Paralympic sailors heading to Perth for development camp

Australia’s top Paralympic sailors are taking part in an Australian Sailing Team National Development Camp in Perth from May 1-9.

The invitational Development Camp aims to assess athletes in all Paralympic classes and commence the performance development program towards the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The camp will be the first time that the Paralympic sailors have come together since the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games with SKUD Silver medalists Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox and Sonar Bronze medallists Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden taking part. All four are members of the Australian Paralympic Sailing Team.

The four Olympic medallists will be joined by 11 other sailors from across Australia with nine taking part in the 2.4mR and SKUD camp and six in the Sonar camp. The camp will see the athletes involved in Strength and Conditioning sessions at the West Australian Institute of Sport gym and sailing information sessions out of the Royal Perth Yacht Club.

Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones said that Australia’s strong performance in Beijing will provide great motivation for the athletes as they begin the next Paralympic campaign.

“Our sailors had a great Beijing Paralympic Games, bringing home a Silver and Bronze medal, and now after just a handful of months it’s time to begin looking ahead to London 2012,” he said.

“This camp will bring together the best Paralympic class sailors in Australia and allow us to assess where we currently stand and begin our campaign towards Olympic glory in London,” said Mr Jones.

The squad will be under the guidance of experienced coaches Greg Omay and Adrian Finglas, both were involved in Australia’s successful Beijing Paralympic campaign.

Joining the squad in Perth will be AST National Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Andrew Verdon, AIS Senior Performance Psychologist Rosanna Stanimirovic, AST National Physiotherapy Coordinator Donna White, Physiotherapist Sue Crafer and a representative from the Australian Paralympic Committee.

Athletes taking part in the 2.4mR and SKUD camp will be in Perth from May 1-6 and Sonar sailors from May 4-9.