After two gruelling, prank filled weeks Altitude training in Flagstaff Arizona, the Gold Coast SUNS are home with Virgin Australia making the return trip a memorable one for three of the camps outstanding achievers.
While the majority of the list prepared for the fifteen hour return flight by organising neck cushions, iPads, iPods and headphones, three of the Gold Coast SUNS most outstanding achievers let the Virgin Australia flight crew take care of their every need after being supplied with passage to the Business Class section of the plane.
Following the squads final challenge, an extremely difficult trek up the frosty, snow and windswept slopes of Flagstaff’s Mount Humphreys, General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft summonsed a team meeting to announce the winners of various tour challenges.
“We gathered the squad to announce the winners of our three categories, Rehabilitation work, Gym Work and skills training and outdoor activities.” Said Ashcroft
What the playing group didn’t know was that in addition to the personal achievement and praise of their team mates, Virgin Australia had supplied Marcus with three Business class flights back to Australia as reward for the category winners.
“Once we announced that Virgin Australia had provided Business class flights for the trip home from Los Angeles, the boys were hanging on every word, and when we dragged it out for a little bit, it was obvious the suspense was killing them.”
Piers Flanagan took out the rehab work category with thirteen votes, edging out six fellow nominees for the seat at the pointy end of the Virgin Australia flight home, while Luke Russell was awarded the Gym work category title ahead of five other nominees, Luke winning with eleven votes.
Russell’s victory left just one Business class flight remaining and much to the amusement of the teams coaching staff it went to the squads shortest player in Dion Prestia who won the Skills and outdoor activity category with ten votes from a strong field of twelve finalists.
“The boys were all excited for the winners even though they are all under 185 centimetres tall.” “The challenges have been really tough and the players focus on completing them outstanding so it’s great to have Virgin Australia recognise the achievement of not only the winners but the entire squad by supplying the three business class flights home.”
In each of the three categories, the coaching staff nominated the players they thought worthy of the award, the entire playing group then voted on the player they thought deserved the award in each category.
The Gold Coast SUNS arrive back on the Gold Coast this week and will be given a few days to refresh before resuming their pre-season training next Monday.
