Coach Mike Burgener

Not too often do you get an opportunity almost 20 years later and about 7500 miles away from home to visit with and thank a coach who not only taught you but who also influenced your coaching career as well. Today I got that chance, Coach Mike Burgener is in Wellington New Zealand to teach an Olympic Weightlifting course for CrossFit International and he came out to visit Hurricanes training. I had the chance to thank him for his teaching at my USA Weightlifting Club Coach course way back in 1995 and for several of his talks at NSCA conferences. It was at the Club Coach course that he not only taught the lifts, how to coach them and how to program the training plan but also how to apply them in strength and conditioning training. I told him that I still have my notes from that course and I refer to them from time to time. We talked about training, coaching, rugby, and my coaching philosophy. He complimented me on my dedication to Physical Development Training (which is what I call my philosophy of training) both in my coaching and in my own training. Told him I had moved to powerlifting after a major shoulder injury sidelined my competitive weightlifting and he looked at me and said. "Hey you're lifting and doing what you love"!!!  He is a class act and I love to see someone so excited and passion for coaching and life!!!  

Yes sir....it was a good day today!!! Thanks for your time Coach.   

Play Hard...Train Harder...NO EXCUSES