Olympic Qualifier
Solid Performance Backs Up Expectations
Two sailors from St. Philips, Jonathan Ladha and Daniel Inkpen, have been training hard for the last three years to achieve their Olympic dream in the London Summer Olympics next year. They started at the bottom three years ago but have reached the top in Canada and North America. In the first year, they were the first Newfoundlanders to make the Canadian National Sailing Team and in the second year, they became the Canadian Champions. A grueling training program, centered around World Cup Sailing events, has resulted in their steady and marked improvement. This year they were the top Canadians in the Hyeres, France, World Cup Event and finished a close second in both the Canadian and US National Championships.
The team spent two months late this summer in the San Francisco Bay Area (see attached picture), known for its extreme winds and large waves. They made dramatic improvement in these conditions and are now strong in the full range of sailing conditions. The next stop is the first Olympic Qualifier in Perth, Australia, in early December. The second and final Olympic Qualifier is in Croatia in May 2012. As Jonathan says, “We have gone from the unknown on the international circuit to one of, if not the favorite, to represent Canada in the Olympics in London next year.”
The sport is dominated by more seasoned veterans with many thousands more hours of competitive sailing. This makes Jonathan and Daniel’s quick, almost unheard of, rise to the top more remarkable. Success has come from hard work, dedication, and support. The local community has been supportive, in particular Newfoundland Screech Rum. This support has made the campaign a reality. More information on this Newfoundland success is available at www.nlforgold.com .
Posted on October 14th, 2011 by Jonathan and Daniel |
Share:
