ULTIMATE FANTASY CAMP 2005

3 LEGENDARY DAYS... MEMORIES OF LIFETIME | HELD NOV. 17-20, 2005 - ORLANDO, FL
INSTRUCTION, COMPETITION AND INSIGHT WITH SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE HISTORY OF TENNIS



When six of the world’s biggest tennis stars bring a group of motivated individuals from around the globe under their tutelage for a once in a lifetime tennis immersion experience, the result can only be described as a tennis fan’s fantasy come true.  Campers from California to New York to Argentina joined former world #1s Jim Courier and Mats Wilander, as well as Todd Martin, Aaron Krickstein, Jimmy Arias, and Mikael Pernfors for three days of intense on-court instruction and competition with the pros, and three nights off the court and inside the highest levels of the game at the exclusive Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort in beautiful Orlando, FL.

The camp kicked off with a surreal cocktail party overlooking Lake Windsong, where overwhelmed campers met and mingled with each pro face to face.  This fortunate few  had but one night to assess their opponents before the competition began in earnest the next day.  After a breakfast with the pros, the campers were brought to the beach for a brisk warm up session with the InsideOut resident fitness guru which included stretches and shadow strokes.  Friday and Saturday’s tennis began bright and early with two hours of drilling with the pros as their on-court instructors.  All the  campers rotated through spending time with each of the pros, focusing on improving a different aspect of their game at each rotation.

After the morning session, the entire group gathered for a lakeside lunch to recharge on the patio where they were further regaled by stories and instruction from the pros. The environment preceding match-play in the afternoon was replete with competitiveness, and fostered healthy rivalry and lots of good dinner conversation! The pros stepped in for the last hour, playing both doubles and singles with the campers before gearing up for their own pro-doubles exhibition. Courier’s fierce serve, Arias’ crushing forehands, Wilander’s speed, Krickstein’s relentless strokes, Pernfors’ feel, and Martin’s perfect form stunned the participants during the exhibitions, as they watched eagerly from the stadium’s sidelines.

After battling it out on the court, campers and players alike would gather for the highly anticipated nightly cocktail party where they not only wined and dined in style, but enjoyed a nightly Q&A session with the legendary pros. The pros gathered in a semi-circle fielding all sorts of questions from the campers, providing insight into their games, into particular matches and rivalries, and sharing anecdotes about their tour experiences. On more than one occasion, the room erupted into laughter, or sat awe-struck at some of the challenging situations players had to endure while on the tour. The pros and campers got along fabulously, and post-cocktail party, many headed off for some late night cocktails.

On Sunday, upon completion of the match-play, campers ruefully returned to the ballroom for a final luncheon banquet where they each received personal awards and framed photographs with all of the players. After the camp’s conclusion, some new friends golfed together on one of the Grand Cypress’ four exclusive courses, while others joined their families who had enjoyed Disney World for the weekend. All in all, no camper left without a glimmer in their eye, a new insight into pro-tennis, and a vow to return for the 2006 InsideOut Ultimate Fantasy Camp.

Click here to read what campers had to say about the 2005 Fantasy Camp.