Food features for rowers on holiday

In the Southern Hemisphere temperatures are rising and the sun is shining. Eric Murray and Hamish Bond of the World Champion men's pair and Kim Crow, World Champion in the women's single sculls all use the holiday season as an opportunity to relax, be outside and spend time with family.

“I don't really have any holiday traditions. I think just the same as a lot of people… eat slightly too much food with friends and family and try and get a few swims in at the beach” – Hamish Bond (NZL)

“Favourite holiday foods would have to go down like a good Xmas ham, plenty of chocolate and lollies and fresh seasonal fruit like strawberries. I'm not impartial to a few beers over the break either ;)” – Eric Murray (NZL)

“Each Christmas I ride my bike from Melbourne to Rye (about 90km) where we have our Christmas lunch. I ride back on Boxing Day morning in time to watch the Boxing Day cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. You always make some great friends out riding around Christmas time- everyone is so happy!” – Kim Crow (AUS)

In the Northern Hemisphere the cold weather has started to set in, pushing athletes off the water and inside for warm meals and hot drinks. Nils Jakob Hoff of the World Champion men's double sculls and Jeremie Azou, world silver medallist in the lightweight men's single sculls, shared their traditions.

“In my family we have lots of Christmas traditions. On the 1st of December my family´s house is decorated for "Advent" and on the 23rd it is redecorated for Christmas. We have big family dinners and eat more than what is healthy. Luckily my only duty is to get the Christmas tree.” – Nils Jakob Hoff (NOR)
“Without hesitation (my favourite holiday food) is raspberry tiramisu, homemade for our family Christmas dinner. I don’t have any traditions in particular, but I take advantage of the holidays to spend time with my friends and family.” – Jeremie Azou (FRA)

This holiday season, if you have summer fruit to spare, try Kim Crow’s favourite recipe:
Stew up any old fruit, mix together some muesli, a bit of flour, golden syrup and butter and put it on top of the fruit, pop it in the oven…summer crumble!

Or, if snow is falling attempt this hearty Norweigian dish – pinnekjott – from Nils Jakob Hoff::
http://mylittlenorway.com/2009/12/pinnekjott/