My training partners Crystal Smith and Kibwé Johnson

I helped my training partners Kibwé Johnson and Crystal Smith launch a website on Friday.  Check it out if at www.turntheright.com if you get a chance.  Both of them are very accomplished throwers. In 2007, Kibwé won the silver medal in the 2007 Pan American Games and competed at the World Championships.  He also holds the collegiate record in the weight throw.  Crystal, a native of British Columbia, is the former Canadian national record holder.

Kibwé and Crystal moved to Kamloops after the 2008 season and have slowly transitioned to a new style of training.  Their old style of training was very strength-based.  The new style of training is, in many ways, the exact opposite.  We have ten throwing sessions every week and never lift heavy weights.  It’ll be interesting to follow their website as they discuss their training, their progress, and the transition to this new system.  For example, in one of the first posts, Kibwé compares the two styles of training:

Where most coaches and athletes train for the “fast track” to achieve distance, Dr. B’s system takes time … He said if you take two groups: one group lifts heavy, and the other group is his system, the lifters will grow faster at first and achieve better results. However, after about 4 years, according to his studies, the hammer inclined group always passes the lifting group.

In other words, while you can get results quickly by getting really strong, there is a point of diminishing returns to this approach.  After a while, technique is needed to continue improving.  I’ve always had a coach that focused on throwing over lifting, so it is interesting for me to read about Kibwé and Crystal’s transition between the two styles of training.

Our training group is now likely the most digital throwing group in the world.  Two of my other training partners, Megann and Justin Rodhe, also set up their own blog this week and Michael Letterlough has been providing updates as long as I have.