מAnd the Haifa Sailing Club continues to reap achievements in the field of sailing for youth. This week the world championship in bik surfboards took place. The competition was held in Latvia, in the city of Lipaya, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Representatives from all over the world participated in the competition, when on the starting line in the boys division, in which Nir Leshad competed, there were 84 competitors up to the age of 17, and in the women's division up to the age of 19, 36 surfers, among them the Haifa surfer Naama Gazit, competed. Leshad and Gazit finished the grueling competition on the podium. Their story in detail in this article...
The story of Nir Leshad - World Youth Vice Champion
The world championship, in the boys division, in which Nir Leshad participated, began with 6 qualifying sailings, in two houses, when the sailors alternated between the houses, according to the instructions of the competition committee. During these stages, the sailors accumulated negative points, with those who came out with the fewest negative points going up to the gold house, in which 42 competitors participated, when 42 more were eliminated and went to the silver house.
The Israelis ruled the top:
All the Israelis who participated in the competition managed to qualify for the Golden House, among them Nir Leshad from Haifa, who stood out throughout the competition and competed for first place against a surfer from Herzliya named Daniel Tashsh (who won the gold).
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The competition table in the finals of the World Championship - Men's Youth
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Excited welcome in Netav
Upon landing at the airport, an excited welcome awaited the champions from Haifa, attended by representatives of the sailing union, children from Haifa sailing who came to the parade and of course the excited parents. A special honor was also given to coaches Jordan Ark and Alex Sparv (who did not take part in the delegation).
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The coach of the delegation was Mor Luzon, the coach of the sailing team in Herzliya. Luzon was dispatched to a delegation on behalf of the Sailing Association. She did an exceptional job, when at the end of the competition no less than 11 medals were awarded to the Israeli team, of which 5 were awarded to the competitors in Luzon's team. 6 more medals were accumulated for the senior team.
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Rani Leshad (Nir's father) in an exclusive interview to Lahi Fa: "Achievements are the result of talent and perseverance"
Nir Leshad Menofit is the son of the super surfer Rani Leshad, who competed in surfing in the 80s and stands out even today in surfing in storms in Bat Galim. Rani Leshad spoke with great pride about the wonderful way in which Nir demonstrated determination and perseverance during a tough training session in Haifa sailing. Nir began his journey in the uniform model for small children, where he won a series of achievements, from there he gradually progressed to the larger models and is now at the top of the world of the bik techno, which is a pre-Olympic model. Rani says that Nir attends a school in Bigor and after school he goes to the Almond Beach about 3 times on weekdays + 5 days she sat, a total of 700 days a week (professional). In addition to the determination and talent of the children, a large financial investment is required, which mostly falls on the shoulders of the parents, travel, equipment, etc. ' and it is very difficult to obtain support from external parties and sponsors. The amount of self-participation in the competition, which the parents pay, is XNUMX euros to represent the country. During the year, the parents are required to finance equipment, gym, travel and hotels.
Facing the Olympics:
Rani adds that in October of this year, Nir will go to the European Championship in Greece (Lide Athens). This will be Nir's last competition in the pre-Olympic Bik model and then he will advance to the Olympic model - RSX. We may still see him at the Olympics, Rani says.
Naama Gazit's story - third place in the World Surfing Championship, in the Bik Techno 293 Plus model - 8.5 square meters
In this model, 36 competitors, who competed in one house, jumped for 11 cruises. Naama was at the top for most of the series, when in cruise 7, 8, when the wind dropped to a speed of 6 knots, Naama deteriorated to places 12,11, 12 (cruises that were not counted in the total). On the other hand, in sailings in which the wind was moderate to strong (over 1 knots), Naama climbed to 3st-XNUMXrd places and kept a position at the top all the time.
Naama Gazit told Lahi Pa:
I feel comfortable in rough seas, when the wind rises above 18 knots. Under these conditions, I have almost no competitors in the world, with the exception of two British competitors and one Argentinian. I feel that I have an advantage as a Haifa surfer, due to the fact that in Haifa strong winds blow for most of the year and I have a good opportunity to improve my fitness in strong seas.
I started the sailing series strong (in first place), when the wind blew at a speed of 16 knots. It gave me a lot of motivation to continue at the top. This is a very long competition of 11 cruises, with a tremendous physical effort, along with which concentration and focus is required throughout all stages of the competition.
The most difficult cruise - Cruise 4
I especially remember cruise number 4 where I committed a foul against Italy's Giorgia Speziale (who won the gold). I had to do a 360-degree turn (self-punishment), so as not to be disqualified. Italy kept me in front and fought to hide my spirit. She really didn't let me move and find a clean spirit. I went down from the front to the full (back) with the Israeli Maya Chomesh and I didn't have time to make way for her. Again I committed self-punishment (twice in one cruise). Despite two penalties, I managed to finish the fourth cruise in tenth place.
To watch during the fourth cruise as recorded from the GPS devices, click here
Strong in strong winds and rough seas - cruise 9 - second place:
On the ninth cruise (in which I finished second), we sped along in a 16-knot wind. The course was square, when there is a lot of work in a crosswind, the surfers fly on the water at a tremendous speed and there is an advantage for tough surfers who are used to high speeds.
Naama set the criteria for qualifying for the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in October 2018. Israel has one ticket for men and one for women. This is a dream come true for me, says Naama, last year, at the World Championship in France, I determined, together with Bar Nabri, from Masdot Yam, a joint result, which brought the ticket to Israel. Now, in this competition, it was decided that I would represent Israel, when if there had been an Israeli sailor ahead of me, she would have gone to the Youth Olympics in my place.
When I returned to Israel, I was received in the best and most welcoming way possible. It's great fun to return to Israel with such an achievement, when everyone comes and cheers. I feel most at home on the Haifa cruise and the support here is tremendous.
In addition to competitive surfing, Naama periodically takes time off to surf "pan" on short surfboards in the stormy sea in front of the Bat Galim promenade. The experienced surfers, who are used to breaking waves at Bat Galim, are surprised to see a young girl next to them in the waves of the storm.
Tonight, Naama is already leaving for the next competition in the Olympic RSX model
Naama is going tonight to the European Youth Championship in the RSX model (the Olympic model for adults). Naama moves between the models according to the international competition in which she is supposed to participate.
Sharon Gazit, Naama's father, told Lahi Fe:
Coach Alex Sparv took a girl who is a beautiful surfer and is not afraid of strong winds and waves and turned her into a world-class surfer. He knew how to recognize her potential and translate it into achievements. He is a great coach and we owe him a lot. The work was also continued by trainer Jordan Arak, who works with Naama with dedication.
Alex Sparb told Live here
I worked for several years with Naama and Nir. I was also with them in championships abroad. I went to greet them at the airport. I was moved to tears to greet them. They work very hard for years and there are results. The families support the children with all their might. There are days when children come to 4 training sessions a day, from seven in the morning Until 9 in the evening: 4 hours at sea and another 3 fitness and strength training sessions. The children reach a level of fitness where they don't get tired and don't break down, it's really unbelievable. The children put in the effort and see how little by little they get stronger, go out to the stormy sea, go through beach waves, deal with waves and weather Hard. They set goals and stick to them.
I always emphasize the path, which is no less important than the achievement itself, Sparv concluded