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8 GIRLS ENJOYING RACING, SUN AND BEACH IN FAR AWAY
THAILAND!
"LADIES CHALLANGE" DECEMBER 5-9TH, PATTAYA, THAILAND
>>
PICTURES
Warm sea, nice wind and hard working organizers welcomed the 8 girls from 4
nations that in the end made it to the Ladies Challenge in Pattaya, Thailand.
The Formula Experience Charter boards already waiting on the beach made
traveling a breeze.
About the event…
The competition hit of with some light conditions, but the trade wind showed
it force and hit the second day inviting the girls to some fun action on the
water. For the girls in top-3 it was a challenge and close head to head racing
to the very end. The girls knew that if they just relaxed 2 sec, did a small
mistake or hit one of the many plastic bags in the water it was win or loose.
Karen Marriot
(USA) and Lill Hollstedt
(NOR) continued their close fight from the women cup
in Canada and this time also had to do their best against the incredible local
sailor Amara Wichithong (THA). The local power proved in the end to be unbeatable. Further down
the list the battle was also hard, the young talented Sunisa, also from Thailand
progressed with every race. And traveling all the way from Holland, Marlies
Schepers really enjoyed the racing when the wind started to show force.
Ellen Faller from
the USA took the challenge and is enjoying racing more and more.
And young talented Angela Hurley and Joanne Marriot took
to the waters and pushed their limits!
After 4 days of hard work; result being bleeding hands, red faces and fun racing
on the water the girls picked up their crystal elephants and where happy with
the thought of spending the next day sunbathing on the beach and to enjoy a
local massage.
Results…
http://www.formula-experience.org/Experience/Thailand03/thlady_g_09.htm
The idea and the future…
In
summary a race like this for women is just a great initiative, fantastic
opportunity and a great experience for the girls showing up. And racing on the
same boards, and having the same fins makes the racing more fun and enjoyable
for more girls.
And personally I will say that more of the girls out there should have put more
work into taking this challenge that was offered in order to lay the future for
women racing.
The importen question that stands after the event is why the more
than 17 girls that said they would come, in the end did not show up? If girls don’t participate we can not expect people to keep
working for us. Women racing needs to be about more than high-tech equipment and
price money. We need lots of women on all levels coming to events and race,
because of racing and being together is just a lot of fun! And after using the
alu booms, ASA boards and standard fins for a race I personally will say that
this equipment is just plain fun and affordable to everyone! A great way for the
young and new
girls to start racing on and just less worries, frustration and
more fun for the rest of us! Racing for every girl of all levels and skills!
Big thanks to Tor and the rest of wonderful people
at StarBoard, local
organizers and the enthusiastic people working for the Formula Experience class for putting up a great show for the
8 that in the end took the challenge… And who knows maybe we will get invited
next year?
Lill Hollstedt, NOR-84
Marlies boyfriend Roger took lots of great photos. Check out their gallery.
http://homepage.mac.com/mschepers/PhotoAlbum21.html
Head to head racing for the girls in top-3. Local sailor Amara and
Lill fighting it out.
Photo: Roger
The lukcy winners with their trophys. Mistral Imco and Ladies challange.
Photo: Roger
Happy Norwegian girl enjoying the nice breeze with 10.5, FE
board, alloy boom and sailing in shorts!
Photo: Roger
