Red Bull Foiling Generation 2015: Sweden Series for Burlin-Bengtson
All Images by Richard Ström. The Nordic girls are showing the boys how its done at every level, Danish Nacra 17 sailor Lin Ea Cenholt lead the Olympic pack at Delta Lloyd Regatta 2015,
This past August 9 Celina Burlin showed the Sweden youths how to fly the FPs. Both girls following Nr 1 Catsailor Carolijn Brouwer. Report & pictures sent by Mario Schoby.
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Foiling photo finish in Sweden
“Celina Burlin became the first woman ever to stand atop a Red Bull Foiling Generation podium on August 9, as she and her teammate Oscar Bengtson bested the best of Sweden’s young sailors in Malmö. The race marked the midpoint of the global regatta series for 2015, which will qualify seven national winners to join next season’s victors for the climax of the 2016 World Final.
MALMÖ (SWE) – After two days of calm, wind, rain and whitecaps at the Swedish stop of the Red Bull Foiling Generation for young sailors, Sunday’s conditions were perfect, with contenders flying in 10 knot winds across the Øresund that separates Malmö from Copenhagen. In a final that was as tactical as it was fast, the finish-line camera revealed that Gothenburg’s Celina Burlin and Oscar Bengtson edged their fellow competitors to win the foiling chess match and earn their spot in the 2016 World Final.
“We may have found the best mixed team in the world – definitely in Red Bull Foiling Generation so far,” said sports director Hans Peter Steinacher. “You could really see the level of talent here in Sweden as well as how much all these teams learned about foiling.”
Red Bull Foiling Generation is a global series open to sailors aged 16-20, all racing the same Flying Phantom catamaran equipped with J-foils, reaching speeds of up to 35 knots.
“It’s breathtaking – you are flying on those foils,” said Burlin. “To know that we’ll be representing Sweden at the World Finals is like a dream, unreal!”
Red Bull Foiling Generation sees the hulls lift over the water in seven countries in 2015. At each stop, the young sailors are coached by Steinacher and Roman Hagara – double Olympic champions from Austria. Considered among the best in the world, the Austrians mastermind the Red Bull Sailing Team in the Extreme Sailing Series and spearhead the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Directing Red Bull Foiling Generation is their newest effort in developing top sailing talent.
There’s still time for Danish sailors aged 16-20 to apply for the upcoming regatta in Aarhus on September 4-6, 2015.
Final results, Malmö, Sweden:
1. Celina Burlin/Oscar Bengtson,
2. Axel Rahlm/Mattis Ekvall,
3. Erik Lindén/Filip Larsson,
4. Måns Gustaffson/Robin Nilsson
