It’s now 3 weeks the Black Team is training at the Wind Academy in Tenerife. FK Training, starts and marks on the water for the slalom sailors. It has been a full time job for everyone.
The guys are testing a lot of gear between the heats, but the main focus has been in improving the skills around the course. They have the feet over the water for over 6h a day when windy, and from tomorrow they will have 3 days off to recover. Team captain got them tickets to Siam Park to relax on this Saturday with their families, girlfriends and in the case of Greta, boyfriend! Below will follow some latest comments on their training in Tenerife.
ALBERTO MENEGATTI | ITA-4
Is the training tiring more then an actual day of racing?
This way of training is getting preatty hard on us! it feels like a full day of racing non stop in fuerte, when you know is windy every day the all day, you start in the morning and you end up at 17.00 at night. cause this is what we are doing here! the easier part is that we dont need to rig evry single sail! the harder part is the fact that in a day of racing normally you end up doing 3-4 rounds top, and sometimes you get out earlier…here we keep on running non stop…it’s then harder fisically then actual racing!
Is the stress level the same?
The stress level is a bit lower then it normally is on racing, even if it is very stressfull and you need to be super concentrate at least you know that if you fuck up it’s training. at the same time everyone is pushing the line and the jibes and everyone is their minds are not ready to let go any position, till the last jibe. yesterday bye the last starts i was burned out! this is what we need to get into racing at 100%!!!
Would you be more aggressive or the same during the race?
This way of training replicate exactly the racing we have in the pwa and also thanks to the other guys i feel exactly in a pwa race. i know if i do a mistake someone will take advantage of it, and in my position if there is any chance of getting a spot i take it, no metter what. exactly how it would be in racing!
What do you think of the set up after a few weeks of training?
I was one of the last guys to arrive on the island, but i feel already i improve lots in jibes ( i knew this is where i had to work the hardest if i wanted to be in the very top spots! ) and starts. this is for me the most important thing. beside that all the guy are super cool, and it’s a like a big family. i just joined p7 this year, but i feel already at home with the other guys, pascal that was here since long is super nice and cool, macieck that is new as well as me is super motivated, and regarding greta and andrea i knew them already and everything so faar is going super smooth. the location is cool even the bar on the beach makes it nice! about the trainer there is not much to be sayed, he is simply doing the best possible job!! so faar i’m stoked to be here!
One last thing, lets all save the seals!!!
MACIEK RUTKOWSKI | POL-23
Is the training tiring more then an actual day of racing?
Yeah most deffinetely. In a racing day you get UP TO 12 heats (3 rounds of 1st rd, quater, semi, final), and we did probably over 30-35 in the last couple days in a row! If we continue like this we’ll be more than prepared!
Is the stress level the same?
I would have to say it’s close, but not really the same. I get my game face on and get into the groove, but in the back of your head you know it’s only training. Got those butterflies, but I think I will get more before the first start of the first event!
Would you be more aggressive or the same during the race?
I try to be the same, but at the same moment try to figure out how far I can push it, which resulted in a couple hard, painful crashes, but when I actually pulled it off once or twice I felt like it was worth pushing and trying.
What do you think of the set up after a few weeks of training?
It could not be any better. The system is working smooth, we’re wasting much less time than in the beginning – things are really efficient, and beacuse everything is so close and walking distance the logistics are very easy also with off water training. So I really could not imagine anything better!
GRETA BENVENUTI | ITA-38
Is the training tiring more then an actual day of racing?
Yes of course! For my point of view is really like a day of competition…I lost 1 kg last 2 days!
Is the stress level the same?
Not really the same because I’m with the guys and I know I can’t compare with them and after hours and hours training the stress is gone, but keep the concentration for a long time it takes energy.
Would you be more aggressive or the same during the race?
Yes I would be more aggressive during the race, right know a lot times I don’t go so aggressive in the jibe because I’m a bit scared to crash with the guys ( even if the most of the time I come last ) and I don’t care to brake nothing, myself for first!
What do you think of the set up after a few weeks of training?
I’m really happy about that new kind of training, I think is what is missing for becoming more successful!
JOEL GRONQVIST | FIN-2
Is the training tiring more then an actual day of racing?
Training isn´t so tiring like a day of racing. I don´t stress and don’t consume energy as on the race. I take it easier for the moment.
Would you be more aggressive or the same during the race?
Almost same aggressiveness than in racing. It´s going better as we train more.
ANDREA CUCCHI ITA-1
Is the training tiring more then an actual day of racing?
Yes it is. We do mainly at least 30 heats if not more. On a full day racing if you pass all the rounds, you do maybe 12-15. If you are last in one training heat, you are not putting the energy all the way through the course as in racing, but the time you wobble around for those 35 heats during the training, are very tiring end endless.
Is the stress level the same?
The first day it was, now it got normal. First race of the day I always felt my muscle becoming weak, too much adrenalin… panic… All this is now gone. I hope it stays like this also when we start real racing. It had always been my problem on the first starts of the events. If this stress feeling is gone…it would make start of each event more enjoyable! Sure we have less stress with gear, as we race with 1 sails, and if we are overpowered or underpowered we don’t change. Our coach is putting same stress with being punctual to the start after the breaks. I’m probably not respecting this so much, as I get stuck on e-mails for work in between. The others are though doing all to the expectations.
Would you be more aggressive or the same during the race?
I think everyone is not leaving any chances to the others. I destroyed Maciek twice the other day. Somebody else sailed over my sail and broke my mast…I don’t think you can call this taking it easy.
What do you think of the set up after a few weeks of training?
I’m actually very happy. Everything is going smooth like a clock. El Medano is sure one of the best places to do slalom. We can have big swells, and flat water on the same spot. Who comes here does not need a car. Everything is walking distance and the town offers all you need. It’s safe, practical to test and tune from the beach. No one has excuses to be late for the training as you need to walk from home. The whole team is now motivated to make things run smooth as they all have understood what working as a team means, and how much positive preparation this is bringing to everyone. The atmosphere is good between the Team. Mark Hosegood, who believed in the idea from the start, is doing a great job to keep discipline in and out of the water within the Black Team, and all other friends who have joined his Wind Academy project.
