Meet the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider – Team Haeger/Provancha

By Airwaves writer Martha Pitt

Do you know who is representing the USA in the Olympic sailing classes?  You should!  Meet the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, the 43 athletes who have dedicated much of their time, energy, money and lives to compete at the elite level and campaign to go to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

Bronze Medals at SWC Hyeres (c)US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider/Will Ricketson

Featured this month: Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha, #1 ranked US Women’s 470
Annie Haeger (East Troy, Wisco.) and Briana Provancha (San Diego, Calif.) began their 470 campaign while they were at Boston College together, and after graduating in 2012 committed to their Olympic goals full time.  Since then they have been climbing the international rankings, peaking at #1 in 2013 and currently ranked #4 in the world.  The duo have been training hard both domestically and around the world with US coaches and foreign training partners, and have been tearing it up at international competition. Their 2014 competition schedule peaks in September at the Olympic Class Combined Worlds in Santander, Spain where they hope to qualify the USA in the Women’s 470 class for the 2016 Olympics.
I was able to talk to them for a bit about their campaign, their experiences that have gotten them to this point, and what it means to them to be a part of the US Sailing Team.
Sail1Design: What made you two decide to campaign together?
Annie Haeger: Briana and I meet during a youth worlds in 2007 while both on the podium. Briana won Gold for the US in the 29er while I received the silver in the radial. I knew how driven and talented she was as a sailor and it seemed fate that we ended up at [Boston College] together! After she chased her dream of becoming an Olympian her Junior year sailing in a 470 for a couple months, I knew I wanted to follow her and do the same. I had always had laser radial dreams, but came to the realization that the 470 was a better fit. The rest is history!
Briana Provancha: We went to BC together and each had Olympic aspirations.  We were great friends in college and it seemed like an awesome fit with each of our roles in the boat.
S1D: What does it mean to you to be on the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider?
BP: I am proud to be American and to be able to represent my country all over the world doing what I love; it is such a special thing to be a part of.
AH: Having the American Flags and US Sailing Team stickers on our sails is an indescribable feeling. I am so proud to be representing our country on the international scale and to have the support system of the team itself!

S1D: What are some of your favorite things about being on the USST STS, and how has being on the team changed you as a sailor?
AH: I think the collaboration and support that the team gives you are some of my favorite things about US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.   During team camps, great minds in our sport come together in one room giving advice and sharing all of their knowledge. Open floor forums allow for information sharing and accelerated learning for all teams! I think being on the US Sailing Team has changed my perspective about not only representing Team Haeger/Provancha, but also the United States. I feel honored to be a part of something bigger than me, representing our country internationally and hopefully at the Olympic Games.
BP: As each year goes by, I learn more about myself and continue to grow as a person and I am proud of the person I am becoming while being a part of this team. Plus, I love messing with [Communications Manager] Will Ricketson!

S1D: What has been the most challenging aspect about campaigning and/or your campaign?
AH: Probably the most challenging aspect would be the amount of travel and fundraising required. During competition months during the summer, Briana and I are constantly living out of our suitcases often not settling down in one spot for more than two weeks. Though we are extremely lucky to be able to travel to many amazing spots abroad, being nomads takes a toll on relationships and energy levels!
BP: When someone asks me where “home” is, I say, “Well, I get my mail sent to San Diego, so there I guess”. Living out of a suitcase and always being on the go is definitely a lifestyle to get used to and is one of the most challenging parts for me.

S1D: Who have been the most influential people in your sailing career?
AH: My father has been by far the most influential person in my career. He not only introduced me to the sport but also has been my biggest support system throughout mine and Briana’s campaign so far. Whenever I need to bounce an idea off of someone, I know he will be all ears and steer me in the proper direction!
BP: [Boston College Sailing Coach] Greg Wilkinson and Boston College Athletics. They taught me how to be an athlete and not just a sailor.
S1D: Who are your favorite teams to sail against?
AH: The best teams to sail against are those who are competitive on the water but are still respectable and friendly off the water. Briana and I have made a good connection on and off the water with the Dutch team. It is always nice to be able to grab dinner with a team that you have just been competing at such a high level against.
BP: The 470 Women’s fleet overall is surprisingly very friendly off the water, which makes the racing more fun. On the water though, it is always a fight and I love the battle. I enjoy racing teams who are going to bring their A game.
S1D: What advice would you give other sailors who are interested in Olympic sailing?
BP: Learn to overcome the fear of being unsuccessful.
AH: Have something on the side of sailing that you enjoy! The first year of the campaign I often found myself thinking about sailing at most points during the day which lead to burn out. Having something off the water where you are able to put your energy post training or event will ensure that you are able to give it your all on the water.

S1D: So what do you like to do when you aren’t sailing the 470?
AH: I am super arts and crafty! Right now I am actually working on a scrap book from our travels.
BP: I enjoy cooking, spending time with my family and I’d be lying if I didn’t say keeping up with the Kardashians.
S1D: Do you have any rituals or superstitions relating to your sailing?
AH: The one ritual that I can think off the top of my head is our Parajos. We acquired our self-nicknamed Parajos during our first Palma last year in 2013. The morning that we arrived into the port from the ferry from Barcelona many members of the USST STS decided to stop and grab some breakfast before our housing was available. While we were sitting down in this cafe, an older gentleman (around 75) took great interest to our English and began speaking about us in Spanish to his friends. Growing up in San Diego and taking Spanish for many years, Briana was able to easily communicate with Miguel (as we later found out his name was) and I could see him falling in love.  Miguel decided to sit at our table for about an hour speaking only with Briana making fun of the rest of us around the table. While we were winding up breakfast, Miguel asked us to wait for a second as he ran out to his car. He grabbed a painting that he had made the week before depicting two birds sitting in a tree and gave it to Briana as a gift. He asked us to come back and visit him at the cafe, which we did two more times before we had to get into what we call “regatta mode”. The Parajos have now become our good luck charm traveling with us to every venue! The one time we left them inside our car before an event, our car almost got towed. From that point, our ritual was as soon as we are settled into our housing Briana picks out the Parajos perch where they stay for the entire event.

S1D: Does your boat have a name?
AH: We have two boats at the moment both having meaningful names to Briana and me. “No Gucci” lives in the US and was our first boat on the 470 circuit! The name reminds us that we need to first learn how to sail the boat before dealing with all the fine-tune details of the 470. It is easy for some sailors to get sucked into boat work and tweaking that may not be as important as going out and actually sailing! Our boat that is our competition boat in Europe is named “10%”. This name is derived from an old saying for our Boston College Sailing Team that 90% of sailing is looking good. Though the name comes from an inside joke, it also reminds us that we needed to start the technical details of the 470.
S1D: What do you guys talk about on the boat when you aren’t talking about sailing?
AH: Sometimes during postponements, we will pick animals and see which ones would win in a fight… For example, who would win in a battle? Camel or donkey? I don’t know how this speaks to our maturity level, but it keeps us entertained for HOURS.
BP: [Another battle example:] A hippo or an eagle? Sometimes when we train, we talk in accents to each other. British, Red Neck and Asian are a few of our favorites.
S1D: If you were to reincarnate as an animal in your next life, what do you think it would be and why?
AH: 100% an eagle. I may be slightly biased because of the whole Boston College thing, but they are such amazing animals! They are a symbol of the US, seem very regale and are just boss animals. Not that I have thought about this question a lot before…
BP: Definitely something in the ocean, probably a dolphin. They are smart, good communicators and spend their day jumping through waves!

S1D: If there was one thing that you would like the readers of this article to know about you (that they don’t already know), what would it be?
AH: I am dyslexic which makes on-boat communication more difficult for Briana! The poor thing cannot depict what is happening in terms of right and left since I am not able to tell the difference between the two, in high pressure situations.
BP: I was my high school class Valedictorian.
S1D: What has been your favorite place to sail in international competition?  Similarly, what has been your favorite place to travel to or visit?
AH: My favorite place to compete thus far is Lake Garda, Italy. I sailed there a couple of times way back when I was competing in my opti and would LOVE to go back and show Briana the area. The venue is a glacial lake which enables you to sail up directly to the massive cliffs! The hiking and biking around the area is spectacular which is right up my alley. Breeze works like clockwork there, coming in strong late in the afternoon. What can you ask for a better venue than great sightseeing, breeze and food??
BP: My favorite place to compete is Palma de Mallorca, Spain, minus the sand. We also got to spend a day in Rome. That was amazing!
S1D: What is your game plan for the next 2 years leading up to Rio?
AH: Our game-plan is to keep checking boxes off our list. The 470 is such a technical boat with many combinations of gear changes that seems quite daunting when starting out. Taking each day step by step and goal setting to be efficient as possible will hopefully lead us to our goal!
BP: We are working closely with Dave Ullman, our new coach and we are taking it one step at a time. Rio is still a long way away and we plan to focus on short-term goals, while still keeping the big picture in mind.
For more information on Team Haeger/Provancha, visit their webpage www.teamhp470.com
Follow the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram through the USST Social Media Hub, where you can also sign up for the team’s newsletter The Medalist http://ussailingteam.uberflip.com/h/
About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken and Team McLube. Yale Cordage is a team supplier. The US Sailing Center Miami is an Olympic training site. Oakcliff Sailing and Clearwater Community Sailing Center are US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider training centers. Chubb Personal Insurance sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes.
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics. 
Photo credits:
Hanging in the boat park (c)US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider/Will Ricketson
Sailing World Cup Hyeres, France (c)US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider/Amory Ross
Team HP at the Princess Sofia Trophy (c)US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider/Mick Anderson