Young windsurfers learn from the best

by Jodie Bakewell-White

New Zealand’s youth windsurfing talent had the chance to learn from the best at the Yachting New Zealand RS:X Youth and Techno training weekend held at Manly last month.

Tom Ashley, with his training partner Antonio Cozzolino, put the RS:X Youth sailors through their paces, practicing start after start, as the race is often won on the start line. One of the highlights was Tom and Antonio out racing with the fleet.

“Tom was absolutely amazing with the Youth RS:X sailors at the recent YNZ camp. He got down to their level and was out mixing it on the water with them,” says Alison Schofield, a parent of one of the participants. “Antonio helped out and was invaluable as could demo stuff for Tom so he could explain. Our board sailors in New Zealand are very fortunate that Olympic sailors are so accessible to them.”

Yachting New Zealand coach, and former Youth World Champion, Natalia Kosinka, was in charge of the up and coming Techno fleet.

“The buzz of excitement of learning new race skills as they came off the water was great to see. Natalia even makes learning the rules fun!! It was good to see the younger sailors connect with her and asking when they can train next with her as they had learned so much, says Alison Schofield.

Yachting New Zealand