Great Peninsulas Cross Country
Team Great Peninsulas is made up of Michigan's and Florida's top cross country runners from the 2008 for competition in the Down Under International Games in Australia. Participating in the games is a fantastic experience. The travel to and from Australia, with a 3-day stop in Hawaii, offers unforgettable moments.
The schedule, as of February 2009, has the team leaving for Los Angelese on July 11 where we will then fly to Honolulu, Hawaii, where we will spend three days on Waikiki Beach and enjoy the sun and surf, along with being able to tour Oahu (many athletes pay tribute to our nation and fallen seamen at the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor). In addition, athletes may climb Diamond Head, jump off the lava rocks in Waimea Bay, and take surfing lessons. The entire team will also be guests at a polynesian banquet complete with hula dancers and men who dance with firesticks. We will leave Hawaii on July 13 or 14, heading to Sydney, Australia.
In Sydney, we will clear customs and then fly to Brisbane, Queensland. From Brisbane, we will take a motor coach to Surfers Paradise, nestled along the world-famous Gold Coast, where athletes will practice, tour, and compete. This year tours wil take us to Dreamworld Amusement Park (the largest in Australia) and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Athletes will also get a chance to book a tour on their "free day."
The two races Down Under feature an American 5K against runners from all over ther United States and a 5K international race against American and Aussie runners. In addition to coaching Team Great Peninsulas, I am the meet director in Australia for both races and my wife will assist me.
Athletes will also be able to try different adventures in Australia during their "day off." My former athletes and I have enjoyed trips to the beach, surf lessons, whale watching, sky diving, horseback riding, 4-wheel tours in the mountains and the rainforests, sea kayaking, trying to snatch sand worms out of the beach (they're worth $1 a worm, but illegal to grab without a licensed guide) and even flights to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkeling.
After our time Down Under, we'll fly from Brisbane to Los Anglese and then back to our home states on July 22.
I have been coaching Down Under since 2000 and my wife will be coaching her second year with us. Great Peninsulas teams have won four men's championships, three women's championships, one men's runners-up, two women's runners-up, and one women's and men's bronze medal. In addition, the team has boasted two American male champions (2004 & 2005), two American male runners-up (2001 & 2006), two American female champions (2003 & 2006), an international male champion (2006), an international female champion (2006), and an international female runner-up (2001).
I teach at Flint Kearsley, where I am the head girls' coach in cross country and track and field. I have a bachelor's and master's degree from Michigan State University.
My wife also teaches at Flint Kearsley and assists me in cross country. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and a master's degree from Marygrove College.
You may contact me, Coach Puffer, by telephone at (810) 742-5823 or via e-mail at DJPuffer@comcast.net
Many parents and athletes have similar questions, so here are some questions with answers that just may help you decide if you want to become a member of Team Great Peninsulas:
1. Can I fundraise?
Yes, most of my athletes fundraise for their trip. In fact, there were over 300 athletes from the United States who went last year in cross country, and the majority fundraised their trip. There are a variety of the things you can do to raise the money, and we have a fundraising packet that you will receive to help you with ideas athletes have used successfully in the past.
2. When do the games take place?
The tentative schedule for 2009 is as follows: Leave Michigan and Florida on July 11 and return July 22. This schedule is as of February 2009. The schedule is pretty firm, but sometimes the airlines change flights and adjust our trip by a day or two.
3. What are the hotels like?
In Hawaii we stay at the beautiful Waikiki Resort Hotel one block from the center of Waikiki Beach. In Australia, we will stay at The Q1 Tower, which is the world's tallest residential building and can be checked out at many Web sites if you Google Q1 Tower or go to this Web site: http://www.q1.com.au/home.html. The views will be of either the ocean, the mountains, or a view that gives you both in addition to the canals winding throughout the city of Surfers Paradise.
4. Can I wear spikes, jewelry, or a watch while racing?
Yes, international rules apply, so athletes are not constricted like the National Federation rules in the States.
5. What are the best parts of the trip?
Outside of racing, my athletes have enjoyed holding koalas and petting kangaroos. They also enjoy the trip to the amusement park, but most athletes enjoyed the beaches in Surfers as well as Hawaii -- swimming, body surfing, and snorkeling. Most of all, my athletes make life-long friends. In fact, the worst part of the trip is when we land back in Florida and Michigan and have to separate in the airport. It's an emotional time because the parents are excited to see their children but many of the athletes are upset to have to say goodbye to their friends.
6. Can I get in touch with athletes and/or parents of athletes who went last year?
Yes, I can e-mail you names and telephone numbers of past athletes, team supporters, and assistant coaches. I urge parents and athletes to contact former team members to see how exciting and valuable this trip and racing was for them.
 Home |
| Timberwolf Lake Camp |
Send E-Mail to: djpuffer@comcast.netCopyright © 2009 Darrick J. Puffer. All Rights Reserved