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Yael Arad: “In the end, Prof. Alon Wolf: “The Israeli Center is
winning an Olympic medal different as we have an academic
means bringing in the institution fully committed to
‘X factor’ on a given day
at the moment of truth. If the research and everything
we could use technology to is done under one roof. The
augment our athletes’ incredibly hard
work—that would mean we’ve succeeded Technion’s research labs
in doing what we set out to achieve” are among the world’s best,
the drawback being that our
researchers are not exclusively
working on this, which may
actually prove to be an advantage”
Coaches, “Podium,” Epstein participated in the explains, “which is the Olympic fin, and we may
conference hosted by Prof. Wolf—and the rest is not alter it in any way. Although the purpose
history. here is to ensure all surfers are equipped with a
“Our goal,” he emphasizes, “is to change the uniform fin, we do need to invest in measurement
mindset, slightly shifting the focus from the day- and adjustment. In practice, the fin’s quality is not
to-day, 'Technion-like' activity to something that high enough, and we find ourselves investing in
is completely free of dispute. Many people love several fins of different series in order to find the
sports and want to help elite Olympic athletes optimal one for each surfer. The research enables
reach significant achievements. Who doesn’t us to accurately define the various fins and to
wish to see the Israeli flag raised and hear our match them to the individual surfer’s needs.”
national anthem played at the Olympic Games? Wolf adds, “Today, coaches have accurate data on
I think of the people from the Technion as a sort the behavior of each fin. When a fin breaks during
of Rafael (Advanced Defense Systems company) a competition, a frequent occurrence, they can
for Israeli sports—research and development of replace it with an identical part. This may seem
groundbreaking, innovative technologies for the to be a minor detail, but for Olympic coaches and
benefit of the country's top athletes.” athletes, it is very significant.”
The Center’s first project, “The Mechanical
Signature of Olympic Surfboard Fins,” was Bridging the Gap
conducted at the Faculty’s Materials Mechanics
Center, headed by Prof. Daniel Rittel and with the All the partners agree that the ultimate goal is
scientific support of Prof. Nitai Drimer and Prof. to build a bridge between science and sports.
Wolf. The successfully completed research is set “On the one end are the coaches,” Epstein says,
to advance the windsurfing category, led by coach “and on the other—the scientists, and between
Gur Steinberg. them is a gap that must be bridged through
As head coach and manager, Steinberg is credited mutual understanding. The ideal is to have the
with a host of windsurfing achievements, four scientists understand sports and for the sports
Olympic medals among them, including Gal professionals to understand science, so that we
Fridman’s gold medal in the Athens 2004 Summer can engage in free-flowing dialogue, where the
Olympics. In 2013, Steinberg left windsurfing to coaches know enough to ask practical questions,
become a senior software development engineer challenging the scientists to produce, develop,
at Intel, but was called back to assist the flagging and invent solutions to the problems discussed.”
sport 18 months ago. “We are required to buy The practical goal is much simpler: More medals.
a specific type of fin for the surfers,” Steinberg After retiring from judo, Yael Arad became a
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering | MEgazine | 23
