Junior

Day 3: NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team in Croatia, light winds mean RS:X sailors may miss day off to catch up.

With just one race possible for the windsurfers in Zadar Georgia Schofield finished seventh and retains her sixth place overall in the girl’s fleet after day three and will now front up to another day on the water with race organisers planning up to three races for both the girl’s and boy’s RS:X while everyone else has the day off. If stronger winds appear as forecast, this could really mix things up for the windsurfers who have sailed just four races to date.

Day 2: NZL Yachting Trust Youth Team consolidates in Croatia and RS:X sailors improve placings

It’s been a pumping battle for the windsurfers in the light winds at this regatta so far and Georgia Schofield has put in another solid day for New Zealand in the girl’s RS:X fleet. Two races were staged overnight in which she placed eighth and seventh putting her in sixth place overall at the end of day two. Sven Pedersen has moved up to 16 in the male RS:X fleet

Day 1 : 2011 Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships, Zadar, Croatia - light winds limit races, Schofield 5th in RS:X

Just one race was possible in the light breeze the day produced, which faded as time passed. Windsurfer, Schofield placed 5th in her race to lie 5th overall. Sven Pedersen placed 25 out of 34 in the male RS:X.

Windsurfer Sven Pedersen is part of a 12-strong national team aiming to maintain New Zealand's fine record at youth sailing world championships in Croatia

For Pedersen, selection was sweet success after just missing out in 2010, when he led on points after the nationals but was pipped at Sail Auckland.
"I was liking my chances last year but then got beaten in heavy winds. It made me absolutely determined to get there in 2011."
Sweeping every race in the youth male RS:X class at this year's two selection events was the ideal response. "It was amazing, such a good feeling to do so well in the trials," Pedersen said last week.

Laurence in Curcao - reports from the IFCA World Championships

Curacao:WindGuru+Forecast+Live Video+Time (16 hours behind NZ)

25 April 2011:On the final day the expected 20knots didn't arrive unfortunately, so there was no more racing! I ended up coming 7th which I'm rather happy with. The masters unfortunately couldn't do there final due to a lack of wind so there was six winners! Epic experience, and thankyou all so much for the support, and helping me get here! Next year in turkey I think more kiwis need to go and iv got great news for the worlds in 2 years... But you'll have to wait till I get back. Once again thankyou so much. Holla

Maiya Holton

Maiya Holton is a young girl who loves windsurfing. Her first day on a windsurfer was windless and raining, but she knew instantly this was something she wanted to do. Within three months, she had her own shortboard. A year later, she won the 13-and-under division of the Madloop Junior Freestyle Competition. In years to come, she hopes to be making her way as a professional windsurfer in all the disciplines. Maiya is eleven years old.

Madloop Junior Freestyle Competition results

The first Madloop Junior Freestyle Competition was a great success. There were lots of talented kids out on the water showing off their moves for the judges - two of New Zealand's freestyle stars, Thomas Davies and Jebbe Unthank. All the competitors, aged from 4 to 17, had a fun time and were impressive in the gusty wind.

Madloop Junior Freestyle update

Madloop Junior Freestyle Competition will be broadcast live by Radio Ponsonby on their frequency 107.7FM and worldwide on their Ustream channel. They will also be providing music for the event.
The event has also received attention in the press. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-shore-times/4574865/Jun...

Carbon Art: An interview with Alex Halank (AUS 2001)

Australia's youngest ever Windsurfing Champion, he won the 2010 Starboard Prokids IFCA Freestyle World Championship, in the under 11 division at age 8! He also won the Slalom and Flowstyle events...!

Nevin Sayre - Broadening the scope of junior programs

Before Nevin Sayre was a five-time U.S. National Windsurfing Champion, he was a four time college sailing All-American. Sayre not only understands the competitive side of sailing, he understands that competition isn’t what sailing is all about. So it is no shock to him that the sport in the U.S. is struggling to turn youth sailors into life sailors, because the focus in most junior programs is to turn youth sailors into youth racers. Here he explains: