Meet the Swiss pair looking to end their 29er era in style

The Swiss duo are preparing to move up into the 49er class but not before they round off what they describe as the ‘best year we have had’ in Vilamoura.

The pair, who both hail from Lake Thun, took bronze at the 29er European Championships and also finished third in the EuroCup overall standings.

The next step is trying to climb higher up the podium and they have been working hard on the mental side of the sport in recent months in a bid to do just that.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Vilamoura Sailing (@vilamourasailing)

“All week long at the Europeans, we were leading and then we lost it on the last day because of the nerves,” Berger said.

“We are trying to get revenge here, our last 29er regatta, but it has been a super season.”

Huber added: “We have done a lot of mental coaching, we organised a bit with some mental coaches from our national team and also privately.

“With some nice lessons from there, we trained a bit about how to control our nerves. I hope it is better now and we will see if we are in good shape this week.”

A focus on consistency has been key, with Berger admitting a previous tendency to ‘start changing things when it was getting to the last day’.

They have already noted signs of improvement and are hoping that theme continues on the Algarve.

“We were 15th at the Worlds, so we got a number to put on our sails and we were super happy about that,” Berger said.

“It didn’t go completely our way but this year has been the best year we have had. We are working hard and when we keep everything the same, it will work out.”

The pair began sailing together three-and-a-half years ago having taken contrasting routes into the sport.

Both had parental influences – Huber’s father was a 470 sailor, while Berger’s dad was a boat builder – and they took their first steps in a boat aged six and 11 respectively.

Their partnership has been a successful one so far, in part due to how their personalities complement each other, and they are now looking forward to their second crack at this event.

“I am the super messy one and Ikke is the super strict one, so it works really well as we need both on the boat,” Berger said.

“We were at the Youth Worlds last year in Italy, so that was more about getting to know how it feels, this one is more about trying to push as much as we can.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ikke/Liam (@huberberger_sailingteam)

On what they can learn from their experiences in Lake Garda last year, Huber added: “It is different because it is just one from every country, so the fleet is super small and you have to be super precise.

“You are going faster at the back than in a normal fleet, so you have to start well and continue well. If you make a mistake, it is much more costly than in a normal race. You have to push from the beginning.

“It is a bit sad that this is our last 29er regatta as we have spent the last three or four years here but 49er it’s the next step and we are really happy about it, as we are heavier so it is getting slower!

“We are really happy to end with the Youth Worlds and start a new chapter.”

Berger will start another new chapter at the end of this event as he turns 18 on December 20, the day after the action concludes.

And the teenager’s full name, Liam Noel Berger, is inspired by the date of his birthday – not, as might be suspected, because his parents are Oasis fanatics.

“Liam was always the plan to name me but they thought I was going to be a Christmas child,” he explained.

“That is why Noel is the second name – but I like Oasis, so that does work too!”