Northstar Tennis Camp Is a Grand Slam
by Kathryn Reed
Across the pond, curtsying to the royal box at Wimbledon is still the norm, and tennis whites are mandatory. But in this country, the rebel style of Andre Agassi is getting louder. It is most pronounced amongst the pines at Northstar-at-Tahoe, where cardio tennis is incorporated into nearly every aspect of instruction during their summer camps. "It's tying tennis and fi tness together," says Zeke Straw, director of tennis for the Northstar Property Owners Association. "It mixes it up. Nobody stands around."
The hub of Tahoe tennis, Northstar is a leader in this innovative teaching method—so much so that Straw is on the lecture circuit, instructing others how to incorporate fast-paced, nontraditional drills into tennis camps and private instruction. Music is an integral part of the program. It started with the younger set, but adults are also getting into the groove. If what's coming out of the speakers isn't to your liking, iPods are encouraged.
When players aren't swinging their racket, they're cross-training using physio and medicine balls as well as stretch bands and balance boards, keeping their heart rate up. Heart-rate monitors are part of the equipment that Northstar uses to make sure camp attendees are getting the appropriate workout. "It's very interactive," Straw adds. "I think people really respond well to that."
Despite all the accoutrements, plenty of actual tennis is played. Junior and adult two- and fi ve-day camps run Memorial Day weekend through the end of August. Adult weekend camps run through mid-October with Mother Nature's cooperation. August dates often sell out.
Northstar instruction is game based. Old school was lining up the group on one side of the net and the instructor on the other, a rarity, if ever a reality, at Northstar. "It's called live ball drills. You're simulating live play," Straw says. "We've found it not only to be more fun and productive, but better for learning." "Dunk the pro" is a popular incentive when drilling with the juniors. Straw says he has ended up in the nearby swimming pool fully dressed on more than one occasion because he challenged his charges to beat him—and they did.
Ranked as one of the top 12 tennis camps by Tennis Resorts Online, Northstar's programs are geared to the 2.5 to 4.0 player. Adults and kids are separated because they learn differently, and parent and child don't always have fun on the same court in a teaching atmosphere. Most sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to noon; pros will set up matches for players, or guests can arrange their own, for the afternoon or early evening. Although the courts are not lit, it's easy to play past 8:00 p.m. in the lingering summer light.
Playing at 6,000 feet above sea level, where the ball tends to fly higher, only enhances the training, says Straw, noting the cardiovascular benefits of playing at elevation. Northstar's courts are constructed with a hybrid cushion on top of the asphalt that slows ball speed to somewhere between a traditional hard court and clay surface play.
MORE TAHOE TENNIS
West Shore's Granlibakken resort offers tennis instruction for juniors and adults. Their Nike Tennis Camp, run by coaches Tony Greco and Scott Murphy, offers six weeks of camp that add outdoor activities to the mix as well as weeklong, high school level tennis training sessions. There are also programs featuring advanced drills, workouts and match play geared to teens who are on teams, playing tournaments or just looking to improve their game.
For more information on prices and dates for Northstar tennis camps, call (530) 562-0321 or go to www.northstartennis.com.