Zone .v. National

We are mighty impressed that our youngest columnist has been chosen for the GBR National Squad. Connor started off in the Team15 set up and then was picked for his local Zone Squad last year. Here Connor tells us all about the differences between the two as he makes the giant leap into the national team for the Under17 7.8 Techno Class.  Action photos courtesy of Oli Woodcock.

The Set Up

The Zone Squads are fed by sailors from the Team15 clubs. The sailors are on all sail sizes from 3.5 – 7.8 meters and there are around 12 windsurfers in each squad although sometimes two regions are combined, like in the North and West Zone squad which I was in last year. There are nine squads in the country.

The GBR National squad is composed of 13 juniors under the age of 17 who either sail the 6.8m or the 7.8m Techno Class. The training camps are residential, mainly over the winter, and homework and feedback is given all the time, not just after each event like in the Zone set up. To be selected for the GBR National squad you first have to compete in three specific National UKWA events which includes the Youth and Masters Championship. You also have to go to the RYA website and make sure you fill in the squad application form which puts your name forward to be considered. If you don’t apply, you won’t be considered.

Time to Travel

You have to go all over the country to get to the training events as they are not just in your area. However, after the last two years of racing at UKWA events nationwide are family are used to that. Racing at UKWA events also meant I already knew everyone in the National squad so when I got to the first training session it didn’t take long to settle in.

No Help

In the Zone squad your parents can rig your kit for you and help you with other things like getting your lunch! In the National Squad you’re on your own; no Mum to find your easy rig you dropped or Dad to pull on that last bit of downhaul. The only time you get bossed around by your parents is the training weekend when they become a ‘house parent’ (security guard/ discipline agent) looking after us in the evenings. This is very embarrassing!

The masses line up.

"In the National Squad you’re on your own, no Mum or Dad to help you out!"

Connor charging.

Breaking free from the security agents..

"The pressure is on from the beginning which is an advantage as it does push you."

12 Hours of Pressure

The Zone squad has a range of different sailing abilities with experienced sailors who have been sailing for 2-3 years and people who have picked up the sport instantly and are maybe in their first year. In the national squad the abilities of the 13 chosen sailors are quite similar though people may be better than others in different areas. So the pressure is on from the beginning, which is an advantage as it does push you.

It is a 12 hour day at these training events and this makes all the sailors and coaches work together more as a group which helps when you go to the Europeans and the Worlds. I was worried that this might not happen as we had a really good team sprit in my Zone squad where every one helped each other but thankfully it has carried on at this level.

Fitness Fanatics

In the National Squad we have to be more thorough about keeping sailing records and fitness diaries which is a good discipline. Part of all this process is that we have got to exercise every day and much more than in the T15 and Zone squads. The regular fitness tests give us a specific program that we need to work on.

Because the windsurfing squad also shares some of the resources with the RYA dinghy national squads, we get access to Sports Psychologists and Fitness & Nutrition experts which means you can really fine tune yourself to compete well at events.

2008 Squad

The national squad is a more intense regime and it gives you the opportunity to see what may be possible for you to achieve in your windsurfing. The National Junior Squad has a great track record of success, with Sam Sills and Ali Masters both taking gold medals in the 2007 World Championships. So in 2008 the stakes are high.