XLR8 Performance Coaching

XLR8 Performance Coaching had its origins over a decade ago, beginning with a simple aim - to fill a gap at my own club which lacked a skills and development program for juniors when my sons were just starting out.  By that stage I had been a competitive cyclist for a decade and had been learning everything in cycling the hard way until I got my first cycling coach.  With a lack of good coaches in my local area at that time, and having experienced the massive difference excellent coaching makes, I undertook the Level 1 Australian Coaching Course (as it was known back then).  Through this process I discovered that our state cycling body had a road and track cycling development program for juniors.  I enrolled my eldest son, and was quickly indoctrinated into the program as a coach with some wonderful colleagues and mentors with whom I am still friends and hold in high regard to this day.  I was a state coach on this program for 8yrs, eventually becoming the head coach.  Along the way I was a state road and track junior coach, ran our club's track program and am currently the Hamilton Wheelers Club Coach.  In this latest role I have been leading a team to develop our junior club program and ensure that future coaches and riders have an easier transition into the sport through our club, that riders have a clear pathway for transition into adult club racing or high performance pathways, and that there is a legacy or succession plan for when we move onto our next adventures.  

Along the way I completed the Australian Level 2 Road & Track Coaching Course (now known as "Advanced Coach / Gold Coach") which is geared towards coaching athletes competing at a national level, and completed the Director Sportif course for managing elite road teams.  On this wonderful journey I have met some great people and began coaching a number of athletes 1-on-1, where my coaching skills and university training in physiology and psychology can be fully utilised.  One of the original athletes I coached and still coach today recently made his first Australian Development Track Team two years in a row, and enjoyed his first taste of international competition along with international medals.   It is this love of developing athletes along their journey that excites me with respect to coaching, along with the opportunity to grow as a coach and a person alongside some amazing athletes.   Many of my clinical Physiotherapy skills are incredibly complementary to my passion for coaching.

One of the key principles I coach by is the following (not my original words - something I learnt from the head of high performance in my state at the very start of my coaching experience):  "Coaches may have many athletes, but athletes only have one career".   So I consider it a high honour to be entrusted with your cycling career, and approach coaching each and every athlete with the utmost respect this honour deserves.