Team BLUE features
Team FOR
Video by Scott Burns. Photos courtesy Team FOR.
Team FOR…aka Team Florida Oceanic Racing is led by Eric Bardes out of Clearwater, Forida. Team FOR was founded in 2002 and provides its team members with the opportunity to travel, to train with like-minded sailors, to practice at different venues for a broad-based experience in a variety of sailing conditions, and to be coached by high level coaches from the United States and around the world.
Eric Bardes is a well-known and respected youth sailing coach. He has introduced hundreds of young people to competitive sailing, many of whom have gone on to become top racing sailors. As head coach for the United States Optimist Dingy Association, Eric has worked with the best sailors from all over the world.
Team FOR recently hosted the TeamFOR Invitational Regatta in Clearwater for 53 Team Trials qualified racers. This innovative regatta was a great way to put the top Optimist sailors in the US on the racecourse together as they prepare for the 2011 Team Trials in San Francisco, CA.
Team Blue would like to shine the spotlight on Team FOR to see how this dedicated team is preparing for 2011 Optimist season, as well as to see what they are up to off the water. Check out this awesome TeamFOR video shot by Scott Burns, a dedicated TeamFOR Dad!
1.Team FOR sailors compete all over the world…What is your favorite racing venue?
“Christchurch, NZ” –Patrick Shanahan
“Cabrillo Beach in the summertime”- Nic Baird
“Anywhere!”- Nick Hernandez
“Weymouth, England”- Nicholas Shultz
“Clearwater because it is shifty and puffy which makes racing fun”- Ty Baird and Emmet Ward
“Mar del Plata and Cabrillo Beach”- Carolyn Corbet
“Southern Yacht Club”- Bailey Carter
“Tampa Bay”- Hannah Steadman
2. What are your favorite conditions for racing?
“15 – 20 knots with waves to surf!” –unanimous TeamFOR answer
3. What are your big regattas for 2011?
“Team Trials!” –another unanimous TeamFOR answer
“US Nationals”- Andy Burns, Carolyn Corbet, Emmet Ward and Ty Baird
“Lake Garda” – Nick Hernandez, Nicholas Shultz and Bailey Carter.
“Braassemermeer Holland”-Patrick Shanahan
“Hopefully the Irish Nationals”- Hanna Steadman
 4. The 2011 US Team Trials are in San Francisco. What conditions are you expecting and how are you preparing?
“ 15- 20 knots and choppy” – TeamFOR
“Don’t forget the cold water!”- Nicholas Shultz
“Lots of current too!” – Ty Baird
TeamFOR is preparing for an expected windy 2011 Team Trials with lots of time on the water combined with running, hiking bench workouts and other exercise routines to stay fit and strong. Lookout of Andy Burns…he’s been working out on his trampoline!
5. What other sports or activities do you participate in?
“Running” – Emmet Ward, Andy Burns and Nicholas Shultz
“Swim Team and Archery”- Nick Hernandez
“Cooking and Running”- Carolyn Corbet
“Soccer, wakeboarding, skimming, video games and airsofting” – Ty Baird
“Track and Cross Country”- Bailey Carter
“JV Lacrosse, Swim Team and Cross Country”- Hanna Steadman
“Ice Hockey, Track and Cross Country”- Patrick Shanahan
“Soccer, Basketball, wakeboarding and videogames” – Nic Baird
6. What is your favorite subject in school?
“Math” -Emmet Ward, Andy Burns and Nicholas Shultz
“Science and Math”- Carolyn Corbet
“Chinese”- Nick Hernandez
“Graphic Arts”- Ty Baird
“English”- Bailey Carter and Hanna Steadman
“History”- Patrick Shanahan and Nic Baird
7. If there was one person you could race with on a sailboat, who would it be?
“Trevor Moore”-Andy Burns
“Ed Baird”- Bailey Carter
“Eric Bardes” -Nick Hernandez
“Any America’s Cup winner”- Carolyn Corbet
“Romain Screve”- Nicholas Shultz
“my Dad, Ed Baird”- Ty Baird
“Anna Tunnicliffe”- Hanna Steadman
“Zach Railey”- Emmet Ward
“When I turn 14, I’ll let you know”- Nic Baird
Would you like Team Blue to feature your Optimist Team?!?
It is a great way to get more exposure, to promote an upcoming regatta you may be hosting or to display the creative side of your Optimist Team!
For information about North Optimist products, contact our Opti Experts.
|
