Hockey pro vs. Patrick 5:0
18.9.2018
Translation: machine translated
Video: Manuel Wenk
What does a winter sportsman actually do in summer? Quite simply, they sweat in the gym. And not too little. I'm in Davos with the HCD and doing sport with Andres Ambühl.
The wait is over. The new hockey season is starting. At last, one is inclined to say. After the World Cup in Russia and all the fuss about hairstyles, swallows and eagles, I've had enough of football for the time being. Time for real blokes and real sport. Time for the essentials. Time for hockey.
Cult figure at the cult club
When I was a little boy, my father used to take me to the Spengler Cup every now and then. I remember games against US college teams from Minnesota and North Dakota or against Dukla Jihlava from the former Czechoslovakia. If we had watched ice hockey in Bern, I would probably be an SCB fan today. So now I just happen to support HC Davos . And then this: Patrick does sport with Andres Ambühl. The Davos number 10 is now 35 years old and enjoys cult status in the Landwasser Valley. And with me. Between 2004 and 2017, Ambühl played for the national team at the A World Championships 14 times without interruption. He also played in three Olympic tournaments during this time.
"Couldn't watch"
However, Andres Ambühl will have to miss this year's World Championship. Torn tendon in his foot. His colleagues win the silver medal in Denmark. "Did you watch the games on TV?" I ask him. Andres grimaces and just says: "I couldn't watch, I was too nervous." Next year, he wants to play World Cup matches with Switzerland again.
First, however, he needs to perform well at the club. The new championship starts for Andres Ambühl and the HCD on 21 September with an away game in Lugano. And what's the saying? Champions are made in the summer. Winter athletes sweat it out in the gym.
When the circulation says goodbye
This morning, it's off to a leisurely start. Warming up on the exercise bike. Then we do various exercises for the core. And finally we train the upper body. When I compare the size of Andres' thighs with my "matchsticks", I'm glad my legs aren't on the training plan today. Although: at the end of the workout session after around 1.5 hours, there's an exercise for the abductors. Almost a workout for the legs. We stand at a machine and push a weight up to the side. We need the abductors to spread our legs away from the body, for example. The most important abductor is the middle gluteal muscle. That's why it's not really a workout for the legs, but literally "for the arse". And it hurts too:
4 repetitions -> 5 sec. rest -> 5 repetitions -> 5 sec. rest -> 6 repetitions -> 5 sec. rest7 repetitions -> 5 sec. pause -> 8 repetitions -> 10 sec. pause -> 7 repetitions -> 10 sec. pause6 repetitions -> 5 sec. pause -> 5 repetitions -> 5 sec. pause -> 4 repetitions -> endWeight: 100 kgFirst with the left leg, then with the right legNow my ambition gets the better of me and, like Andres, I go for it. With the result that I almost make the summit. My circulation drops for a moment. Okay, I'm NOT a professional hockey player and I do NOT have abductor muscles of Ambühl's size. I get it. Right, that's it for me now. Andres will continue with ice training later. It's like this day in, day out, week after week, month after month. But that's just it: Champions are made in the summer.
Before the right winger laces up his skates, Andres Ambühl stops by for a quick interview. Among other things, we talk about the fascination of hockey and what will be remembered at the end of his career.
My equipment
And the next time on "Patrick does sport with ..."
British track and field athlete Julia Bleasdale finished eighth in both the 5000 and 10,000 metres at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and won two Olympic medals. Today she lives and runs in the Engadin. We go on a trail run together. I'm moving on to Pontresina. Come along and follow me on my author's trail.
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Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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