Triathlon New Zealand has released dates and details for the National Talent Squad (NTS) programme in 2015, including the key selection events (including the mandatory Takapuna Youth Festival – except under special pre-communicated circumstances) and subsequent five day camps for those named in the NTS.
The NTS is about developing some of the brightest young triathlon talent around New Zealand and is a key component of the National Talent Programme (NTP) launched in late 2013 by High Performance Director Graeme Maw.
"The National Talent Programme is a critical step in our vision to provide a sustainable high performance environment to produce international medal-winning athletes," said Maw at the launch of the NTP.
"Athletes looking towards Tokyo 2020 have a dream, but to act firmly on that dream they need to be able to see and feel the next step, and that their efforts are rewarded. By linking local and national support, and inter-linking Youth, Talent and High Performance Squads, the NTP will provide support and motivation to add to the foundations being laid by coaches around the country."
The first year of the NTP has been a very busy and exciting one, with the hosting of Regional Youth Academies throughout New Zealand (Canterbury having just concluded this week). The inaugural NTS has received support throughout the year, with athletes and coaches invited to work closely with the Tri NZ HP squads and coaches in Cambridge, while also receiving support while representing New Zealand at international events here in New Zealand and overseas.
Maw says the NTP will continue to grow and develop in 2015, with the naming of the NTS set for one week after the final selection race at the National Secondary Schools Championships in March 2015.
Central to those selection races is the Takapuna Youth Festival, held around the Sovereign Tri series Takapuna event in mid-February.
"The Festival is a key part of the talent pathway in the High Performance Programme, bringing together aspiring athletes from all round the country - to test themselves, gain some tips to take back to their clubs and Regional Youth Academies, and challenge for NTS Selection. It is about future potential for Tokyo and beyond," said Maw.
The programme for the Takapuna Youth Festival has been largely confirmed, with registrations required on or before January 15th if athletes wish to be considered for the NTS. (See below for detailed programme).
The key events (but not restricted to) for NTS selection are Oceania Junior Champs (Penrith January 10), Kinloch (Sovereign Tri Series Feb 1), Takapuna Youth Festival (Feb 13-15), New Plymouth National Junior Championships (March 22), and National Secondary Schools (Taupo March 26-27).
Once selected, the NTS will gather for three five day camps and then a final weekend in December, all of which will be held at the Tri NZ HP base in Cambridge. The schedule is as follows:
- Camp 1: 6 - 10 April 2015
- Camp 2: 6 – 10 July 2015
- Camp 3: 5 – 9 Oct 2015
- Camp 4: 19 – 20 Dec 2015
The camp content will be based around four key concepts and principles:
- 'Performance life' – being able to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle in an HP environment
- 'Strength and Conditioning for economy and injury prevention' – having athletes proficient in all movements, working on their mechanics to be injury free and to maximise output
- 'Speed development' – specific work on the speed aspect of the sport
- 'Skill acquisition' – various parts of the three disciplines and transition – getting into real detail into each area.
The NTP and subsequent NTS is, as described by Maw, a key component in the HP Pathway, but it is much broader than that at its base. The Regional Youth Academies in particular focus on bringing people together, building relationships, building triathlon communities, giving opportunities for young athletes to perform and have positive experiences in the sport of triathlon.
