Tyra's Bloghttp://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/BlogRSS.aspVolleyball.com BlogsengabLibrary RSS Component v1.0Sun, 11 May 2008 18:55:41 GMTGooday Mates!!!!http://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/default.aspx?mode=blog&id=65&yearnum=2008&monthnum=4dan@headquarters.com (TyraTurner)
 
 
I'm working on new Australian words since I'll be spending my preseason in Sydney, Australia.  6 weeks in the land down under.  No, you don't feel like your upside down and the toilet water doesn't go counter clockwise. 
 
This year Rachel and I have hired a new coach.  Her name is Kerri Pottharst and she's from... shocker Australia.  For those of you who know beach volleyball history this should be a familiar name.  She is a 3 time Olympian as well as a Gold and Bronze medalist. Yip, (that's Aussie for "yes") she captured a bronze in 1996 and a gold in 2000 on her home beach of Bondi. She has been a tremendous asset to our family.  She brings experience, knowledge, and most importantly heart.  Kerri also had the daunting task of qualifying for the 2004 Olympics in just 7 FIVB events.  Sound familiar??????  That's just what Rach and I are trying to do....
 
So after a 14 hour flight we arrived to a warm summer day in Sydney, Australia.  The town we suburb we lived in was called Manly.  It was situated on the water, kinda like Hermosa is to LA.  Breathtaking!!!! I'm sure my pictures won't do it justice.  The water was perfectly clear, the waves tubular, and the sand clean and soft.   We couldn't have asked for a more spectacular training area.  The food was expensive, but worth every penny.  Veggies, fruit, meat, it was all so fresh!  Rach is a spectacular cook, so I learned a lot from her.  Together we made fresh healthy meals every night.  Eggplant parmesan, pork tenderloin w/mango salsa, lemon chicken and plenty of other concoctions with really no right name.  She taught me how to make home made salad dressings that rock.  Never again will I have dressings out of a bottle.   As soon as dinner was finished we popped in a movie.  Never have I  had the time to watch so many movies!!!!  Being away from home provided a new luxury. 
 
So 6 weeks away from my husband?  Not going to happen.  Chad made his way to OZ after about 2 weeks.  He was lucky enough to stay for 16 days.  It was great to see him.  Our training schedule was 3 days on and one day off so we managed to squeak in a couple days of exploring together.  We went to a Broadway play, the botanical gardens, Tooranga Zoo, Shelly Beach, and of course down town Sydney which was just a fairy ride away.  I think Chad was content just surfing, but someone had to help me read the map right?
 
 
 
 
 
Stay tuned for results from our first 2 events.
Cheers,  (Aussie for bye!)
All Smiles
Tyra
 ]]>http://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/default.aspx?mode=blog&id=65&yearnum=2008&monthnum=4Fri, 4 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMTHot Winter Nights! http://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/default.aspx?mode=blog&id=47&yearnum=2008&monthnum=2dan@headquarters.com (TyraTurner)
 
 
HOT WINTER NIGHTS
 
 
 Guest Commentating
 
The AVP's Hot Winter Nights Tour has taken off.  I feel so fortunate to be one of the few athletes chosen to participate in these events.  I had absolutely no clue what to expect.  Would there be 5 or 5,000 people watching us strut around in our swimsuits like it's summer time? Turns out it was pretty close to 5,000.  The fans have been nothing but warm and welcoming. The energy and excitement the fans bring is invigorating and makes playing easy. 
 
It's pretty interesting seeing the winter outfits us Florida/California players come up with.  Lots of beenies, gloves, layers and winter jackets.  Did I mention I could live in my uggs.  What a great investment!! Staying warm inside was difficult at times.  The sand didn't have the sun to heat it up, so the toes were pretty numb.  Actually one night Dax Holdren thought he broke his toe, but failed to notice until it began to throb in the hot shower. 
 
Playing indoor did provide some advantages.  There was no wind changing directions, which meant no good side/ bad side.   I also didn't have to play in a visor or sunglasses which made my beach bag a little lighter.   My favorite perk of indoor beach volleyball was not having to apply and re-apply the sun block.  No stinging eyes, no clogged pores, and less pimples, hurray!
 
 
Travel Accommodations
 
Traveling to all of these venues back to back required some planes, busses, taxis and shuttles.  We flew to the first stop, and then traveled by bus in between.  I must say I truly felt like a rock star minus the drugs and alcohol.  Our tour busses were the bomb.  They were equip with anything and everything you could imagine... There was a flat screen TV in the front and rear of the bus providing 2 living rooms areas to sit and watch TV.  Oh, and not just regular TV, we had satellite TV. There was a refrigerator, bathroom, sink, and 12 beds.  Each individuals sleeping quarters were complete with dvd players, remote control, and mini flat screen.  All you had to do was pull your shade closed and you were in your own private movie theater.  Once we arrived at the hotel we had already been checked in.  All we did  was grab our key and head up to our room.  King size beds for everyone!  Privacy, no roomies and no wake up call.  Because we played at night we could sleep as late as we wanted. 
 
I was able to capture 2 victories during my stops.  The first was in good old Madison, Wisconsin.  It's pretty ironic because that's where I played my very last collegiate game.  We lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament to the University of Wisconsin.  I remember thinking "Well, Tyra that's it.  No more volleyball for you.  It's been fun while it lasted."  Now 10 years later I'm still whacking the ball around.  And believe it or not I have just hit my prime for beach.   I feel like I could play for another 10 years.  Ask me that question mid-season and you might get a different answer.
 
The indoor events bring a different energy and vibe than the beach tournaments.  Fans always have a comfy seat to sit in.  Food and drinks are readily available and  no one is overwhelmed by the sun and heat.  The opportunity to watch top athletes compete with new partners is refreshing and entertaining.  You never know what your going to get.  The bottom line is, the AVP's Hot Winter Nights Tour rocks.  I look forward to doing more events next year.  Hope you enjoy my pics.
 
                                               Signing Autograph's                                    Icing on the Bus                              Reading with Boss, Scott, & Fontana
                
 
 
]]>http://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/default.aspx?mode=blog&id=47&yearnum=2008&monthnum=2Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/default.aspx?mode=blog&id=42&yearnum=2008&monthnum=1dan@headquarters.com (TyraTurner)
Hello All,
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Where did the off-season go!!!  The husband and I are back in chilly LA trying to train each morning.  We have been spending a lot of extra time in the gym because my toes are still freezing in the sand.  I have to say, the Florida weather spoiled me.....
                                                     
Mom hiding the baby back ribs   
   Chad's Father, Phil, slicing the pork
Christmas meals seem to be anything but typical in Florida.   Chad's parents threw the Christmas Eve bash with our friends and family from the Tampa area.  It was a country theme complete with collard greens, mac & cheese, baked beans, baby back ribs, and an enormous smoked pork's butt.  I think we almost killed Chad's dad.  He was up at 6 am getting the smoker and grill ready.  Not to mention the long days ahead he spent preparing his "grillin area." The food was a huge hit.  No one missed the turkey.  The pork fell apart and melted in your mouth...
 
I'm convinced Chad and I's parents have more fun together than the average in-laws????  They're always  giddy around each-other and have more inside jokes than we can handle.  Chad and I were passed out on the couch while the 50's and over party continued on the porch.  Last time they got together I heard stories about my Dad doing shots!!!  I've never seen it, not sure that I want to, but I'm sure it was hilarious.... I guess we're just fortunate they love each other as much as they do.  Sure makes coming home a treat.
 
 "This is not  meat on the table  Chad"
 
 
 
 
 
Christmas dinner was at my house a couple hours south on Fort Myers Beach.   Usually the seafood theme is standard, but we kinda missed the turkey so decided to throw one back in.  We still represented the seafood with my Mom's fabulous lobster bisque, fish spread and of course steamers....  We ate plenty.  Did I mention the 100 pound cheese cake.  How could I forget?
Chad fished like an old salty dog every day while at my house.  He caught trout, snook and redfish.  "Meat on the table" is what we say at our house when you catch fish big enough to eat....  Chad did a great job keeping our bellies full. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 My dad, Mark                
 
 
Mom and I stuck to tradition with our day after Christmas shopping spree.  I think it gets earlier every year.  This year we were up at 5:15 and out the door before 5:45.  You can do anything with a good stiff cup of coffee. Let me tell ya, those stay at home moms can get pretty nasty at 6am in Target fighting over the good wrapping paper.  They guard their carts and everything.  I thought I may have to flex this year, but mom and I seemed to make it out scuffle free. 
 
 
 
 
So, like I said I'm back in the sand.  Gearing up for my first Winter Tour stop in Wisconsin January 17-19.  Can't wait to play some volleyball.  Chat soon!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All Smiles,
Tyra Turner
 
 
]]>http://www.volleyball.com/blogs/Tyra/default.aspx?mode=blog&id=42&yearnum=2008&monthnum=1Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT