Weekend event fit for all players
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
Tennis Weekend 2004's marathon of motion Saturday and Sunday is a hectic example of the U.S. Tennis Association's recent focus on fitness. It would take an extreme athlete to keep up with what's going on at Ala Moana Beach Park.
Fitness is hardly a foreign concept in tennis. A few minutes on-court in Hawai'i's sauna-like conditions can convince a recreational player of the benefits of conditioning.
Nelson
This is also the home of TennisCize-Hawaiian Style, a tennis/aerobic program developed on the Big Island by Dino and Donnia Bondallian 25 years ago. It has spawned a video and DVD, and similar classes taught by O'ahu pros like Kyle Kaneshiro and Bruce Nagel.
University of Hawai'i coach John Nelson has added emotional fitness to his men's program. Players train in martial arts to "keep them in the present" and focused on execution and balance.
"I expect my program to compete at a national level, but I know from experience if all you do is talk about winning, that doesn't win a point," Nelson says. "If players are disciplined enough to execute properly and make the high-percentage play ... winning will take care of itself."
Nelson is part of the 18th annual Tennis Weekend, which also brings back Jack Groppel, honorary chair of the USTA Sport Science Committee.
A Ph.D. and former professor and tennis coach at the University of Illinois, Groppel founded LGE Performance Systems with sports psychologist Jim Loehr in 1991. The 15,000-square-foot training center caters to athletes and corporate executives.
Groppel insists tennis has not done a good job of marketing the sport's health benefits. His work has focused in that area for more than a decade.
He put heart-rate monitors on tennis players at the Olympic Training Center in 1988 and found the oscillation demanded by the game was similar to interval training. With more study, he concluded that tennis provided "tremendous health benefits" in a relatively short time, for players of all ages. Groppel believes elite tennis players are "among the most fit athletes in the world."
His work encompasses physical, emotional and mental training and research. Stress and growth are common themes.
"There should be a balance between stress and recovery," Groppel says. "Athletes physically need to know that stress is the stimulus for growth and recovery is when you grow... no recovery, no growth.
"The same holds true mentally. Athletes must learn what to focus on under pressure. Emotionally, athletes must learn how to manage mistakes and overcome crises on the court."
Doctors are now analyzing the benefits swinging an 11-ounce racket has on biceps, triceps, shoulders and forearms, and say a serious player can shed 500 calories an hour.
The game is hardly just serve and volley anymore. This weekend offers a range of reasons why.
Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.
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Schedule
At Ala Moana Beach Park
All events free and open to the public unless noted. Information: 955-6696.
Saturday
7 a.m. to 7:50—Tennis Aerobics
8:15 a.m.—Opening Ceremony
8:30 a.m. to 11:30—High Performance (12-under, invitation only) with Mervin Webster
8:30 a.m. to 9:45—Vijay Amritraj demonstration
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Vendor Exhibition Booths (Vijay Amritraj Autograph Session 9:45 a.m. to 10:15)
10 a.m. to 11—24 Hour Fitness Speed Ball Clinic, American Cancer Society seminar
10 a.m. to 11:15—Jack Groppel demonstration
11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—Katrina Adams doubles demonstration
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.—Head/Penn clinic
12:30 p.m. to 1:45—Eliot Teltscher demonstration
1 p.m. to 2:30—Tennis Innovations with Jim Reffkin
1:45 p.m to 3—Pot of Pros clinic
2:30 p.m. to 3:30—Fit For Life seminar with Eric Okamura
3 p.m. to 4:30—Dan Santorum competitive drills clinic, Wilson clinic
5:30 p.m. to 6:15—USTA/HPS Annual Meeting at Ala Moana Hotel
6:30 p.m. to 10—Tennis Weekend Banquet and awards at Ala Moana Hotel (registration necessary). Guest speaker Jack Groppel, with Vijay Amritraj
Sunday
7:15 a.m. to 8:15—Exertennis
8:30 a.m. to 10:30—Junior Team Tennis Appreciation Clinic, Junior Tennis Parent Workshop (Bernard Gusman, John Nelson)
8:30 a.m. to 9:45—Katrina Adams demonstration
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—Vendor Exhibition Booths
10 a.m. to 11:15—Vijay Amritraj demonstration, Jack Groppel analysis (meeting room)
10:30 a.m. to 11:30—Junior clinic with Eliot Teltscher and Mervin Webster (invitation only)
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.—24 Hour Fitness clinic on Speed and Quickness
11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.—Bernard Gusman demonstration, Prince clinic
12:30 p.m. to 1:30—Camara Eye seminar
12:45 p.m. to 1:45—Eliot Teltscher demonstration, 24 Hour Fitness Injury Prevention seminar (meeting room)
1:30 p.m. to 3—Tennis Innovations with Jim Reffkin
1:45 p.m to 3—Pot of Pros clinic
3:15 p.m. to 4—John Nelson on Mental Toughness
3:15 p.m. to 4:30—Vokyl clinic
3:15 p.m. to 5—Adult League Player Appreciation Clinic
3:30 p.m. to 4:30—Armed Forces Challenge
Special Guests
Vijay Amritraj: Played Davis Cup for India 20 years and Wimbledon 17, reaching quarterfinals. Top-ranked player in Asia for 14 years. Five-time ATP Tour players council president. Co-starred in "Octopussy" and "Star Trek IV." Appointed United Nations Messenger of Peace. Currently a sports journalist and "multi-media entrepreneur."
Katrina Adams: Tennis Channel commentator. Ranked eighth in the world in doubles while partnered with Zina Garrison. NCAA doubles champion and WTA service award recipient.
Dr. Jack Groppel: Internationally recognized authority on application of sport science to human performance and expert in fitness and nutrition. Developed Corporate Athlete training program for business people.
Bernard Gusman: Director of Tennis at Punahou School, 2002 High Performance Competitive Training Clinic Coach and 2003 Coaches Commission Chair of USTA/HPS.
John Nelson: University of Hawai'i men's tennis coach. Has coached eight DI
All-Americans and 22 DII All-Americans. Region VII Coach of the Year in 2000, 2002 and 2003.
Jeff Reffkin: Former chair of USTA Tennis Innovation Committee. Director of Tennis for Tucson, Ariz., and past president of USPTA.
Dan Santorum: CEO and Executive Director of Professional Tennis Registry.
Eliot Teltscher: USTA Director of Tennis Operations, USA Tennis High Performance. In 10 years on the pro tour, Teltscher had wins over John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl.
Mervin Webster: Director of USTA Coaching Commission. Member of 1967 South African Davis Cup Team. Students include Lori McNeil. USTA Community Service Award winner. Member of USTA Missouri Hall of Fame.
