After many weekends of training and practice we were ready for February 19th things finally came around for and 29er Midwinters East. This event is one of the biggest in our season as it is the first qualifier that determines which teams represent the US in the 2022 Youth Worlds.
During this three day event in the ocean in Miami, Skipper Sammie Gardner and I saw conditions ranging from 0-20 kts with lots of chop to flat water. The first day lived up to our expectations: very hot, and very light. After most of the day spent in postponement, we had 2 long races.
The second day was a polar opposite. A northern storm brought 14-20 kts and big chop that we had not previously experienced in Miami. The final day we experienced 15-16 kts with huge chop leftover from the windy night. Each leg of every race was different, creating three days of tricky, interesting racing that was mostly enjoyable.
In the past we have struggled in heavy air due to our smaller size, and lack of experience in those conditions. But we have made a point to put in hours of work to improve in those areas. Our visible improvement was rewarding and encouraging. In the end we finished 4th overall, and were the 1st female team.
The second and qualifier event will take place in Long Beach, CA, on March 25-27th. Having missed qualifying for the Youth worlds by one place last year, we are excited to see where our work will take us this year. Many thanks to the comp fund and HPYS for all the support they have given us!