Episode 1 – Load Awareness: The First Step in Raising a Prepared Athlete

In our first episode of the Athlete Family Podcast, hosts Sylvie Vilaca and Isabelle Dimambro introduce the foundation of their Preparation Hierarchy: Load Awareness. Drawing from their experience inside the GRP high-performance environment — and from real life as parents navigating busy schedules — they break down why so many young athletes feel underprepared heading into practices, tournaments, and heavy competition weekends. This episode covers: • What "load awareness" actually means • How to map out a realistic weekly schedule • The difference between practice days, game days, and rest days • Why carbohydrate timing matters on competition days • Why fiber timing can hurt performance if done wrong • How families can label Red, Orange, and Green days • Practical meal prep strategies for busy households More than nutrition advice, this episode is about family leadership — aligning the home environment with the demands of sport so athletes feel confident, fueled, and ready. Because performance doesn't start at the rink. It starts with awareness at home. The Hosts Sylvie Vilaca - Performance Nutritionist & High-Performance Coach at GRP Sylvie works directly with youth, junior, and professional athletes inside the GRP high-performance environment. She specializes in fueling development, performance longevity, and building sustainable habits that extend beyond the gym. Isabelle "Izzy" Dimambro - Nutritionist & Athlete Development Associate at GRP Isabelle combines her athletic background with her academic training in nutrition to apply evidence-based strategies that help individuals fuel properly, recover effectively, and build sustainable habits that optimize performance. Gary Roberts Performance hosts this podcast. If you're looking to take your game to the next level, GRP offers comprehensive training programs for elite hockey players. 👉 Click the link below to Book a Call with a GR Coach. IG: @garyrobertshpt #TheHockeyLabPodcast #HockeyNutrition #PlayerDevelopment #HockeyTraining #AthleteFuel