SA Laser Nationals
Interview with Sam Lombaard
Back to defend his title, young Sam Lombaard has been putting
in the hours out on the water with the intention of taking top honours again at
the SA Laser Nationals taking place
offshore of Durban starting on 30 April.
Having won the Laser Radial 4.7 division last year, Lombaard
has been escaping at every opportunity from boarding school at Michaelhouse to
get in training ahead of the prestigious event. “I recently competed in Japan,
finishing 21st in the silver fleet, not as well as I had wanted but
it was an experience that I hope to build on. I competed in the KZN
Inter-Schools last weekend at Richard’s Bay, I won overall and Michaelhouse won
in the senior school level.”
At fourteen years old, the fledgling sailor has notched
up an impressive CV in his sailing career, “In 2013 I travelled to England to
compete in the RS Tera Pro World Champs where I finished second. In the same
year I competed in the Topper Worlds in France where I came 24th in
the gold fleet. I have also had the
opportunity to compete in regattas in Belgium two years ago, in Italy in 2012
and Denmark in 2011. The experience taught me so much!”
Hundreds
of talented sailors from many countries travel to participate in these major
regattas, his coming second in the world in the UK is an awesome achievement.
“I am extremely lucky to have also travelled extensively
to events around South Africa and done extremely well. Last year I won the
Laser 4.7 National Champs down in False Bay. In the Dabchick class I came sixth
at the 2013 Nationals, but I recently sold my dabbie.”
At the start of his career, “I would say that coming
second at the RS Tera Worlds and winning last year at the Laser Nationals would
be my highlights. I consider myself really lucky to have been introduced to
sailing at a young age with a whole world of opportunities awaiting me.”
“My Dad’s uncle is a former Rear-Commodore of the Point
Yacht Club; he taught my Dad how to sail. I only started sailing after I was
diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta which
means I have a brittle bones disorder. Dad was researching a sport that I would
be able to participate in and came across a Sail Africa sailing programme and
thought it would be perfect for me. I advanced through the courses and loved
it. The result was a RS Tera as a Christmas present in 2009. You could say from
there I was hooked.”
The worldly-wise teenager explains, “To
me, Lasers are one of the most physical boats you can sail. And are one of the
most tactical boats to sail, there are so many different ways to get speed out
of the boat, and they demand ultimate concentration to keep it upright in big
breeze.”
Not escaping too far away from the water, Lombaard
informs us what his hobbies are, “I really enjoy canoeing, it is different and I like that. I also
like to fish. My intentions are to do Dusi next year and the Fish River
Canoe Marathon at the end of this year. I do really well in waterpolo and made
the KZN team in 2013.”
The focused sailor has a five year plan, “I would really
like to return to Tokyo to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics. But ideally I
would love to follow in Australia’s Tom Slingsby’s steps and compete and do
well in the Laser class internationally.”
The Olympic hopeful isn’t afraid to jump on big boats as
well, “I was extremely fortunate to represent PYC at the biggest keelboat event
in our country, the Lipton Challenge in 2012 in Cape Town. I learnt so much
from this event.”
Sitting on terrafirma chatting to Lombaard, I enquire if
he has any land-based heroes; he proudly says that his folks are his role
models in life.
Concluding, he shares, “I really enjoy cooking since my
Dad is a chef.”
Let’s hope over the May Day weekend, this bright sailing
prospect will be cooking on the water.
No comments:
Post a Comment