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Elliot Finnestrand - World Champion in sailing after motocross accident
January 24, 2025 · 18 min · 167 views
What this video covers
Elliot Finnestrand, a 19-year-old world champion in the RS Venture class, discusses his transition from motocross to competitive para-sailing following a spinal cord injury.0:09 After sustaining his injury during a motocross training accident, Finnestrand began sailing through the Norwegian Topidrettsgymnas (NTG) program.1:49 He credits his rapid success—winning a world championship within six months of his first training camp in Spain—to high-level coaching from Thomas Nilsson, Per Moberg, and Frank Kirsten.3:12
The RS Venture is a 15.5-foot two-person dinghy featuring a gennaker and mainsail, requiring one sailor to manage the helm while the other handles sail trim and the gennaker.4:24 Finnestrand emphasizes that success in the class requires mental composure, tactical knowledge, and the ability to handle heavy wind conditions, noting that his team performed well in 10 m/s winds during the world championships.13:12 He currently trains through the KNS (Kongelig Norsk Seilforening) and NTG, preparing for upcoming European championships in Norway.4:10 He advocates for the inclusion of para-sailing in the Paralympics, citing the growing international participation in the RS Venture class.6:59
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