I was a rugby league player before I was a recovery provider. I know what a couple of back-to-back days of hard sport feel like, and how badly you want an ice bath afterwards. That's why I built the Recovery Zone.
This October (23–25) we ran it for the second year at the Masters League Games, a functional fitness competition for masters athletes, at Distillery Road Market in Eagleby. Over 500 competitors took part.
Athletes from all around Australia, and beyond
I met athletes from all around Australia, and some who had travelled from New Zealand, a group from Vanuatu, and some from Singapore. I also ran into an old friend from my small home town of Biloela, Trent, competing in the 35–39 category, arguably the toughest age group. He took 3rd, and after a massive day 2 he jumped in the ice bath.
Age is just a number
We were set up in the athlete warm-up area, so I got a front-row view. The more advanced the group, the more impressive the physiques. There were men and women in their 50s and 60s, chiselled, doing exercises that would put most of us to shame.
The numbers
60 recovery passes sold
71 massages delivered (16 pre-booked online, 55 walk-ups)
Pre-order passes
Athletes could pre-order a Recovery Zone 3-day pass for $49. It gave them unlimited use of the compression garments, ice bath, cold compression garments, PEMF mat and a range of other recovery gadgets across all three days. On the morning the event started, the offer reverted to $20 day passes.
Saturday, 10:30 to 3
This was the peak. Cryo and shockwave started around 10:30 on Saturday, because I was at another event on Friday. By then every therapist had someone on their table, and every spare chair held an athlete in compression boots or cold compression garments.
At the height of it, more than a dozen people were using the gear at once. All three tables were full. I was running cryo and shockwave, and I laid the PEMF mat on the floor out of the way so people could lie on it too. Athletes kicked back in the chairs and let the compression do its thing.
The ice bath was busy too. After their events on day 2, roughly 20 athletes jumped in.
Then people started waiting for a chair. I found one more set of boots, and the only free seat was the one our checkout person was using. So an athlete got that chair and the rest of us ended up standing. Everyone waited their turn fairly, and it was a good problem to have.
What went down best
The high-waisted compression boots were the clear favourite, with a queue for them every time. I'll be buying more before next year.
On Sunday, athletes came back to say the massage they'd had the day before was good and they felt an improvement. Darcy and Sam both got shout-outs.
A well-run event
Masters League is run really well. For anyone over 35, it's in a league of its own.
Why I do this
If athletes can recover between sessions, I believe spectators get to see them closer to their best, rather than sore. To me, that makes a better event and better value for money. That's what I've seen and what I believe, and I'm not promising results.
Running an event in 2027?
Call or message me on 0421 977 807, or visit mobilecryotherapy.com.au.
