27-06-2008
27-06-2008
27-06-2008
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Sailing in the<br />
Argonauts’ wake<br />
With its long maritime history, Greece is an ideal<br />
place for children to learn how to ride the waves<br />
Greeks have always had a close relationship<br />
with the sea and sailing<br />
comes somewhat naturally to people<br />
in this country.<br />
Each outing, each race is a new lesson<br />
for recreational or competitive<br />
sailors. At the same time, they learn<br />
all about aerodynamics, hydrodynamics,<br />
meteorology and shipbuilding.<br />
Most children begin sailing classes<br />
in a small boat for a single occupant,<br />
usually the Optimist type. Most of the<br />
country’s champions clocked their<br />
first nautical miles in this category.<br />
Safety first<br />
‘There is no chance a child can<br />
come into in danger,’ says coach<br />
Dimitiris Zouganelis<br />
“A child can enter the Optimist<br />
class from the age of 6; many athletes<br />
have familiarized themselves with<br />
the sea in this way,” says sailing instructor<br />
Takis Strouzas.<br />
“Instruction is conducted by very experienced<br />
coaches who monitor children<br />
from boats at a close distance.<br />
They first teach them to tie knots, then<br />
how to stand up and steer such a boat,<br />
and then how to use the sails,” says<br />
Strouzas, director of training at the Hellenic<br />
Offshore Racing Club (POIATH).<br />
Children usually sail in the Optimist<br />
class up to about the age of 15 and then<br />
choose another category in which to<br />
continue. Instruction is conducted at<br />
the clubs, which also provide the<br />
boats, and lasts about three months.<br />
Fees vary from club to club, while<br />
there are very few which offer lessons<br />
to beginners for free. Usually the<br />
monthly rates start at 15 euros and can<br />
reach up to 120 euros.<br />
“Teaching is theoretical as well as<br />
practical. A course can be as long as<br />
four months. A basic prerequisite is for<br />
children to know how to swim,” says<br />
Dimitris Zouganelis, Optimist coach at<br />
the Yacht Club of Greece (YCG).<br />
“Each athlete has his own life vest<br />
while for every five children there is<br />
one teacher,” he stresses. “There is no<br />
chance a child can come into in danger.”<br />
Teachers are graduates of the<br />
University School of Physical Education<br />
with a specialization in sailing,<br />
while clubs are registered under the<br />
auspices of the Hellenic Sailing Federation<br />
(HSF). There are over 185<br />
clubs in Greece, most of which offer<br />
sailing lessons.<br />
HSF data show that more than<br />
5,000 people are involved in the sport<br />
in Greece, a figure that is rather low<br />
given the country’s association with<br />
the sea.<br />
Children wishing to learn the techniques<br />
of sailing need three courses of<br />
lessons. They can then seek a spot in<br />
their club’s pre-competitive group.<br />
When they reach the age of 15 or 16,<br />
they can choose an Olympic or non-<br />
Olympic class to continue with the<br />
sport.<br />
The Olympic classes are Finn,<br />
Yngling, Star, 470, Laser Radial, Laser<br />
Standard, Tornado, 49ers and RSX<br />
windsurf.<br />
ATHENSPLUS • FRIDAY, JUNE <strong>27</strong>, <strong>2008</strong><br />
SPORTS & LEISURE<br />
The nature-loving athlete’s choice<br />
Skai Olympus Marathon provides a challenge in a unique environment<br />
The fifth edition of the Olympus<br />
Marathon, the yearly race which takes<br />
place on Greece’s highest mountain, is<br />
set for June <strong>27</strong>, with the support of Skai<br />
Television and Radio.<br />
Some 550 athletes from 19 countries<br />
will be at Ancient Dion on Sunday<br />
morning at dawn to once again follow<br />
the sacred route of ancient times to the<br />
peak of the mountain of the gods. The<br />
meaning of the race is multiple: In addition<br />
to its historical symbolism it also<br />
rings a warning bell about the ongoing<br />
destruction of the country’s natural<br />
wealth as well as climate change<br />
on the planet.<br />
Taking part will be several champion<br />
mountain runners, including Corinne<br />
Favre (France), Jessed Hernandez<br />
(Spain), Christophe Jaquerod (Switzerland),<br />
Dawa Sherpa (Nepal), Toni Vencelj<br />
(Slovenia) as well as Greeks Alexis<br />
Gounko and Nikos Kalofyris.<br />
The race has its roots in an ancient tradition.<br />
Every summer, pilgrims to the ancient<br />
city of Dion followed a sacred route<br />
Ancient roots<br />
The race follows the sacred<br />
route once taken by pilgrims in<br />
antiquity to pay homage to<br />
Zeus, the father of the gods<br />
up to the top of the mountain in order to<br />
honor the father of the gods, Zeus. The<br />
modern route begins at Dion and winds<br />
up the picturesque paths leading to the<br />
top of Olympus at 2,800 meters, before<br />
descending to Litochoro. The thrilling but<br />
very tough course stretches for a total of<br />
HSF data show that more than 5,000 people are involved in the sport in<br />
Greece, which has a close association with the sea.<br />
44 kilometers. The Skai Olympus<br />
Marathon is one of the most demanding<br />
races of its kind internationally, as<br />
the steep slopes and rough terrain can<br />
be exhausting. Making conditions even<br />
more difficult, the highest leg of the race<br />
has athletes running against the wind<br />
in snow remaining from the winter.<br />
While walkers require about two to<br />
three days to complete the course,<br />
Kalofyris, an athlete from Metsovo, set<br />
the race record at 4 hours 56 minutes<br />
in 20<strong>06</strong>.Among the race’s fringe events<br />
this year is the first meeting of the Athletes’<br />
Initiative on the future of mountain<br />
races, aimed at protecting mountain<br />
paths as a part of the nation’s heritage<br />
and highlighting their abandonment.<br />
For more information, log on to<br />
www.olympus-marathon.com.<br />
CLUBS<br />
Where to go<br />
There are dozens of clubs with<br />
sailing classes for children around<br />
the country. Anyone interested<br />
can contact the Hellenic Sailing<br />
Federation at tel 210.940.4825 or<br />
on www.eio.gr.<br />
Here are a few clubs around<br />
Greece:<br />
• Piraeus Sailing Club,<br />
Mikrolimano, Piraeus<br />
210.417.7636<br />
• Palaio Faliron Nautical Club<br />
210.981.4835, www.nopf.gr<br />
• Kalamaki NC 210.982.9878<br />
• Tzitzifies-Kallithea NC<br />
210.413.1819, www.notk.gr<br />
• Aegina NC 22970.24488<br />
• Olympiakos SF Piraeus<br />
210.419.0902, www.osfp.gr<br />
• Varkiza-Vari Nautical Sports<br />
Club, Varkiza 210.897.4305<br />
• Athens NC, Mikrolimano, Piraeus<br />
210.412.7757<br />
• Katikon Vouliagmenis NC<br />
210.967.1142, www.nokv.gr<br />
• Alexandroupolis NC<br />
25510.28577<br />
• Katerini NC<br />
23510.61408, www.nokat.gr<br />
• Kavala NC<br />
2510.222897, nokavalas.gr<br />
• Thessaloniki NC<br />
2310.414521, www.ncth.gr<br />
• Porto Rafti SC, Avlaki<br />
22990.75547, www.iopor.gr<br />
• Mati Attikis NSC<br />
22940.34513, www.naoma.gr<br />
• Halcyon NC, Rafina<br />
22940.25535<br />
• Porto Karras NC, Halkidiki<br />
23750.71380<br />
• Moudania NC, Nea Moudania<br />
23730.23990, www.nom.gr<br />
• Kerkyra NSC, Corfu<br />
26610.30470<br />
• Laconia NC, Gytheion<br />
<strong>27</strong>330.25451,<br />
www.geocities.com/nolsail<br />
Runners competing in the Olympus Marathon often to have to deal with<br />
fog, wind and even snow, as happened in 20<strong>06</strong>.<br />
21
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