In the past week, the Sherrin footballs have taken a back seat to snow, ice, mountains, and more snow.

Each player was given a football to take with them overseas, but North Melbourne's training schedule in Utah has denied them a chance to use them for more than five minutes at a time.

Recently, they were finally given the chance to have a kick to the amusement of some Park City locals.

"It was good to get the footies out and have a bit of a kick. We've only had short kicking sessions each morning, and other than that we haven't really got to touch the balls at all," Gavin Urquhart told kangaroos.com.au.

The USSA training facility hosted the Kangaroos' first skills session of the trip and while it was a light-hearted run, the mood was upbeat.

"After hiking through knee deep snow for the first couple of days and all the other work we've been doing it's great that it's finally come around.

"I was a bit shaky getting the first kick away but it definitely got better towards the end."

One of the most skilful players in the North Melbourne team, Urquhart played just eight games in 2010 and admits there is one deficiency in his game that he is trying to address on the camp.

"The biggest challenge for me has been the longer running. It's not my biggest strength but I'm getting better and the altitude training is a big plus."

While some of his team-mates have struggled to adjust to the conditions at altitude due to the fact there is less oxygen in the air, Urquhart has thrived.


That may have something to do with the fact that Urquhart is more of an anaerobic-type athlete, meaning he doesn't rely on oxygen as much as aerobic-type athletes to perform. Anaerobic activity requires short explosions of energy and doesn't require as much oxygen.

"I've probably done my best times since I've been at the club. This is my fifth year now and this is the best I've been running."

Such has been his improvement in Utah, the 22 year-old surprised even himself during a daunting series of 1.3 kilometre time trials following Sunday's skills session.

"I thought I'd go a bit slower than I actually did but I was blowing pretty hard and it wasn't too fun up all the hills."

But despite his early pre-season efforts, Urquhart realises he still faces an uphill battle to become a permanent fixture again.

"I couldn't maintain a spot in the side in 2010, so I've been working really hard on my fitness and it's slowly coming together. I really want to cement my spot next year."