“The Academy is for any Sailor in a Youth Class who has the Potential and Desire to go on & Compete at the Top of the Sport”
On the eve of the 2012 Olympic Games it’s no surprise that no less than 3 athletes are on the cusp of selection are from Wales, with several more now looking towards 2016 and beyond.
It would be remiss to sit back and expect the same system that supported this success 10 years ago to produce the same success—the playing field changes.
• GBR training has escalated
• The investment in £ in travel is far higher
• Youth Society Interdependence has changed
• Technology is in a different place
The aim of the Academy is to Develop Sailors of the appropriate age and ability to win medals for Wales and GBR at major international regattas at youth and Olympic level…
What’s Different? Iwan Basten, Wales’s Performance Manager explains “We are trying to address 3 key areas; Firstly a means at any time of year to allow a top junior sailor to make the change to youth class and obtain coaching and support. Secondly we recognise the model of mirroring the junior classes of lots of winter weekends and nothing in the summer doesn’t fit the shape of the competition seasons and creates a lot of winter travel and pressure. Thirdly, we are about interdependent athletes capable of identifying and organising their own training needs in their local area. Not just sailors who will turn up on Saturday because we tell them they need to practise tacking…”
Bespoke training will include a number of residential training weekends over the year similar to now; coach support in the sailors’ local area and will partly rely on the sailors organizing their own training and times to work with their coach; and competition support at UK & International Events.
Alongside this the Academy will provide a tiered system of direct financial & equipment support respective of where the sailor is within the UK Squad system.
It’s about a more tailored support and training network around the young athletes striving for National and International success. Anyone can apply who has a proven, or can demonstrate progress and desire at UK competition.
Further details and to apply