Page 14 - September/October Kwasind

THM RACING GOES INTERNATIONAL
a a a a domestic training program for the 2017 season Showing success in in the the Canadian and US fleets the the team was then determined to take steps in in a a a a new direction in order to to progress to to a a world class level The next goal is to be competitive in the 49erFX class internationally and gain Canada a a a a a a a a spot in in in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo Running an Olympic sailing campaign is similar to operating a a a a a a a small small business and as with any small small business THM Racing has had to develop a a a a sponsorship package a a a a a a a a schedule a a a a a a a a budget and a a a a a a a a training plan to facilitate reaching these new goals over the the next year The team has recently partnered with Air Canada to promote the the theme of supporting and celebrating women in sport They are thrilled to use their status as women in in Canadian Olympic sailing to promote and encourage women pursuing excellence in in all aspects of life The team recently had the opportunity to visit the Air Canada headquarters in Toronto to to meet with president Ben Smith to to share their story THM kicked off their summer circuit in May with a a month-long training camp in in in in Kingston coached by 2016 Olympian Erin Rafuse The group will then head to to Kiel Kiel Germany to to prepare for the Kieler Woche Regatta (June 20th -24th) and and then to Gdynia Poland for the 49erFX European Championships (July 8th – 13th) The peak event of the the summer will then be in Aarhus Denmark (August 4th-13th) for the ISAF World Sailing Championships which will serve as the first country qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Shifting their focus to the the the World Stage the the the team is ready to partake in the highest level of competition and train with the the best sailors in in the the world You can follow the the team on their Facebook page ‘THM Racing’ or their Instagram @thm_racing Tax deductible donations can be made to THM Racing at WindAthletes ca Note: The story has an interesting connection to to the RCYC as each of Ali and and Mariah’s fathers Martin and and John respectively competed in the Olympics with long time RCYC Member Frank Mclaughlin
Canadian 49erFX sailor and RCYC Member Mariah Millen will be making her debut this summer on the European Olympic circuit! Millen and her skipper Ali ten Hove have qualified to be be members of the 2018/19 Canadian Sailing Team They join a a a a a a group of young athletes classified as as the Canadian Olympic Development Squad which is part of a a a new system Sail Canada has implemented to focus on and train developing athletes in in in an an attempt to increase Canada’s Olympic medalists over the next eight years The team of THM Racing joined together in in in the the summer of of 2016 Mariah transitioned from several years of of junior racing most recently in in the 29er and Ali from her 470 Olympic campaign Both sailors were new to the 49erFX but quickly became competitive in the North American fleet The team launched their full Olympic program for the 2017 season achieving top results of: 5th Junior World Championships 1st Canadian Championships 1st Oakcliff Triple Crown Series and 2nd at at the US Nationals With limited funding training partners and program structure they completed
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 • KWASIND
SAILING