Sept. 16, 2013
Hello Jamba Lovers!
I have been very lucky to do a variety of fun activities since we won our gold medals in London. Though it's been over a year since the Olympic Games, the fun hasn't stopped, yet...and I hope it never does! This past week, I was able to be part of an episode of Hell's Kitchen. While it won't air for a while, the filming took place in Santa Monica and it was the perfect day for water polo!
As most athletes can attest to, you put your body through so much physical exhaustion that you need to refuel and eat well. So, its safe to say the chefs at Hell's Kitchen and water polo athletes would be a great compliment to one another. Fellow USA Water Polo Olympians Shea Buckner (2012), Genai Kerr (2004) and myself were able to mingle and teach the chefs a little something about water polo.
If you are not familiar with Hell's Kitchen, it is a cooking competition in which chefs from around the country compete to win money as well as a coveted position as Executive Chef at one of Gordon Ramsey's (the fiery chef in-command) restaurants in Las Vegas. Similar to other competitions on TV, the 20 chefs are broken up into 2 teams and put through elimination challenges until the final 2 are chosen. From the final 2, there is only one Hell's Kitchen Champion.
We were able to work with the team that had won the most recent challenge. Their prize for winning was to have a relaxing afternoon while being served delicious food and learning to play water polo with us! I know they certainly enjoyed being cooked for, but I don't know how relaxing the water polo was for them. Like most people, water polo can be a foreign sport. It is a sport that requires a high level of water proficiency and a high level of conditioning...just to play the most basic parts of the game. While their enthusiasm was there, I know many of them were in awe of how hard the sport really is.
It was great fun! Shea and myself were captains and picked teams. From there we went straight into the opening sprint. There was a lot of hooping and hollering in the first few minutes of the game, but come the next few minutes, many of our chefs were hanging on the edge of the pool and wondering what they had gotten themselves into. We convened for a short water break and better explained the most tactical and efficient way to play water polo. Shea had some really cool shots on goal, while my team struggled to stop his shots. Unfortunately, my team was defeated. But never the less, our spirits were high and everyone had a smile on their face after it was all over. I know the chefs appreciated the sport a lot more after playing it, and I know we were all ready to get a good meal!
As the Hell's Kitchen contestants quickly found out, water polo is one of the toughest sports in the world. To play requires a high level of fitness and stamina. Our practice is tough and lots of calories are burned. While, we eat balanced meals and keep our diet pretty tight, everyone enjoys a little treat! Myself, being the worse culprit of treating myself to a nice dessert after a long week of practice! One of my favorite treats is an ice cream cone; it's a classic dessert and it never lets you down! One of my favorite stops is Rite Aid...so after our Hell's Kitchen shoot, I decided that was where I was going to stop and get a treat, only to find that you can buy 4 packs of Jamba Energy drinks there! As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I traveled to Arizona with some of my teammates to promote these delicious drinks and I was happy to see you can buy them at your local Rite Aid! I hope that as the summer weather is dwindling down, you get the chance to treat yourself to one of my favorite treats at your local Rite Aid... and while you're there you pick up a four pack of Jamba Energy Drinks to help you through your week of work, school or practice!
Until next time,
Tumua Anae
