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Dons Viking Voyage: Coach Haave Reflects On Scandinavia Trip
July 6, 2009
As the finale of the Dons Viking Voyage series, head coach Tanya Haave reflects on the Dons' trip to Scandinavia.
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So many thoughts and feelings run through my mind when I think back on our recent Nordic adventure that I don't really know where to begin. One thing is certain: this is a trip that I will cherish for a long, long time! On every level, the 10 days we spent in Europe was everything I had hoped it would be and more!
Visiting three of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen, provided us a glimpse into the rich, extensive and magnificent history in a part of the world not widely known to most Americans. Beginning in Stockholm, I am still awestruck to visit a boat that sat at the bottom of Stockholm's harbor for more years, 333, than the United States is old! And, to have that boat as immaculately preserved as it was is equally amazing.
In Oslo, we met up with former USF soccer player, Kevin Skabo, who brought 20 other USF alums with him to our game as they cheered us on to our first victory against Norway's top club team! The opportunity to meet and visit with Kevin was inspiring because of the amount of pride he had in USF.
Our last stop was Copenhagen, the bike capital of the world, where 36 percent of the population bike to work every day. The city is also known as the "City of Spires" because of the number of spires on churches and castles. My favorite was the dragon spire of Christian IV's former stock exchange, so named because the shape is four dragon tails twined together.
Before I forget, we did play some basketball games while we were in Scandinavia! We went from a team still suffering from jet lag and overwhelmed by an ultra physical Swedish Junior National Team to a team that adapted quickly to their environment and showed remarkable growth as a team in 10 days! After losing our first two games handily in Sweden, we stormed back to win our last three games with two of those games coming against the Danish National Team. It was so exciting to watch the progress of individual players and the group as a whole as we battled and competed as well as I have ever seen!
On a personal note it was so nice to get back to Europe to see old friends and experience European life again. Culturally, socially and athletically our players benefited tremendously from this experience and I can hardly wait to get practice started this fall!
I'd like to take this time to thank all the people who made this trip possible through their generous donations. For many of our players and staff this was their first opportunity to travel outside of the United States. THANK YOU!
GO DONS!!!
- Coach Haave
For complete coverage of the Dons' Viking Voyage, visit the Tour Central .
