By Sarah Tone, Communications Coordinator
Sailing at the 2022 Canada Games has been a unique experience in many ways for our Team Toba athletes. The Niagara region is an exciting place for the sport, and the local club hosting the event is the historic Niagara-On-The-Lake Sailing Club. Located right on the Niagara River and so close to the US border meant the sailors had to carefully navigate the current before hitting the water of Lake Ontario.
The other major challenge this week has been a lack of wind. All of the teams were faced with long delays on shore which meant getting creative to remain entertained – yet focused on the competition. There were yoga and mobility sessions, many pin and clothing trades, card games, music, and even opportunities to swim.
During the last morning of the competition, head coach Hunter Kristjansson explained the sport is about more than just going fast. He says sailing requires attention to many details and variables such as wind, waves, and temperature. You then have to learn how to use those factors to your advantage. It is truly a technical and challenging sport.
Kristjansson notes the team displayed perseverance this week as it has been a hot week with slow races and these conditions made it difficult to maintain focus. Through all of that though, our athletes were able to pay attention and keep their heads in the event.
Kristjansson has enjoyed getting to know the team which consists of 6 athletes, 3 female sailors and 3 males. The athletes have all been sailing for years and as their coach, Kristjansson feels he has a lot to offer them on and off the water. Ultimately his goal is to see one of the Manitoba members earn a spot on Team Canada.
He encourages kids back home to try the sport at their own pace, and notes it is a late development sport. At the last Olympic Games, a 57-year-old from Argentina won a medal so it’s never too late to start sailing.
17-year-old Benjamin Cox, from Pine Falls, has been sailing for 10 years. He is partners with Jonah Friesen from Elgin in the double-handed 29er division. He says even though it’s not an exciting spectator sport, it can be very thrilling on the water. Cox describes the boat they sail as a two-sail boat that has a 3rd sail called a spinnaker which can be used on down winds. The boat, known as a skiff, is very tippy as it’s quite flat but is also fast. According to Cox, they have been able to sail at a top speed of 18 knots or 34 km/h.
As a first-time Canada Games participant, Ben has enjoyed life on campus at Brock University and being around all of the other competitors. For those heading out to the next Games in PEI, he advises everyone to get out early and start trading pins – and to do it before they discover the value of certain pins – and you’ll have a great time meeting people.
Team Manitoba was able to get all races for each category in despite the light wind conditions and wrapped up the event Sunday afternoon.
*photo credits: Phil Cheevers / 2022 Canada Games
