Chelsea Piers Connecticut (CPCT) is excited to offer the FTE Kids Tri Camp, a triathlon training program for young athletes ages 6 – 16 years. Building on the success of its popular Full Throttle Endurance (FTE) adult triathlon program, the FTE Kids Tri Camp is specifically designed for children and teens and will feature a youth category for children ages 6 – 11 years, as well as a junior category for ages 12 – 16 years.
As one of the fastest growing sports in the United States, triathlon training is recognized for both the athletic benefits and sense of accomplishment that come with training for and finishing a race. Led by veteran triathletes and coaches of Chelsea Piers’ National Championship-winning Full Throttle triathlon racing team, Caitlin Drap and Scott Berlinger, the FTE Kids Tri Camp is designed to introduce young athletes to a number of key fundamentals of the sport including running form, endurance, swim stroke development, bike handling skills, race preparation, pacing and race safety.
As parents to young children themselves, both Drap and Berlinger recognize the beneficial role organized sports play in building character in young athletes and understand the importance of providing a positive learning environment for youth and junior-age players. Throughout the FTE Kids Tri Camp program, Drap and Berlinger will apply their years of both personal and professional experience coaching and developing the skills of the young campers, focusing on proper skill instruction while emphasizing enjoyment within competition.
The FTE Kids Tri Camp will run from July 13 – July 31 in one-week sessions. Registration is done on a week-by-week basis, and campers may register for one, two or all three weeks. At the conclusion of the last camp session, all participants are invited to put their newfound training skills to the test and compete in a multi-sport competition during the first week in August.
As coaches and members of the National Championship-winning Full Throttle Endurance (FTE) Triathlon Racing Team, Drap and Berlinger have trained and raced alongside some of the most talented triathletes in the country. Based out of the Chelsea Piers facilities in NYC and Stamford, FTE is a 10 year old team that is 175 athletes strong. The team has won the National title for several years running and most recently dominated and won the Stamford KIC Triathlon and took home their seventh consecutive Team Championship at the 2014 NYC Triathlon.
“Triathlon is a lifelong sport that focuses on a number of athletic skills children will use throughout their lives – biking, running and swimming. Learning these sports will help in the development of exercise habits that can form the foundation for a lifetime of healthy living,” commented Greta Wagner, Executive Director, Chelsea Piers Connecticut. “We are proud to add the FTE Kids Tri Camp to our extensive roster of summer sports camps for young athletes and look forward to introducing a new generation to the sport in a fun, safe environment.”
About Chelsea Piers Connecticut
Chelsea Piers Connecticut (CPCT) is a 465,000-square-foot state-of-the-art sports and recreation facility located in Stamford, CT, just off I-95 at Exit 9. Opened in July 2012, CPCT features two indoor ice rinks, an Olympic pool and adjacent 6,000-sq.-ft. Splash Zone indoor water park, a 14,000-sq.-ft. gymnastics training center, 11 singles and one hardball doubles squash court, seven indoor hard court tennis courts, an indoor turf baseball/softball training facility and five batting cages, a 12,000-sq.-ft. Adventure Center featuring a recreational trampoline center, a 24-foot high rock wall and a Little Athletes gym for children six months to five years, and a Field House with a 100-yard turf field, four hardwood basketball/volleyball courts and a 1/5-mile track.
In December 2014, Chelsea Piers Connecticut opened a world-class 65,000 square-foot health & fitness facility and clubhouse called “CP-AC Fitness.” The members-only fitness facility features 25,000 square feet of strength and cardio equipment, a dedicated mind/body center for Pilates Reformer classes, multi-disciplinary and hot yoga, as well as traditional group fitness studios and dedicated space for triathlon and competitive cycling training. There are more than 110 weekly fitness classes and programs. Additionally, there is a custom Queenax Bridge studio creating endless possibilities for suspension, boxing and functional training.
Like Chelsea Piers New York, Chelsea Piers Connecticut combines world-class athletic facilities with an extensive array of professional instructors and year-round sports programming for children and adults of all ages. There are more than 10 teams competing under the Chelsea Piers Athletic Club umbrella. CPCT is also home to a childcare facility and preschool, a Harrow pro shop, a grab-and-go café, a 150-seat restaurant and bar, Stamford Hospital’s 18,500-sq.-ft. Orthopedic and Spine Institute, CrossFit S-Town and a BlueStreak Sports athletic training center.
