Windsurfers Complete Australian Youth World Team

Windsurfers Alisha KAWALLA (AUS) and James LEVY (AUS), both of New South Wales, have been selected as the final members Australian Youth World Team to compete in this year’s Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. Less than four months now remain until racing gets underway in Weymouth, Great Britain from the 12-21 July 2006.

LEVY and KAWALLA join the team of eight other youth sailors set for Great Britain.

It is the third consecutive year that Wollongong based KAWALLA has achieved selection to the National Youth Team. In 2005 she travelled with the youth team to Busan, Korea achieving a 14th in the Windsurfer girls competition in the Mistral. For LEVY of Concord in Sydney, this will be his first experience at this level of sailing competition. Both sailors will compete on the new Olympic windsurfing equipment, the RS:X, with a 8.5 m sail for the Youth Worlds.

Also joining the team in Coaching roles are previous Olympic competitors, Belinda STOWELL (AUS) and Kristen KOSMALA (AUS). STOWELL is the head coach of the Western Australian Institute of Sport sailing programme based in Perth. Two of her 420 class sailors, Belinda KERL and Chelsea HALL, have been selected to the Youth Team this year. STOWELL‘s primary role will be in supporting the Laser and Laser Radial team members, respectively Jye MURRAY and Gabrielle KING.

KOSMALA is the manager of the New South Wales Youth Programme. Six of her New South Wales youth athletes have been selected as members of this year’s National Youth Team. She will be responsible for supporting the Hobie crew Jason WATERHOUSE and Jeremy ROBERTS and windsurfers in their preparation for the Youth Worlds.

For all the latest news from the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship CLICK HERE.