WR101 had a chance to chat with Cameron Gardner, a lightweight professional strongman. I first encountered Cameron in the United States Olympic Bobsled in 2004 in preparation for the 2006 Turino Winter Olympics. We shared many concepts about exercise and training which led us to share different training secrets over the years. I am excited to be interviewing him today.
First, a little more information about Cameron. Cameron is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has taken the USA Weightlifting Senior Coach course. He has trained at both US Olympic training centers, in California for track and in New York for bobsledding. He was the first lightweight professional strongman in the United States via the North American Strongman, but he has since retired due to knee injuries. Cameron has also been an independant speed and strength coach for about 10 years, mostly working with college and high school athletes. Currently, he is the speed and strength coach for a local high school, in addition to being a partner in a joint venture called East Coast West Coast Strength Speed and Conditioning, having seen a need for a bi-coastal business because there are many athletes who would like to work with them. Additionally, Cameron admits that he has read just about every book there is on science and theory of strength and speed training.
And now for our interview:
WR101: What helped you to decide to pursue strength and conditioning as a career?
Cameron: As an athlete with mediocore genetics, I needed smart training and I didn't have time to waste. I searched out the most respected coaches in the field and interned and/or consulted with them, both as an athlete and a coach. Gradually, I just found that I was very passionate about it. It's the one thing I can do a lot of and not get bored or tired.
WR101: What would you say your specialties are?
Cameron: My specialties are definitely speed development and fast strength gains in collegiate football players and sprinters.
WR101: What is the best part of your job?
Cameron: The best part is watching these athletes progress, sometimes I feel as though Im progressing! Seeing them hit PR's makes me feel as if I hit it.
WR101: Describe strength and conditioning in terms of the health care continuum and your place in it.
Cameron: Strength training is a life long progress, most people do not reach the full ability untill their late 40's, as evidenced by the world's best powerlifters. As with any form of training for an athlete, injuries are part of it. Not only must an athlete learn how to get bigger, faster, and stronger, but also how to circumvent injuries, heal injuries, and train around injuries.
WR101: How would preventative rehab play a role in someone trying to achieve strength or speed/power feats?
Cameron: Every sport has an archetypal body and style. Because of this, there are sporting specific weaknesses in most athletes. Tennis players get tennis elbow, runners get runners knee, soccer players get turf toe, etc. "Pre-hab" addresses these potential weaknesses before they come to fruition.
WR101: As a health professional, what concern do you foresee about the future with athletes and clients?
Cameron: I think there is an overwhelmning press to get bigger stronger and faster than ever before so I think people are going to get hurt more frequently. When you push the body to its limits, things are going to be tested and anything that isnt up to snuff is going to give. In football, players are bigger and faster than ever and they are creating more forces on the field. This equates to more potential for injuries. Being able to creatE higher forces doesnt mean you will be able to absorb or dampen these forces without specific training. Most athletes are so focused on max lifts that they are forget the big picture. You can be the strongest or the fastest, but what good is it if you are hurt on the sideline, watching the game!
WR101: How would a foundational approach to strength and conditioning help someone who plans on running really quickly or jumping really high?
Cameron: Reaching a peak requires smart, systematic periodization. Foundation movement approaches will create the most stability to allow you to peak at the needed time without failure. Programs don't have to be linear, but it has to be as predictable as possible and that means injury-free. Everyone is trying to peak, but it's the guy who hits it at the right time who wins.
WR101: If you could pick one or two of the best or most common professional recommendations what would they be for preventing injury and or disease?
Cameron: 1) Train movements not muscles like the movements taught by Wellness Revolution 101; simple every day movements can form the foundation of bigger and stronger movements in function and lifting. 2) You are what you eat!
Thank you Cameron for sharing your knowledge with the WR101 community!
Here is Cameron's contact information:
cameron@camerongardner.com
www.camerongardner.com
www.eastweststrength.com