Singapore Sailing targeting at least one medal from windsurfing at YOG

[Windward]

Finally 


Singapore News   
 
Singapore Sailing targeting at least one medal from windsurfing at YOG
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 February 2009 2035 hrs

 
Singapore Sailing targeting at least one medal from windsurfing at YOG
 
SINGAPORE: Windsurfing is set to get more wind in its sails from Singapore Sailing.
There will be greater support and funding as Singapore prepares a team for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
Four sailors are being groomed as part of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games squad.
They are Audrey Yong, Amanda Ng, Jeddy Tan and Derek Chan.

The 14-year-olds have only recently converted to windsurfing and it will be an uphill task to meet the August 2010 deadline for the YOG.
Audrey said: "It will be hard for all our youths, given the short time frame. (For) other countries, their sailors start from as young as eight. So it will be quite a disadvantage (for us), but I'm sure all of us will work hard for this (YOG)."

They will have to step up training, including taking part in regional and international competitions.
The new focus is a refreshing change for the sport which has always lagged behind dingy sailing in Singapore.

Mark Robinson, Singapore Sailing's Olympic programme manager, said: "The programmes that we run with the windsurfers will be not too dissimilar with what we have done with the dinghies in the past. We have been quite successful. It has been a proven model."
A one-medal target has been set for the windsurfers as Singapore gets automatic qualification for two athletes.
More could represent the country if fewer countries take up the slots.

The sailors can also rely on home ground advantage and more.
The equipment that will be used for the YOG has been improved.
Called the Techno 293, it has got a wider board and a bigger sail and it will also allow sailors to surf much faster.

Singapore sailors are using the new equipment for the upcoming Asian Youth Games and even the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games.

- CNA/ir

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/407621/1/.html

[m3l]

Frankly the medal is a dream..

The European Techno racers are very very strong.. & those kids are improving at an alarming speed too..

If our local kids can keep up with a top 10 it would be very much well done..

Anyhow its local grounds.. Hopefully we can somehow make full advantage of this..

&

Hopefully in 1 year time they are up and ready..

[Meng]

our YOG sailors have to quit school and sail 24/7 inorder for a medal chance....


not so long ago, sailing targetted a medal in Beijing 2008....

it's not hard to prove critics wrong....if those guys from the top started serious work on windsurfing ample years ago...

[m3l]

Well in Singapore going pro isnt exactly very ideal..

So its time you guys that keep popping up at PA every weekday like dont need work one share your secrets how you manage to sail and keep your jobs !

[Windward]

It's a good start nontheless 
If they can model it after the sailing programs, we might have a higher chance (of a medal) in the coming years...

On another note: with or without medals, this support might eventually spur the wider community taking interest in windsurfing.
This I believe, will be the best news for our sport 


Good winds!

[PlaneSailin]

Well in Singapore going pro isnt exactly very ideal..

So its time you guys that keep popping up at PA every weekday like dont need work one share your secrets how you manage to sail and keep your jobs !

We all work on the night shift at Seven-Eleven 


You could also apply for a position at a 24-hour McDonalds

[sarfing]

Heard that this is how Lee Lai Sun won the only Olympic gold for HK;
(Pls correct me if I'm wrong)

There was a gadget in the HK gym specially made for LLS to practise pumping in no/light wind condition (very much like our Singapore condition). On that racing day there was not much wind and she won (European surfers are strong specially for extreme wind condition). This gadget is now a display in the gym.
Looking at how our young surfers trained in Singapore mostly pathetic 0 wind condition, keep the hard work and keep pumping hard, they might make the record like LLS. Is the YOG in Sept? There is a chance 

[Meng]

Heard that this is how Lee Lai Sun won the only Olympic gold for HK;
(Pls correct me if I'm wrong)

There was a gadget in the HK gym specially made for LLS to practise pumping in no/light wind condition (very much like our Singapore condition). On that racing day there was not much wind and she won (European surfers are strong specially for extreme wind condition). This gadget is now a display in the gym.
Looking at how our young surfers trained in Singapore mostly pathetic 0 wind condition, keep the hard work and keep pumping hard, they might make the record like LLS. Is the YOG in Sept? There is a chance 

maybe u are refering to the modified light wind simulation pumping machine, the machine is modelled after the Chinese team who are famed for 'hard' training.
this machines can zapped u like 2 hard light wind races by 15mins of land workout only.

the machines reap another Gold medal in 2008 Olympics when the CHN won a Gold in RSX women class in 2-6 kts.

we need to have more local races to spur interests and entice the youngsters to stay on.

during the late 90s and early 2000s, we used to hold close to 5 races (minus S'pore open).

[Bats]

it tough convincing kids to be interested in pumping races. no speed, no adreneline, no excitement, no thrill

pure competitive spirit has to be the driving force.

not to knock IMCO, but at least formula has minimum wind speeds?

[PlaneSailin]

What's the age limit for the youth olympics?  Is it true that you're only as young as you feel?

[Huat]

still missed the year end event where we can stayed back for the countdown to the new year.

 

[m3l]

Andrew use to have that pumping machine in NSC.. HAHAHA!

[Windward]

Surf’s up 
SingaporeSailing sets Olympic target for windsurfing
 

Ian De Cotta


ian@mediacorp.com.sg

 
WITH 18 months to go to the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the race is on for our windsurfers to get up to speed.
.
But SingaporeSailing are already looking beyond the inaugural Youth Olympiad to be held here in August 2010, with plans to become a player in the sport at the 2016 or 2020 Olympic Games.
.
Speaking yesterday, the final day of the 28th Singapore Open Windsurfing Championship held at the NSRCC Sea Sports Centre, the national sports association’s head of high performance, Mark Robinson, explained: “The top windsurfing nations are Asian because the sport is perfect for Asian physiques.
.
“It is something we should be good at and we’ve made a more concerted effort to develop it in the last four years. We have rewritten our strategic plan for us to be a player in windsurfing at the 2016 or 2020 Olympics.”
.
Singaporean Kelly Chan took part in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, when windsurfing was first introduced, and was world No 1 before he died in 1998. SingaporeSailing are now busy searching for the next Kelly Chan, but Robinson knows it takes time.
.
At the Singapore Open yesterday, the Republic’s four 14-year-old representatives, who only recently took up windsurfing, were beaten by their Hong Kong and Thai counterparts. Jeddy Tan and Derek Chan finished in sixth and seventh place, respectively, in the Techno 293 event for boys while Audrey Yong (picture) was fifth and Amanda Ng eighth in the girl’s competition.
.
“They are relatively new to windsurfing and these things take time,” said Robinson. “We’ll use this June’s Asian Youth Games as benchmark for our training and we can make a reasonable impact at the YOG.”
.
As host, Singapore will receive two automatic spots.
.
Audrey, a Secondary 2 student from Mayflower Secondary School, switched from the Optimist dinghy to windsurfing seven months ago. She said: “There’s a lot for me to work on, but I’m determined to represent Singapore at the YOG.”
.
Meanwhile, the Open title in the RS:X class was won by Thai Aphichart Tibtabmark, 19. Wayan Wiranata of Indonesia took silver and Singapore’s Joshua Choo finished third. The junior events were swept by Hong Kong windsurfers Law Ching Yin (Techno 293 Girls), Tang Wing Ho (RS:X Youth), Kwok Tse Him (Techno 293 Boys).
SingaporeSailing sets Olympic target for windsurfing
 

[PlaneSailin]

Surf’s up 
SingaporeSailing sets Olympic target for windsurfing
 

...
Speaking yesterday, the final day of the 28th Singapore Open Windsurfing Championship held at the NSRCC Sea Sports Centre, the national sports association’s head of high performance, Mark Robinson, explained: “The top windsurfing nations are Asian because the sport is perfect for Asian physiques." 

...

That's an interesting comment...can somebody please explain?

 

Not that I'm complaining, if it means the govt pouring more funds into windsurfing!  What we need is a couple of million for some giant fans and a wave machine...

[weng]

Surf’s up 
SingaporeSailing sets Olympic target for windsurfing
 

...
Speaking yesterday, the final day of the 28th Singapore Open Windsurfing Championship held at the NSRCC Sea Sports Centre, the national sports association’s head of high performance, Mark Robinson, explained: “The top windsurfing nations are Asian because the sport is perfect for Asian physiques." 

...

That's an interesting comment...can somebody please explain?

 

Not that I'm complaining, if it means the govt pouring more funds into windsurfing!  What we need is a couple of million for some giant fans and a wave machine...

What he means is given the very low probability of strong winds here, a lightweight Asian windsurfer will be able to pump and win over a heavier angmoh!