By Ian Grant.
Noosaville’s super fit aquatic athlete Ryan Palk has continued to gain impressive results in the major Olympic Laser Dinghy championship regattas in Europe.
He has continued to fast track his ‘Olympic Dream’ to hold 13th place in the fleet of 118 representing 35 nations currently contesting the Kiel Week championship series in Germany this week.
This is an outstanding achievement for the Aussie rookie who his testing his technique and tactical strategy against the best sailors in the World for the first time.
His focus is to finish in the top ten in the regatta which has been marred by a mix of wind from light drifters to moderate hiking conditions which has not dampened his enthusiasm.
However Ryan Palk has shown his personal maturity to record a consistent 10-3-6-6 to remain in strong contention to contest the medal rounds along with fellow Australian and Gold Medal favourite Tom Slingsby who has brilliantly mastered the variable conditions to record an impressive 1-1-1-3.
Both Tom Slingsby and Ryan Palk have impressed Australian Laser coach Michael Blackburn.
Blackburn the 2000 Olympic Bronze medallist is naturally pleased with the regatta results achieved by Tom Slingsby and Ryan Palk.
Tom Slingsby the Beijing Olympian and winner of several World championships is the accepted favourite to again win selection for the London Games in 2012 but remains respectful of the younger Sunshine Coast sailor who continues a fast climb up the international rankings.
Naturally Ryan Palk deserves to be happy with his results when he proved his arrival on the fiercely competitive stage of World Laser class racing by winning a race in the European Championship in Estonia which allowed him to finish 13th overall in only his second International regatta.
His enthusiasm was reflected in an Email earlier this week.
“The wind has been a bit inconsistent here at Kiel however I’m on target to achieve at top ten finish”. Palk wrote.
The experience of racing in these important regattas has steeled his personal confidence as he purses the tough physical and mental challenge to one day fulfil his Olympic dream.
Meanwhile the exceptionally talented Gosford skipper Tom Slingsby presently ranked in the World’s top ten behind the English 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist Paul Goodison remains as the skipper Ryan Palk has to master.
However the gap between the two has narrowed following Ryan Palk’s impressive results in the European championship followed by another consistent score card in Germany.
The dedicated Queensland Academy of Sport sailor will continue to race under the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club burgee when he represents Australia at the World championship at Hayling Island in England from August 27th to September 5th.
He will then return as a far more experienced skipper to contest the Yachting Queensland Sail Brisbane regatta on Brisbane’s Waterloo Bay and continue with the ongoing challenge to realise his Olympic ambition.