CISA Clinic gets teenagers in shape for sailing

by Rich Roberts on 6 Apr 2009 The California International Sailing Association ordered up perfect conditions Sunday for the teenagers attending its 32nd annual Advanced Racing Clinic at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, so … how about starting the day with an energetic workout on the beach?

It wasn't on the schedule and had never been done in previous clinics. But director Andrew Campbell took advantage of moderate spring breeze and temperatures in the mid-70s to turn the group over to fitness instructor Harry Legum, who managed to convince most of the 113 teenagers from 12 states coast to coast and Hawaii that pushups and carrying one another piggyback in deep sand would make them better sailors.

'[Stand with] one leg up for your hip flexors,' Legum hollered. 'It's good for hiking [on a small boat].'

Katy Cenname, 17, a 29er skiff sailor from Seattle, said afterward, 'I thought I was going to be out of shape, but it was OK.'

Legum, who has a sailing fitness business in Annapolis and trained Olympic gold medalist Anna Tunnicliffe, played the bully for laughs.

When he'd ask periodically, 'Is everyone having a good time?' the response was emphatically positive. No one dared to reply in the negative. Even Campbell, a 2008 Olympic Laser sailor, and the coaches participated.

'They all had a good attitude,' Legum said. 'It's building teamwork. When you get that many kids together and the coaches are joining in, it builds great unity.'

It's not Muscle Beach at Venice yet, but it seems surprisingly popular.

Campbell said, 'We switched our fitness routine today and it was a big success. We'll definitely do it again.'

Matt Hecht, a 15-year-old from San Diego, munched on an energy bar as he prepared to launch his Laser Radial and said, 'I didn't expect [the session] to be that long. If we did that every day we'd be much better at hiking.'

About then a bullhorn blared from a coach boat on the water: 'Hurry up, guys, you're all late!'

The youngsters, about a third of them girls, spent the rest of Day 2 of the four-day grind of 12-hour days on the water, separated into classes for Lasers, Laser Radials, International 420s, Club 420s, CFJs and 29ers, performing drills for their coaches. The Radials took their lunch and were on the water for about six hours.

Overall, Campbell said, 'We're ecstatic about the way it's been going. They're seeing how the training gets done.'

Saturday emphasized boat handling, Sunday was boat speed, Monday will be tactics and Tuesday will wind up the clinic with racing.

CISA, founded in 1971, supports amateur sailors by providing travel grants for regional, national and international competition and also funds local sailing programs and racing clinics.

Unlike other nations, the U.S. has no federally supported assistance programs for its amateur sportsmen or for the development of young talent. CISA, a 501(c) 3 organization, relies on contributions of corporations and individuals to provide support of amateur sailors. Because it is non-profit and tax-exempt, all contributions are tax deductible.

The CISA Advanced Racing Clinic is sponsored by Laser Performance, North Sails, Kaenon Polarized sunglasses, Z Blok Sunblock and Point Loma Outfitting.

http://www.cisasailing.org/