The Road to Gold
August 26th, 2007 by Alice
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- Training & Preparation
- The key to a successful Olympic campaign is preparation. Teams prepare for the trials by testing sails and hulls to determine the optimum configuration, fine tuning boat-handling and technique, sharpening racing skills and tactical knowledge, and constantly working on physical conditioning. To accomplish all of these goals, teams must attend training camps, arrange for training partners outside of organized camps, hire coaches with expertise in their class, and compete in regattas both nationally and internationally. Many competitors also hold full-time jobs up until a few months before the trials, which makes finding the time to do all of the necessary training and preparation even more challenging.
- International Competition
- There is no substitute for the experience gained by racing in international regattas against the best 470 sailors in the world. The 470 class in the US is small relative to other areas of the world, particularly Europe. As a result, most of the large, high-caliber events are held in Europe each year, and US teams must travel to these events to gain the racing experience necessary to succeed at the Olympic games.
- National Competition
- In addition to international competition, US teams compete in a handful of national events each year. Some of these events are designated as ranking regattas for the US Sailing Team, which consists of the top 5 teams in each class each year. Being a member of the US Sailing Team has several benefits, including coaching, logistical support, and a small amount of funding assistance.
- Fundraising
- US Olympic hopefuls rely almost entirely on private donations and corporate sponsorship to finance the training and preparation required for Olympic success. Individual supporters can be part of the quest for Olympic gold through tax-deductible campaign contributions (see our Fundraising section for more details). These funds are used for equipment, travel to training camps, boat transportation, and competition-related expenses, among other items. A more detailed breakdown of our expenses and fundraising targets can be found by clicking here. For more information on corporate sponsorship opportunities, please visit our Sponsorship section.