Falls Creek Training Camp....part 1

Falls Creek Camp: Big Mountains, Bigger Efforts and Even Better Company

Days 1–3

There’s something about Falls Creek that brings out the best (and sometimes the toughest) in athletes. Steep climbs, stunning views, unpredictable conditions and plenty of shared laughs. This weeks blog looks at the first three days of our GPC Ballarat & GPC Squad camp which delivered all of that and more.

Day 1: Straight Into the Work

We wasted no time getting to business, rolling out for a 50km ride to Trapyard Gap. The legs were tested early, but spirits stayed high as the squad worked together.

Off the bike, it was straight into a 30-minute run along the aqueduct, a classic Falls Creek session that is one of the few flat areas to run with unreal views.

Prizes – Day 1

Pink Hanky: Coach Steph for changing start times on Day 1 (athletes never forget…)

Hard Rock: Paula for completing her longest-ever ride, a huge milestone and well-earned recognition.

Day 2: Choose Your Adventure

Day 2 offered a mix of sessions to suit different goals:

Some tackled a 2-hour MTB ride
Others descended Falls Creek to Bogong Village
A few others decended (and then ascended) to Mt Beauty and Tawonga Gap

No matter the option, there was one guarantee every session finished with a climb back up Falls Creek.

Meanwhile, Coach Chris took on a monster day in the saddle, riding from Falls Creek to the summit of Mt Buffalo and back.

Over 4,000m of climbing
Four peaks conquered
Nearly 9 hours on the bike

As Chris ticked off the final climb of the day, the rest of the squad pulled on wetsuits and jumped into Rocky Valley Dam for an open water swim—cold, refreshing, and a perfect contrast to a huge day on the bike.

Awards – Day 2

Pink Hanky: Larissa for getting lost during the swim (extra metres count… right?)

Hard Rock: Coach Chris for an epic endurance ride that set the benchmark.

Day 3: Soak It All In

An early start saw the squad head out for a 30–90 minute trail run, with sweeping views across the Snowy Mountains. Alpine creeks were flowing, the Christmas bush was in flower, and the scenery reminded us exactly why Falls Creek is such a special place to train.

The rest of the day leaned more towards recovery:

Super easy spins for some
Naps for others
Massages thanks to the wonderful Paula
Everyone focused on absorbing the work done over the first two days

The afternoon session had the squad back at the reservoir for another open water swim, continuing to build confidence and familiarity in the water as the camp rolls on.