As the press service of the WFTU, from October 26 to November 4, Bermuda will host the annual conference of World Sailing, which among many issues will be resolved is in what class sailing boards will be played for Olympic Games medals in 2024.
Recall that the international sailing Federation (Sailing World) in July this year announced the competitive selection of sailing boards for competitions in Windsurfing at the Olympic games in 2024. Twenty-professional-athletes – 10 men and 10 women from different countries have tested five classes of boards (two traditional, without wings, Glide and the current Olympic class RS:X, and three classes of boards on the wing – Starboard iFoil, Wind Foil 1 and Foil limited Formula) and expressed the Commission’s view WS. For windsurfers the test were Russian Maxim Oberemko.
The news that the Board of the International Federation expressed a preference for the Starboard Board iFoil, came during the Russian championship in the class RS:X. the Main coach of Russian national team Natalia Ivanova, on this occasion, declared by the General meeting of athletes and coaches to understand how to relate to masters Windsurfing to a proposed change of the Olympic class.
Present at the meeting Maxim Oberemko coach sailing school “Krestovsky island” – shared his impressions of going to Foyle and explained what the advantage of a class offered by the Commission, as the Olympic.
“Even if just viewed from the side, the Foyle prettier, more attractive, faster and newer than the RS:X, – said Maxim Oberemko. – RS:X was recognized as an Olympic class in 2005. Half of the children who are chasing him now, not even born! Personally I have lost interest in Windsurfing, the desire to go out every day on the water – not as a job, and to run – ten years ago. And five years ago, I realized that this Olympic class has become obsolete. And actually, if not for Foyle, I would have never returned.
Racing Falah is more to sailing than RS:X in pure form. When walking in Foyle less cyclic physical load, which interferes with work. It is now in the Olympic class RS:X lost component of sailing we worked like horses. How much you “took” – it’s all yours. This is some kind of rowing it turns out! This is especially significant in areas where there is little wind, as in Sochi, for example.
It is clear that athletes who move from RS:X IFoil, will have to think more, continues Maxim Oberemko. – Foyle full laviruya and chasing at seven knots. Yes, if the wind is very weak, to hold the race would be impossible. But this happens not so often. Besides competitions Falah provide another format – in a light wind less than seven sites to hold a slalom race. And for extreme conditions, e.g., strong surf or waves – this Board provides a fin. But I’m sure in a year or two no, this fin will not be used. After all, it all depends on skill”.
One of the main arguments for the use of foil coach believes the interest of young athletes to modern boards and high velocities: “I Think for a year or two we will have about as many young athletes as there is now. At the moment the youth has no interest in the Olympic class, because it is obsolete. RS:X not like parents – therefore, they do not bring their children. After all, you want your child engaged in interesting sport. And racing Falah – very exciting. For example, I for 40 years. In 2017 I bought Foyle. And in March, barely waiting for dawn to go for a ride. At that early I’m at Yalta never went in the water this time of year. And then just waited for the dawn. This was not something that ten, even 30 years ago!”
Thus the main problem of class RS:X is not even his moral obsolescence, and the inability of the manufacturer NeilPryde is to provide athletes with new boards and accessories. According to the senior coach of the national team of Russia on Windsurfing Michael Dubina in 2018 NeilPryde has reduced its production capacity to a minimum. And sometimes athletes have to wait six months to buy a new mast or sail. The quality of the products from NeilPryde, to put it mildly, leaves much to be desired. Not happy about athletes and set price RS:X – about 7 thousand euros.
Board Starboard iFoil will cost a little less. Stated that men’s set will cost 6829 Euro, female – 6729 Euro Junior – 4259 euros. That’s just they will have to buy a lot. And if the athletes of the national team boards will provide, others will have to seek funds for a new expensive.
“I like the idea of chase Falah – said four-time champion of Russia on Windsurfing, bronze winner of Olympic games-2016 Stefania Elfwina. But can it happen that next year the championship will be five people? It is unlikely that the regions will be able to soon purchase the necessary number of new boards. Then what about the development of Windsurfing are you talking about?”
“All the same, the materiel should be constantly upgraded, says Maxim Oberemko. – Good sails should be changed every six months, and the Board once a year. It is clear that not all can afford it, someone a few years chasing the old sail, but gradually such a change will still happen.”
Supported the idea of transition to the new Board and the champion of Russia-2019 Alexander Askerov. According to one of the leaders of the national team, progress is not in place in all the world for a long time after Falah. And if we don’t move on to poly, can greatly to keep up with the athletes of other countries.
In General, the transition to a new class of sailing Board was supported by the majority present. Although the questions were many. How safe are exercises on follah? What class of boards will be lead to the Starboard iFoil? As the competitions will be held in light wind conditions?
The head coaches of the main and youth teams of the country Natalia Ivanova and Anastasia Chernoff have listened carefully to the athletes and coaches. And promised that the experts will be taken into account when forming positions of our country regarding the change of the Olympic class of Windsurfing.
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