Andrea Demurtas and Jesper Karlsen will represent Italy at the Opti Worlds 2025
Riva del Garda – Fraglia Vela Riva celebrates yet another great competitive result: two of its athletes from the Optimist class, the most competitive among youth dinghies, have qualified and will represent Italy at the Optimist World Championship, scheduled in Portorose, Slovenia, between June 26 and July 7.
At the end of the two National Selections, held in Marina di Ravenna and Agropoli with the participation of the one hundred and forty best specialists in the class, the pass was obtained by Andrea Demurtas and Jesper Karlsen, who have long been at the top of international competitions and recently won the Rothoblaas Sprint Race and the Blue Garden Country Cup for the former and the 43rd Garda Optimist Meeting for the latter.
It should be noted that Fraglia Vela Riva, whose competitive team relies on the ability and advice of Technical Director Mauro Berteotti, is the only club that can boast two athletes among the twelve selected by AICO in view of the aforementioned World Championship and the European Championship in Cesme, Turkey, where the race will take place between May 28 and June 4.
“These were rather demanding selections and I must say that, compared to Marina di Ravenna, it was harder in Agropoli. I always remained focused, aware of the fact that qualification was within my reach, but mistakes are always lurking and each race is a thing in itself. In the end it went well and now I am ready for my third World Championship after those in Costa Brava in Spain and Mar del Plata in Argentina: the goal is to do better than in the past. I thank Marco Giangrande, whose observations helped me improve my technique and approach” explained Andrea Demurtas.
“It was tough in Agropoli: after the first few days I was out of the top five and I found myself playing it all on the last day, when the Race Committee had four races run. I managed to do well, achieving the best results of the series, and I will be able to experience the honor of representing Italy at the World Championship, where I will try to make the most of the experience gained by participating in last year’s European Championships. I would like to thank my coach Marco Giangrande who is always present with his very useful advice” commented a very happy Jesper Karlsen.
“Passion, determination, natural talent, a healthy and proactive environment, combined with the Fraglia Vela Riva method that continues to demonstrate its effectiveness: these are the ingredients behind this extraordinary result achieved by our very young athletes, of which we are deeply proud and satisfied. A heartfelt thanks goes to coach Marco Giangrande, for the commitment and dedication with which he accompanies the growth of our boys. Our greatest good luck goes to Andrea and Jesper for an experience that will undoubtedly be formative and that they will carry with them for their entire lives” commented Andrea Camin, president of Fraglia Vela Riva.
