High Altitude

[kosydar 0]

My team is playing in the Colorado Cup this weekend in Colorado Springs (anyone else playing in it?). This will be my first time playing at such a high altitude, 6000+ feet. Right now, I'm at about 300 feet. Have those of you who have played at higher altitudes noticed any big difference? My coach is freaking out about this, making us do some crazy ass diet this week, thinking it'll make a difference. I guess I'm just a little skeptical.

[mickz 107]

Technically there's less oxygen at higher altitudes. However, I haven't noticed a difference...

[Lightning 0]

Kosy, I live in Tampa, Fl (sea level) and go skiing in Utah and Colorado during the winter. It takes more energy to perform at the same level than your are used to. Recovery time on the bench will take more time than normal, but you should still be able to perform at the same level while out on the ice. You will feel tired at the end of the day, as the body has to work harder to get the oxygen to the muscles. Make sure that you drink plenty of fluids as the air is very dry and if you dont hydrate then the effect of the alt will be more severe. Get plenty of rest as well, possible you may want to try a drink that some NHL teams use when they go to places like Denver to play, I believe it is called VO2 Max or something like that. Ill see if I can find out from my buddy that works with the Lightning.

[mastertuc 0]

I played in colorado when I was a bantam and i must say there wasa difference. We got there 4 days before the tourny started so we had time to adjust. The first 2 days we only did light skating and it was definatly noticable that everyone was huffing for air.

[forsberg91 0]

Hey my team is playing in that. i can't do to my broken collarbone and wrist. I am Bantam A. Look for me. I am short with brown hair. i have a blue cast and a blue and white sling. i live here so I'm used to it but when we go up to the mountains I am dying out there. Just take short shifts. DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CaseyJones_86 0]

the local teams will have a definate advantage but theres not much you can do about it. most likely you will gas out before they do, same reason the Avalanche have an edge over most teams that play in their arena

[biff44 0]

Current medical concensus appears to be that living at high altitude is good for building your cardiovascular system, but training at high altitude beat the heck out of you and counters the benefit of being aclimated there.

So you have one advantage, you have not been training at high altitude all season so you are probably in better physical shape! The one disadvantage is that your blood is thinner.

If I were you I would put on a big time aerobic training effort for 2 or 3 weeks prior to the game. Something like 1 hour exercycle every morning, 5 days a week. Then take a few days off just before the games. There is a lot of info on the web about high altitude sports, like this one:

http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/short/91/3/1113

[kosydar 0]

Biff- Thats what I was thinking too, start working a few weeks before. But unfortunately, thats not what my coach had in mind, we only started training this week for games this weekend. I really doubt that running 3 miles one night and then eating carbs for a few days will make too much difference, but it couldn't hurt.

Forsberg- I'll look for you when I'm down there. I'm in the Midget A or AA, not sure which. How has the weather been down there?

[forsberg91 0]

I live in Boulder which is about 2 hours away but it snowed last night but it all melted today It was clear outside today. What team are you on?

[kosydar 0]

The LAHA Lightning. I don't know what division I'm in or what rinks we're playing in, or anything. They've sent us at least four schedules, I don't have a clue which one is right.

[DangleDangleChamp 0]

I am from Michigan and my team played in the King Of The Rockies AAA Tourney in Colorado Springs earlier this year. I must say going from such a low sea level to a high level is tough. The First game is brutal and you will definitely be sucking for wind. Just don’t do too much extra activity and eat well and you will be good to go.

[seanmccann 3]

I live in Alberta which is right in the middle

Camrose (my city) - 2425 ft

Calgary - 3556 ft

Banff - 4583 ft

Denver - 5479 ft

We might be going to a tournament in the Banff area which is not quite Denver's altitude but still pretty high.

[CaseyJones_86 0]

I am from Michigan and my team played in the King Of The Rockies AAA Tourney in Colorado Springs earlier this year. I must say going from such a low sea level to a high level is tough. The First game is brutal and you will definitely be sucking for wind. Just don’t do too much extra activity and eat well and you will be good to go.

who do you play for?

[biff44 0]

Well, good luck. Best I could suggest is to do some of this "power breathing" on the bench between shifts, "The Six Primary Protocols Of Performance Breathing":

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/sonnon22.htm

[forsberg91 0]

The LAHA Lightning. I don't know what division I'm in or what rinks we're playing in, or anything. They've sent us at least four schedules, I don't have a clue which one is right.

what number are you?

[kosydar 0]

I'm 7, the captain. I'll bring down my MHS shirt, but I don't know if I'll be able to wear it, I just assume its pretty cold.

[forsberg91 0]

im staying down there only for tomorrow night . ill be down there all tomorrow, and saturday morning. im staying at the Double Tree Hotel

[forsberg91 0]

Look for my team on the ice. We have blue and Silver Jerseys. We are the Boulder Bison so we have a bison head. it looks alot like the Buffalo Sabres emblem but the head is turned sideways.

[kosydar 0]

I'll try, I'm just not sure if I'll be at the same rink any times when you guys are playing.

[ponty 0]

Let me make it simple. It make a HUGE difference. If your not use to it man oh man you can get tired.

You feel a big difference between cities as well. I got far more winded playing in Denver than I do in the Springs.

In short if your not use to it watch out!

Where are you guys playing? At Sertich or World Arena?

[kosydar 0]

We play at Sertich and Honnen for sure, and then either of the World Arena (I guess there are 2 sheets, one Olympic, one NHL?) or Chapel Hills depending on what seed we are.

Are there any good shops in the area?

[ponty 0]

Chapel Hills ice is horrible. Watch for the divits that hit ground. I kid not.

If you skate on the Olympic sheet at world ... well all I can say is ... :P Man will you be tired.

Good shops. Slap Shot sports in down town Springs is not bad. The owner is a great guy and does a nice sharpening job. If you want more selection try Players Bench around World Arena - About 5 miles on the East side.

[kosydar 0]

Tomorrow night's game is going to suck for sure. Not only will it be my first time in the high altitude, it'll be after getting up at 4:30 in the morning, flying into Denver, and then driving to Colorado Springs, which I hear is almost 2 hours.

[ponty 0]

Denver to Colorado Springs is more like an hour and change. The other hour is probably coming from DIA (the airport). Your gonna feel like you landed in freakin Kansas as its flat. No worries as you go futher West you will hit the mountains.

You'll be taking I25 all the way down to the Springs from there. Nice drive that you should enjoy.

[kosydar 0]

I've been to DIA before, its huge and out in the middle of nowhere. I went to Boulder last year. Its really beautiful down in Colorado from what I've seen, it reminds me a lot of Oregon.