From Yngling to Match-Racing: Skudina’s fast track!
Wednesday, 27 April 2011 22:00 GMT+3
In the Women Match-Racing, most of the world top teams are competing in Hyères.
After the two first day of selections, 6 teams have qualified for the Gold group. Among them is the Russian team of Ekaterina Skudina. As many other teams, Skudina is coming from the Yngling competition and has switched to the Women Match Racing after its inclusion in the 2012 Olympic programme.
Over a short period of time Skudina and her team have quickly moved up the rankings to the level of professional Match racers. “Last year we won the European’s, Kiel week and the Swedish Match Cup. We had a fast learning process. The other teams get stronger too so we need to stay focussed, keep learning and pushing all the time.”
Like some other teams, Ekaterina Skudina has added a fourth girl to the equation. Elena Oblova joined the trio last December. “She is the second middle crew. I switch them from an event to another it does keep them motivated and keen. They push each other. I did it in my last Olympic campaign in the Yngling and it proved successful.”
About the level in Hyères, Skudina is realistic, “All the teams in the Gold group and most in repechage are very good so it will not be easy.” Skudina’s team has qualified directly into the Gold group with a 6-1 score. Claire Leroy and crew have done better with a 7-0. Barkow, MacGregor, Groeneveld and Echegoyen are all going directly in the Gold fleet. They will be joined by the best two teams of the repechage.
