Congratulations to Jody Starck, Ian Jones and Skip Dieball - outright Champions!
The US Pan Am Trials for the Lightning were held this weekend September 7-9 at the Buffalo Canoe Club in Ridgeway, ONT Canada home of Lightning Fleet 12.
Buffalo locals Jody Starck and Ian Jones teamed up with Skip Dieball from Grosse Isle, MI and dominated the regatta by winning 6 of the 8 races. Allan Terhune teamed up with Jody Lutz and Jo Ann Fisher. This team held a 1 point lead first day and was the only other team to win a race aside from the Champs, they finished 2nd. Justin Coplan and Danielle Prior, Silver Medalists from the 2015 Pan Am Games teamed up with Ian Sanderson and finished 3rd.
The field was a good mix of experienced teams with World and North American Championships and some of the younger teams that have had great results at the recent major regattas. The conditions were perfect to choose who would represent the US in Peru next summer; winds ranged from 12-22 from the North/North East all three days.
The 2019 Games are going to be held in Paracas, Peru and it is supposed to be breezy. USA is happy to be sending a great representative team in Jody, Ian, Skip.