Fundraising for US Laser Olympic Representative Mark Mendelblatt

Fundraising for US Laser Olympic Representative Mark Mendelblatt

I have been in contact with Tim Landt and he has sent me back the following information on how to aid US Sailing Team Member/US Laser Olympic Representative Mark Mendelblatt in his campaign leading up to the 2004 Olympic Games.

If you feel like contributing to Mark’s Campaign you can make a check out to:

SPAR(St. Petersburg Amateur Racing)

Mail to Tim Landt’s attention @ 450 4th Ave N. Tierra Verde Fl 33715

Put in comment corner: M. Mendelblatt Olympic Campaign.  Tim will then send back a donator IRS form for a tax deduction.

Thank You for supporting Mark and the Laser class!

Below is an interview with Mark from the US Sailing/Sailing Medallist:

SM: You established a lead right from the beginning of the series. Did other competitors ever single you out to try and force you to have some bad races?

MM: That didn't happen. I was half expecting it to, but since the guys who would have been coming after me already had a couple of bad races, taking me out might have cost them more than they could afford.

SM: At the 2000 trials you had a problem with consistency and finished second. Was consistency a big focus for you at this Olympic Trials?

MM:  I was actually quite consistent in 2000. My worst race was an 8th, but I had two of those and also an OCS, so I had to keep one of the eighths. Also I won seven of the races that year, so my scores weren't that bad. The reason why I didn't win was because John Myrdal was just the better guy. This time around I wanted to avoid getting a really bad race or an OCS, but you can't think of the regatta in it's entirety, you just have to take it one race at a time.

SM: The conditions at the trials were quite crazy at times. What was your most anxious moment on the water?

MM: The most anxious moment was on the second to last day in the first race. It looked like you had to go right, but the pin end of the line was about 10 degrees favored, so I decided to start there and tack right away. As it turned out, I couldn't manage to cross the boats to windward of me and ended up getting forced left early. Just as I suspected the right started coming in huge and it looked for a while like I'd be at the back of the fleet. But, the righty faded out and the breeze was actually more solid on the left, so I got lucky and was able to cross in the top of the pack.

SM: By the end of the event you had established a big lead. What was it about your sailing that allowed you to put together such a great score line?

MM: I didn't take any major risks upwind. There were plenty of times when I didn't get all of the shift or the favored side, but I was able to stay in the race. The biggest difference was on the downwinds. I spent most of the month before the regatta working with my training partner and his coach (both from Poland) on my downwind speed. I saw it as my greatest weakness, but in the end it turned into a strength.

SM: You have close to a year before the Olympics. What's the next step in your training program?

MM: Continue doing the same things I've been doing. Sailing in regattas, training with other fast guys and working out a lot.