the gym, I was getting injured less. I feel that general conditioning makes the body more resilient, and the latest research supports the benefits of resistance-based work.”

Natalie Parlane.

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“In general, the patients we see in our clinic are more athletic, or more inclined to be maintaining a healthy lifestyle, given the environment at AUT Millennium,” says Natalie. This has dual benefits, as the stronger the person, the more likely they are to tolerate stresses on the body, and also it helps with any recovery plan. “For someone with a good baseline level of fitness, you can commence their rehabilitation at a higher level,” explains Shane.

“They know their body well, are able to move more freely, and it’s easier for them to build their exercises into their regular workout routine.”

Depending on the injury and the patient’s comfort level in the water, some of the HealthZone Physio team work with their patients in the AUT Millennium pools. “Hydrotherapy

Shane Grannell.

can be beneficial for patients who have had an operation and have limited movement, or aren’t able to weight bear,” says Shane. “It’s a good way to preserve or build up muscle while they’re recovering.” Natalie advises that for the best long term results, it helps if the water is part of a person’s usual routine. For swimmers and triathletes returning from injuries, it’s only natural to be back in the water as soon as possible. “I want people to be rehabbing in places which are part of their regular process anyway, so it’s easier for them to integrate rehab into that,” she says. “I can take them into the pool, but if they’re never going to go back, then it’s better to promote exercises in an environment they’re familiar with.”

Returning people to their daily activities is the main priority for the HealthZone team, no matter what level of activity that is. “We use the equipment in the Gym to help bring patients back to what is functional for them,” Natalie explains. “We get their strength up and match it to their everyday requirements, whether that’s just baseline movements like sitting or walking without discomfort, or specific sports movements.” Having a comprehensive gym on site makes it easier for both patients and physios to ensure the rehab plan is completed properly, rather than discussing it conceptually in a treatment room. “We’re able

to be there and demonstrate how an exercise is done and reinforce that they’re doing it right,” says Shane.

Being a regular presence in the Gym means the physios have a good relationship with the Gym team. That connection allows for the Gym staff to recommend HealthZone Physio to any members who might be dealing with niggles or suffering from injuries. “It’s a good referral situation both ways,” says Shane. “Not all of our patients are Gym members, so they are exposed to the environment and some end up joining. As practitioners, we find it good to share information and expertise with the Gym staff, as it only benefits the wider community.”

Whether or not you are a member of AUT Millennium Gym, Natalie implores people to make sure you see a physiotherapist as early as possible with any concerns.

“There’s no time too early!” she stresses. “Our team can share the knowledge about how the rehabilitation process is going to go, and there’s a lot you can do at the beginning to improve the overall outcome, especially psychologically.”

To make an appointment with one of the HealthZone Physiotherapy team, call (09) 477 2098.

SPEEDO TRAINING BUNDLE! BUY A KICKBO AND PU ARD AND RE LLBUOY CE MESH E IVE A FREE QU BAG & G IPMENT OGG CASE* LE

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BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

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MARCH - MAY 2019

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The BEST SEAT in the house

Jodie Rawle has worked at the AUT Millennium Speedo Shop since 2011, but it’s the time spent here by her family that spurred her decision to sponsor a seat in the National Aquatic Centre. “My girls have been coming here for swimming lessons and sports for so long,” Jodie says. “Tahlia, who’s now 19, started here in 2007 and then Brooke (15) started in 2010. They’ve been involved with North Harbour Water Polo and Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving, and Tahlia has been a swimming teacher here for over three years, so we’ve always been coming to AUT Millennium.”

When the National Aquatic Centre was set to open in 2015, the call went out giving the AUT Millennium community the chance to contribute to the development of our facilities and assist the next generation of athletes by way of a $250 donation. In return, the sponsorship would be acknowledged by a plaque on their chosen seat in the National Aquatic Centre’s grandstand. The plaque could be engraved with their name, the name of a loved one, or the name of a business. Jodie chose to have the family name on their seat. “Working here and watching the NAC being built, I just thought it’d be really cool to recognise the fact that we’ve been coming here for so long, and how much the facility has been a part of our lives. That’s why it’s Rawle Family, it’s not just one person,” explains Jodie.

Proceeds from sponsored seats contribute towards the AUT Millennium Scholarship Programme which supports aspiring athletes from the facility’s four foundation clubs: Bays Athletics, North Shore Swimming, NorthSport Olympic Weightlifting and North Harbour Water Polo.

Scholarship recipients have access to a high performance fund which is awarded to athletes who require additional support to compete at international competitions.

Former representative swimmer Jacob Garrod says receiving the AUT Millennium Scholarship helped him to progress as a sportsman and realise his potential.

“AUT Millennium has helped me to grow as an athlete by providing me with access to a gym, two pools, physio and doctors when needed. The facilities on offer are definitely

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some of the best in the country, which has helped me to achieve my goals,” he says. Jacob went on to compete at two Oceania Championships, the 2014 Youth Olympic Games, and the 2017 World University Games. “AUT Millennium was able to assist in funding my international trips, which are largely user-pays, by providing travel grants,” Jacob explains. The Scholarship Programme was founded in 2005 and supports between 50 – 80 athletes each year.

For Jodie, it was AUT Millennium’s personal connection to her daughters that compelled her to sponsor a seat.

“They’ve swum here so much, and we’ve been to so many water polo games over the years that we feel like it is a major part of our lives,” she says. She recalls a stage when AUT Millennium was her most-visited destination.

“I used to drive here about five times a day. Getting up in the morning at five, driving Tahlia to training, coming back to pick her up, me coming to work, coming back in the afternoon for Brooke’s swimming lesson, and then bringing Tahlia back for water polo at night. Luckily I only live five minutes away!” She believes many families will be able to relate, particularly those with children who love the water.

“Any pool-based sport, you end up here. Whether it’s surf lifesaving or water polo,” tells Jodie.

To this day, Jodie is still happy with her choice to sponsor a seat. “It’s nice,” she says. “It’s not on your conscience all the time, but if we’ve got an event at the NAC we’ll try and sit in our seat. It’s in the centre on the aisle with a drink holder.” When asked whether her donation was a worthwhile investment, Jodie notes “Absolutely, it feels good that we have contributed and are a part of NAC history. Especially if you use the facility and your kids have used it. It’s like a donation or a way of saying thank you for giving us the opportunity to swim in such a great facility.

It’s been such a part of our life for so many years.”

If you would like to know more about how to sponsor a seat, email communications@autmillennium.org.nz

take a seat and support

an athlete 250 buys you a named plaque in the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre $

All proceeds go directly into our Foundation Club Scholarship Fund www.autmillennium.org.nz/sponsorseat

MARCH - MAY 2019

ACCOMMODATION Sports camps, single stays, or teams from out of town?

Book AUT Millennium Accommodation to immerse yourself in a high-performance environment!

Call 19 09 477 20ne i or go onl ur o to book y y! next sta

WWW.AUTMILLENNIUM.ORG.NZ/ACCOMMODATION

BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

The Spice of Life Dr Craig Harrison, Programme Director of Athlete Development, addresses the importance of training variation, challenging athletes in new and interesting ways.

For so long we’ve been told that to get better you need to train hard. That the one who turns up every day and does more, wins. It’s true. The athlete who improves faster is both more consistent in their habits and resolute in their approach.

But our obsession with results, and certainty, has led us to confuse doing more with doing more of the same. We’ve come to believe that the best way to master a skill, or adapt to a stimulus, is to repeat it over and over again, exactly the same way.

It’s a belief reflected in the way young athletes are coached. Since a perfect way of doing something is expected, skills are instructed repeatedly until success is achieved. While this may produce success in training when the skill is strictly defined, what happens in competition when the opposition or environmental conditions change?

No longer does our athlete’s acquired skill satisfy the changing demands of the game.

It’s the same for the physical skills of the game.

Although the fundamentals of running, jumping and throwing technique don’t change, an athlete’s capacity to adapt the skill to their environment is critical. In netball for instance, the way an athlete jumps is slightly different every time. So, if a player only practices one way of jumping in training, she limits her ability to adapt and, therefore, meet the new and unexpected demands that arise during a game.

New research out of Europe that investigated jump training backs this up.

Using young male football players aged 11-14 years, the study compared jump training on different surfaces (sand, grass, wood, dirt and track) to jump training on grass alone, as well as to a control group. By changing the takeoff and landing environment, participants in the combined surface group were forced to adopt different jumping strategies. In other words, their brain and muscles had to work in different ways to complete the task.

The results showed that although both interventions increased players’ performance in tests of jumping, speed and change of direction, the group that did their jump training on the combined surfaces improved significantly more. What’s more, the combined surface group was also shown to enjoy the training more.

Variability is important.

We need to spend less time getting our athletes to do things the ‘right’ way and more time on helping them find their own. Remember, variety is the spice of life.

For more on how to get the best out of young athletes, follow Craig and the team on the Athlete Development Facebook page, or check out the Athlete Development Show podcast. www.athletedevelopment.org.nz www.facebook.com/athletedevelopment

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Name: Hayden Heta Lives in: Kaukapakapa Member since: 2015 Occupation: I.T What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? My grandfather worked in the mill in Kaitaia until he was 81, basically because he didn’t want to stop working. He only stopped when they shut down the mill. He always told us to work hard at anything we do. We kids used to go and help him out stacking posts and doing fillets. He instilled that advice in all of us, and I’ve done the same with my family as well.

We’re coming to your house for dinner – what’s on the menu? I’m a typical New Zealand guy, I love my roasts. I’d do up a roast chicken, with roast veges. There’d be potatoes, kumara and courgettes. And a peach cobbler for dessert.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve ever faced? Three years ago, our daughter Harper had an accident where she overstretched her spinal cord, and she’s now paralysed from T10 down. It was the hardest thing I’ve been through, personally and together as a family. She’s 10 now, and while everyday life is a little harder for her now, she’s in a really good place.

She is getting all the help and rehab she can. She does a lot of dance activities with her friends. It was definitely the most difficult thing we’ve ever had to face. It really opens your eyes to different things.

What’s your favourite holiday spot? I’ve been lucky to travel overseas a lot, but the best holidays I have are at our family bach up in Houhora. We always spend the majority of our summer holidays up there, it’s beautiful. My wife and kids love it.

The kids can roam free, they have heaps of friends up there. They leave in the morning and only come back in the evening when they’re tired and hungry! I have so many good memories up there.

Why does AUT Millennium work for you? We work just down the road, and our company is big on promoting health. I try to come at least three days a week with two of my colleagues at lunchtime. It’s a great facility, and I love the staff. No matter how busy they are, they always stop to help you. I love that they’re always changing things up, the new functional area is awesome. We’ve been introduced to the assault bike, the ski erg, and the sled. We’ve been in the pool and we get out on the track sometimes, or even run the hills out the back. I love the camaraderie I have with my colleagues, we support each other during our workouts. Before we started at the Gym, I was probably 5-10kg heavier. I want to keep active, keep the muscles and joints healthy, and be able to keep up with the kids.

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HealthZone Medical WHO ARE WE? We are a General Practice located in the AUT Millennium building. Our doctors are all General Practitioners who offer a diverse range of sub specialities.

PHONE: (09) 477 2090

Our Goal is to keep our patients healthy and to know our patients as individuals.

OUR DOCTORS Dr Simon Mayhew

Dr John Mayhew

Dr Sam Mayhew

Dr Valentina Kirova- Veljanovska Dr Michaela Wood

GP SERVICES OFFERED: Women's health, sports medicine, paediatrics, dermoscopy, skin cancer checks, minor surgical procedures, mental health, complex medical assessments, diabetes checks, cardiovascular risk assessment, travel medicine, concussion assessment and management.

OUR NURSES Michelle Hughes and Amanda Palmer

NURSE SERVICES OFFERED: Blood pressure checks, immunisations, cervical smears, ECG, eye and ear health, wound care and management, well child checks, travel immunisations, smoking cessation support, CVD checks and education, asthma checks and education, liquid nitrogen.

OUR ADMINISTRATION STAFF Bev Heron Claire Vaughan

Reception Reception

Kimmaree Stuart

Administration

Moira Davies

Practice Manager

Christine Cottell-Mayhew

Business Manager

We welcome new patients with no referral necessary.

MARCH - MAY 2019

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Memb and p ers u welco blic me!

GIVE GROUP FITNESS A GO!

SHAKE UP YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE! Have fun and get fit in our motivating environment with qualified instructors.

With over 15 different types of classes, you can find something to suit you and your goals. Â See our website for timetable or contact enquiries@autmillennium.org.nz for more information.

AUTMILLENNIUM.ORG.NZ/TIMETABLE

SPRINZ RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT The effects of different wearable resistance placements on sprint-running performance Research group: Strength & Conditioning Lead researchers: Professor John Cronin, Paul Macadam, Erin Feser, Kim Simperingham and Aaron Uthoff Coaches strive to optimise their athletes’ performance by ensuring the training methods they use transfer to actual sporting tasks. Recent advancements in technology now allow contour-fitted loads to be placed anywhere on the torso or limbs, creating wearable resistance (WR) which athletes can wear while performing sports-specific movements, such as running and jumping. A team of researchers out of the AUT Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ) is seeking to understand how placing WR on different parts of the body i.e. arms and legs, affects human motion and forces during sprint-running. From the early studies, it is apparent that WR on the arms and legs does not alter normal running technique and can be used by athletes of nearly any sport and level. This information is currently being used to understand how WR can be implemented to enhance athletic performance. Preliminary findings highlight that WR is not only a useful tool to develop strength and power at high speeds, but also for improving endurance and teaching athletes how to move better using non-verbal feedback. Projects associated with this AUT SPRINZ research are being conducted in Japan (sprinters), Australia (AFL players), the United States (sprinters, UFC fighters, American football players), Argentina (soccer players), South Africa (rugby players) and Wales (sprinters).

Citizen Science Research programme Research group: Human Potential Centre Lead researchers: Professor Erica Hinckson and Dr Moushumi Chaudhury Citizen Science can be defined as an approach involving members of the community (e.g. school aged children, youth and older adults) working closely with research investigators to advance research projects. It capitalises on people’s innate sense of curiosity as well as desire to learn, question, contribute and interact with others. Professor Erica Hinckson is an inaugural member (2016) of the ‘Our Voice’ Citizen Science Global Research Network and Citizen Science Leadership Network, led by Professor Abby King based at Stanford University, USA. Professor Hinckson leads the New Zealand chapter. ‘Our Voice’ citizen science methodology with a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, seeks to empower populations of interest to collect significant and meaningful information about their local environment. It also prioritises their concerns, their own interpretations of the data and engage in cross-sector conversations. This is used to generate practical solutions that impact on their own community and promote improvements in a more direct and meaningful way. The ‘Our Voice’ methodology has four steps: discover, discuss, advocate, and change. The data is collected using ‘Our Voice’ mobile technology, the Stanford Healthy Neighborhood Discovery Tool; an easy-to-use mobile device-based application that allows the user to capture geocoded photographs with audio narratives about their environment. The photographs are used to identify the environmental barriers and enablers (e.g. physical activity, healthy eating). Currently, Professor Hinckson together with research fellows Dr Moushumi Chaudhury and Dr Charlotte Jelleyman, are collecting data for the ENcAPPture Your Voice project where AUT students are asked to provide their perceptions on the ways their campus environment influences their decisions to engage in physical activity and healthy eating.

How could Auckland streets better support everyday walking?

Research group: Human Potential Centre Principal researcher: Tamara Bozovic, PhD candidate Research team: Professor Erica Hinckson, Associate Professor Melody Oliver and Dr Moushumi Chaudhury Street conditions can encourage people to walk to their nearby destinations or alternatively make it difficult or unfeasible. Auckland and New Zealand’s urban areas have generally been designed around the use of cars, and still present numerous barriers for people on foot or wheels. There are however important potentials for more everyday walking, and leveraging them can contribute to better health, an easier participation for people of different ages and abilities, and a more sustainable transport system.

A PhD project is underway examining precisely how the streets’ environments create difficulties, and how these influence Aucklanders’ choices around walking and wheeling.

It will analyse how perceptions such as “feeling unsafe from traffic” correlate with walking levels using available survey data. It will then delve into the choices of a group of people, using detailed interviews and the Citizen Science methodology (participants providing detailed insights of their usual trips and encountered barriers). The aim is to help local transport planners and urban designers answer the question: If we were to improve the streets’ environments so that it supports walking, what issues should we address first? Beyond Auckland, this research progresses our understanding of how streets, being cities’ main public spaces, can contribute to walking and well-being.

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North Harbour Water Polo Club North Harbour Water Polo Club started off with a hiss and a roar this year with a boot camp for our youngsters who attend local primary and intermediate schools. Our coaches thoroughly enjoyed the passion shown during all the days. Parents were particularly happy with the early bedtimes!

Our Senior Men and Women (who are both currently New Zealand champions) have started their training towards defending their national titles for a further year. The club are eager to welcome our new coach, Salvador Gomez, from Spain for four months to impart his knowledge on our group of coaches as well as taking the reins of our Senior Men’s team this season. Salvador is a former gold medalwinning Olympian with the Spanish Men’s team and is looking forward to learning about life in New Zealand.

The club have had a huge increase in the number of children trialing for school teams that enter our intermediate and junior college leagues. An increase from 370 to over 600 trialists truly shows the impact the sport is having on schools around our region.

Our Chairman, Brian Landry, has applauded the coaching staff at our club who are passionate and committed to providing players with an experience they wish to continue enjoying. “It is fantastic to see so many children enjoying the team environment and learning more skills enabling them to gain further confidence in deep water,” Brian says.

Junior and intermediate boot camp.

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Our U12 teams will begin training towards their season including the club-hosted U12 Jelly Belly Tournament, being held in July at our home pools AUT Millennium and the National Aquatic Centre. We expect to have nearly 100 children playing junior water polo and for a familyorientated club, we hope to build our programme around families coming together and enjoying the sport with each other.

Registrations are open for all age groups and trials will be occurring over the next few months. We are excited about the year ahead.

Interested in trying Flippa Ball or Water Polo?

Find out more about North Harbour Water Polo Club today W www.northharbourwaterpolo.co.nz E waterpoloadmin@autmillennium.org.nz

North Harbour Bays Athletics Club It’s peak season for North Harbour Bays Athletics. Summer is the season for Track and Field, and despite the heat, club athletes have put in some great performances.

New Zealand’s fastest woman, Zoe Hobbs, enjoyed a significant breakthrough performance in Wellington earlier this month. It has been a long and, at times, frustrating two-and-a-half years since Zoe saw the letters PB next to her name for her specialist event, but the 21-year-old sprinter has improved her PB twice, and also posted a pair of New Zealand Resident records to boot.

Zoe opened up at the Capital Classic by blasting to an 11.42 clocking on her way to victory in Wellington and she has gone on to trim a further 0.05 from that time to come tantalisingly close to Michelle Seymour’s 26-year-old national record of 11.32.

Zoe’s primary goal in 2019 will be a strong performance in the 100m at the World University Games in Naples.

She’s also not ruled out achieving the demanding World Championship qualification mark for the women’s 100m of 11.24.

Longer term the goal is competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but whatever happens, Zoe will trying to run fast for as long as she can. “The thing I love most about athletics is that the onus is on you,” she says. “It isn’t easy to get to the top but in a way that makes me want it more.”

At the Porritt Classic in early February, Anthony Nobilo came into his own in the hammer throw, clearing 60 metres for the first time with the 7.26kg implement.

Following on from his previous best of 58.99m at the Potts

Classic, Anthony’s last three throws were 59.14m, 60.88m, 61.93m and 59.57m. The national junior champion for the last two years has moved up to the senior ranks and is looking forward to competing in the championships in Christchurch.

Also at the Porritt Classic, Edward Osei-Nketia won the sprint double in 10.83 (-0.4) over 100m and 21.83 (-1.1) in the 200m. Stella Pearless obtained a PB of 2:11.33 in the 800m. Brianna Cadwallader obtained a PB in 300m hurdles 44.71. Alexander Parkinson was the best with the 2kg discus, throwing 54.31m. Connor Bell threw the 2kg discus 53.75m.

The Potts Classic in Hastings was held at the end of January. Eliza McCartney is knocking on the door of clearing five metres in the pole vault. The Rio Olympic Games bronze medallist had a good start to the season, coming off an injury last year than curtailed her European campaign, reaching up to 4.85m before going on to have three close attempts at five metres. Olivia McTaggart was third at the meet with 4.31m. Nicole Bradley’s hammer throw of 65.94m was just short of her PB of 66.07m set at last year’s meeting.

If you would like more information on North Harbour Bays Athletics, please get in touch today.

E baysathletics@autmillennium.org.nz W www.baysathletics.co.nz Coaching www.northsportcoaching.co.nz

Zoe Hobbs (centre) in action. Photo courtesy of Alisha Lovrich Photography.

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NorthSport Olympic Weightlifting Four NorthSport weightlifters claimed gold in their age and weight categories at the fourth edition of the National Masters Championships held on 1-2 December in Wellington. Natassia Suares, Kelly McGowan, Iain Harris and Martin Wilkinson attended the competition held at the Upper Hutt Weightlifting Club along with over 55 other lifters. The final number of competitors was 60, made up of 32 women and 28 men.

Natassia won the 58kg class with a 38kg snatch and a 48kg clean and jerk. Kelly won gold in the 63kg class with a 53kg snatch and a 67kg clean and jerk, breaking two national records in the process. Iain placed first in the 105kg class by snatching 85kg, and clean and jerking 105kg. Martin won the gold medal in the 94kg class with a 63kg snatch and a 85kg clean and jerk.

Three NorthSport lifters competed in the final round of the Rod Kennedy Classic series hosted at Papatoetoe Olympic Weightlifting Club on 15 December. 12 year old Juan-Carlos Quintero won the youth 48kg class with great technique, snatching a personal best 40kg and clean and jerk 40kg.

His older brother Andres-Felipe Quintero placed second in the youth 55kg class with a personal best 59kg clean and jerk.

Also competing was Chandler Hoffman who reached an awesome milestone by clean and jerking 100kg in the 67kg youth class. Chandler is definitely an up-and-comer to watch, placing fifth-equal in Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand’s 2018 improvement rankings after adding 50kg to his combined total across the year.

The period between December and February was used for mental and physical recovery and subsequent build up for the Auckland Championships in early March. Results from this championship will be used as qualification for further events such as the Oceania and Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships which will be hosted by Samoa in July. We look forward to updating you in the next edition of Flame Magazine.

If you are interested in getting involved in Olympic weightlifting, feel free to email us for more information.

E northsportweightlifting@gmail.com

Masters lifters Kelly and Natassia with coach Stas Chalaev.

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Promising youth weightlifter Chandler Hoffman.

North Shore Swimming North Shore Swimming is pleased to announce that it has acquired additional pool space within AUT Millennium and the National Aquatic Centre. This took effect from February of this year. In doing this, it will enrich the NSS legacy as a world class programme by attracting members to what will become our home club status at these facilities. This will also allow the club to align our squads and coaching efficiently by having all of the squads training in one place.

The extra lane space will also have a greater alignment to the NSS long term athlete development plan. We are super excited about this going forward into 2019 and beyond.

The Junior Harlequins Festival took place from 15 - 17 February at West Wave, Henderson. Hosted by Swimming New Zealand, this is the pinnacle event for junior swimmers aged 12 years and under. We had a 68-strong team of junior swimmers competing in 280 races over the three days with 207 personal best results. North Shore Swimmers achieved 31 regional placings: ten firsts, 14 seconds and seven thirds. Six of these were also national titles.

Our age group swimmers (13 - 18 years) are currently preparing for the biggest meet on the Swimming New Zealand calendar which is the AON National Age Group Championships (NAGS). The meet this year will be held at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. The meet is a five day event with heats and finals, running from 16 - 20 April. This is a qualifying meet and once again a pinnacle event for any age group swimmer to qualify for and medal

at. We have 36 qualified swimmers heading to this meet to hopefully secure some spots on the medals dais.

The Golden Homes Swimfest is taking place on 11 and 12 of May. The meet is proudly sponsored by Golden Homes and is hosted in conjunction with North Shore Swimming.

It is held over two days at the National Aquatic Centre and features SKINS events which are the pinnacle events of the Golden Homes Swimfest. A SKINS event consists of the top ten male and female swimmers in their age band. The swimmers race a randomly selected 50 metre stroke. The slowest swimmer is eliminated after each 50 metre race. SKINS is a test of fitness, endurance and pure determination. It allows the swimmer to bring together the fitness they have trained so hard for, along with the mental strength to see them get to the end of this event!

Prize money ranges from $200 for our junior SKINS winner to $1,500 for our senior SKINS winner. The 2019 event has a total prize pool of $20,000 up for grabs.

If you would like to find out more about North Shore Swimming Club, please visit our website W www.northshoreswimclub.org.nz

2018 19 and over SKINS winners Carina Doyle and Daniel Hunter.

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Spotlight on the 2019 AUT Millennium Scholarship Athletes The AUT Millennium Scholarship Athlete Programme provides support and services to exceptional athletes in each of the four foundation clubs. The programme offers a complimentary Gym membership and access to the AUT Millennium High Performance Fund, which is awarded to athletes who require funding to compete at top international competitions. The programme is also intended for athletes who are interested in opportunities such as charitable givebacks, public speaking, work experience, connecting with businesses, and nutritional and sports psychology contacts.

The 2019 presentation of AUT Millennium Scholarships is due to take place in the coming months. Athletes are nominated by their club and must meet specific eligibility criteria with regards to performance standards in their sport. Most importantly, Scholarship Athletes are required to be active members of their club and willing to fully explore their potential with the aim of competing with success in international events.

If you wish to support these athletes by contributing to the AUT Millennium High Performance fund, please contact communications@autmillennium.org.nz

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Name: Bryall McPherson Age: 29 Club: North Shore Swimming Occupation: Part-time Bachelor of Sport and Recreation student, part-time tennis referee/official What is your proudest sporting moment? Qualifying for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games What keeps you motivated? Waking up every morning and telling myself "I am grateful to be alive."

What advice would you give to younger athletes? Find the sport you love and enjoy every moment, because you never know when it might be the last chance you get to train and compete in your chosen sport.

Name: Jasmine Myles Age: 28 Club: North Harbour Water Polo Occupation: E-Commerce Account Manager What is your proudest sporting moment? It’s so hard to choose because playing sport for a good club is so rewarding. I’ve got a couple; playing for Bordeaux in the Women’s Pro A League in France, as well as captaining the New Zealand women’s team and scoring the winning goal against France in our final game at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia 2015.

What keeps you motivated? My competitiveness drives me a lot. I hate losing, so I’m always training and striving to win!

What advice would you give to younger athletes? You’ll never regret training hard, you’ll only regret not giving it everything you had!

Name: James Steyn Age: 19 Club: North Harbour Bays Athletics Studying: Economics and Marketing at the University of Auckland What is your proudest sporting moment? Jumping 5.21m at the Potts Classic in Hastings. It was the World University Games standard and the first international standard I've achieved, so I was unbelievably happy with that. It felt quite easy as well which just made it that much nicer.

What keeps you motivated? The group I train with is awesome, we are like a family. Getting to see them every day so that we can all work towards the same goal definitely keeps me on track.

What advice would you give to younger athletes? Sport is difficult, there are days when you work really hard for very little return and it feels like you're wasting your time. If a person can learn to push through that and get excited about the days they make progress and feel good, then I absolutely believe they will make an exceptional athlete.

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Facilities & Services AUT MILLENNIUM SERVICES Swim School (09) 477 2074 swimschool@autmillennium.org.nz Gym (09) 477 2011 memberships@autmillennium.org.nz Sir Owen G. Glenn National Aquatic Centre (09) 477 2074 aquatics@autmillennium.org.nz Accommodation (09) 477 7019 accommodation@autmillennium.org.nz Conference (09) 477 2009 conference@autmillennium.org.nz

Schools Programme (09) 477 2043 schools@autmillennium.org.nz Athlete Development (09) 477 2012 info@athletedevelopment.org.nz Human Potential Clinic hpc@autmillennium.org.nz Sports Performance Clinic spc@autmillennium.org.nz Holiday Programme (09) 477 2000 reception@autmillennium.org.nz Speedo Shop shop@autmillennium.org.nz

HEALTH SERVICES HealthZone Physiotherapy (09) 477 2098 admin@healthzone.org.nz HealthZone Medical (09) 477 2090 chriscm@medzone.co.nz

Ascot Radiology (09) 478 6640 Orthosports (09) 477 2080 office@orthosports.co.nz

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High-Performance Sport New Zealand (09) 477 5420 info@hpsnz.org.nz Athletics New Zealand (09) 477 0210 info@athletics.org.nz Swimming New Zealand (09) 478 2916 info@swimmingnz.org.nz Tennis New Zealand (09) 528 5428 info@tennis.kiwi North Harbour Bays Athletics (09) 477 2035 baysathletics@autmillennium.org.nz North Harbour Water Polo Club (09) 477 2021 admin@northharbourwaterpolo.co.nz NorthSport Olympic Weightlifting @NorthSportOlympicWeightlifting on Facebook North Shore Swimming www.northshoreswimclub.org.nz/contact Active Auckland – Coaching (09) 921 9999 ext 5197 Constellation Community Trust Kevin Lunny, Managing Director kevin@apexlogistics.co.nz

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