Faster, stronger, higher With the Rio Olympic Games kicking off on 5 August, why not polish your sporting skills with the professionals? Mike Gerrard looks at five sensational sporting breaks EQUESTRIAN DRESSAGE IN SPAIN Play time Equestrians have competed in dressage at the Olympics since Stockholm in 1912. The cities of Jerez and Seville in Andalucía are at the heart of riding in Spain, and the Spaniards are as passionate about riding as they are about flamenco. A flamenco show is part of the relaxation during a dressage course at the Epona Equestrian Centre (eponaspain.com) in Seville, but the highlight is the four 45-minute private lessons with Olympian Rafael Soto. As each week-long course can take a maximum of five participants, it s vital to book well in advance. The next courses are planned for November and December, and in the spring of 2017. Star coach Born in Jerez home of sherry and horse-riding Rafael Soto competed at dressage in three Olympics, winning a team silver in Athens in 2004. He has won numerous gold, silver and bronze medals in the Spanish National Championships, and is now the dressage trainer for the Spanish national team. When your muscles need a rest Abantal (abantalrestaurante.es) is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Seville, a region noted for the high quality of its food. At Abantal, the chef s 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing is undoubtedly the best dining experience in the city, and a sample dish is the marinated Iberian pork shoulder with truffled pumpkin cream, mushroom, lime and grapefruit. Where to stay Participants stay at the historic four-star Alcázar de la Reina hotel about twenty minutes outside Seville, though if you want to extend your stay to see more of this magnificent city, the Hotel Alfonso XIII (hotel-alfonsoxiii-seville.com) is a luxurious option in the city centre. Singapore Airlines flies five times weekly to Barcelona. From there, Seville can be reached via a 90-minute flight. 46
[ ULTIMATE ] Spanish dressage rider Rafael Soto rides his horse Invasor during competition at the 2004 Olympic Games. Below left: View of Seville s old city centre and Roman Catholic cathedral 47
48 Las Vegas makes a good choice of place to hone your golf skills, as it averages 300 sunny days a year
[ ULTIMATE ] Facing page: Lining up the shot in Las Vegas, in the US state of Nevada. Below, from top: The Bellagio hotel on the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Catch the breathtaking production of O by Cirque du Soleil here; Tiger Woods (far right) takes a practice swing under the watchful eyes of (from left) his coach Butch Harmon and caddy Steve Williams GOLF IN THE US Play time In 2016, golf will become an Olympic sport for the first time since 1904, with two competitions men s and women s individual titles. A new course has been built for the occasion in the Marapendi coastal nature reserve near Rio de Janeiro. Up north, Las Vegas makes a good choice of place to hone your own skills with the man who coached Tiger Woods, as it averages 300 sunny days a year. Many of the world s professionals practice here, using the same golf courses Butch Harmon uses. Star coach Butch Harmon has been voted America s Greatest Golf Teacher 15 years in a row by Golf Digest. Harmon coached Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004 during which Woods became World Number One and he s coached many other top pros too. Here, you not only learn from Butch and his team, but you get to have lunch with Butch each day as well. This doesn t happen every week, and dates with Butch sell out quickly, so check the website and plan ahead. butchharmon.com When your muscles need a rest One of the most expensive seats in Las Vegas is for the water-themed Cirque du Soleil show O, at the Bellagio hotel (bellagio.com/en/ entertainment/o-by-cirque-du-soleil.html). A VIP package for four entitles you to a private box with the best seats in the house, champagne and canapés, and on-demand cocktail service. Where to stay The cost of attending the golf school includes accommodation at Caesars Palace, one of the most luxurious hotels along the Las Vegas Strip. There s plenty to explore from spa to shops should you choose to extend your stay. Singapore Airlines flies daily to Los Angeles, with connecting flights to Las Vegas. 49
Below: South Australia s premier cycling event, Tour Down Under, visits the wine region of Barossa Valley. Facing page, from top: The Kingsford Homestead property is surrounded by 225 acres of lush countryside; there will be time between rides for a wine tasting or two 50
[ ULTIMATE ] ROAD CYCLING IN AUSTRALIA Play time Cycling has been a part of every Summer Olympics since 1896, and during the 1912 Stockholm Games, the road race was the longest event in Olympic history, held over a distance of 320km (the winner finished in 10 hours and 42 minutes). Cycling enthusiasts can go for cycling holidays (ventouro.com/ tour-of-barossa) with former Olympian Tim Gudsell go through one of Australia s most beautiful wine regions, the Barossa Valley, where you ll cycle 50-100km per day. It s a chance to be treated like a pro: everyone s bike is cleaned every night, and made ready the next morning with your water bottles filled. There s time for wine tastings too. Star coach New Zealand pro cyclist Tim Gudsell competed at the Summer Olympics in 2004 and 2008. He also won a gold medal in the team pursuit at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in 2005, as well as a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. When your muscles need a rest After cycling through the Barossa Valley, you might want to relive the experience and take a helicopter flight over the valley, along the coast or over other stunning South Australia wine regions. South Coast Helicopters (southcoasthelicopters.com.au) offer regular tours or private charters where you can tell them what you want and they ll arrange it. Where to stay Accommodation during the tour is included, but if you want to extend your Barossa stay then opt for the 5-star Kingsford Homestead (kingsfordhomestead. com.au), voted one of Gourmet Traveller s Most Unique Places to Stay in 2015. They offer a private wine tasting and dinner in their wine cellar, and a secluded outdoor bush bath for two. Singapore Airlines flies daily to Adelaide, and airport transfers are included in the tour. The Barossa Valley is about an hour s drive northeast of Adelaide. 51
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[ ULTIMATE ] TENNIS IN SWITZERLAND Play time Tennis has been a permanent Olympic sport since 1988, although it was played at the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. Roy Emerson s Tennis Weeks (royemersontennisweeks.com) take place from June to September each year, a period of mostly blue skies and perfect moderate temperatures, though indoor courts are available in case of rain. The tennis sessions last for five hours a day with a break for lunch, and there is one tennis pro, including Roy, per 3-4 players. The focus is on improving your existing skills rather than trying to make you change your game. Star coach Australian tennis legend Roy Emerson remains one of the top names in tennis. He is the only male player to complete a Career Grand Slam in singles and doubles winning all four major Grand Slam events at both singles and doubles. He also won the Australian Open a remarkable five years in a row. Emerson s Tennis Weeks are equally lauded and have been voted Number One Tennis Camp in the World for the last nine years by Tennis Resorts Online. When your muscles need a rest The Tennis Weeks include a complimentary sports massage, but you may want to indulge in one of the country s top spas. The hotel s Palace Spa can provide a 2-hour Hammam Experience and a private 2-person spa suite. Tennis Weeks take place at Gstaad Palace, which is set on a hill surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps Facing page: The Gstaad Palace resort overlooks its namesake town and offers breathtaking views of the majestic Swiss Alps. Left, from top: The hotel s Corner Suites include separate seating and dining areas; tennis legend Roy Emerson coaching in Gstaad Where to stay Tennis Weeks take place at the 5-star Gstaad Palace resort (palace.ch), which opened in 1913 and is set on a hill surrounded by the stunning scenery of the Swiss Alps. It has only 100 guest rooms and suites, including two Tower Suites and one Penthouse Suite. Former guests have included Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Singapore Airlines flies daily to Zurich. From there, Gstaad can be reached via a 3-hour train ride or a 2.5-hour drive. 53
[ ULTIMATE ] TRIATHLON IN THAILAND Play time The first triathlon only took place in the 1920s, and it didn t become an Olympic sport till Sydney in 2000 when the requirements were laid down: swim for 1,500m, cycle for 40km and then compete in a 10km road race. It requires supreme fitness and one of the best places set up for training is the luxury Thanyapura Sports Resort (thanyapura.com) in Phuket, Thailand. The resort has some of the best sports facilities and trainers in Southeast Asia, and in addition to the physical training needed for a triathlon, the sessions at Thanyapura also focus on mental and spiritual well-being. VIP packages include personal training, chiropractic sessions and private mental-strength exercise sessions. Star coach The triathlon training at Thanyapura was devised by Australian triathlete Chris McCormack, though the option to be personally trained by him is only available by special request. McCormack has won several world championships including the 1997 Triathlon World Championships, and he is also a two-time winner of the Ironman World Championship, one of the ultimate triathlon challenges. At Thanyapura, he works with a team of coaches dedicated to the triathlon. When your muscles need a rest One of Thailand s highlights is its food. When in Phuket, a visit to the Blue Elephant Restaurant and Cooking School (blueelephant. com) is a must for excellent Thai cuisine, set in a beautiful former governor s mansion. Where to stay The best accommodation at Thanyapura is one of the Suite Pool Wings, which have separate living rooms and balconies. The award-winning DiVine Restaurant serves organic gourmet cuisine using fresh produce from the only certified organic farm in southern Thailand. SilkAir flies daily to Phuket. Above: Chris McCormack completes the Aviva Ironman 2009 in Singapore, finishing in second place. Below: Phuket offers ideal triathlon training conditions including great weather and scenic training routes year-round PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES 54
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