When University alumnus Mark LeBlanc sets sail to compete in the 2012 Paralympics, it won’t be the first time he’s seen the event’s landscape or his competition. As part of his training, LeBlanc and the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team has been competing in national and international sailing competitions against competitors who will also face his team in the 2012 Paralympics in Weymouth, a seaside town in Dorset, England. “It’s a pretty close-knit group of sailors,” LeBlanc explained. “It’s the same group travelling around together so you see the same people.” In addition to events like competitions in the ISAF Sailing World Cup, Leblanc’s training has included at least four other events in Weymouth, so he’s become familiar with the lay of the 2012 Paralympic venue as well. “The competition is going to be hopefully exactly like all of these other events,” he explained. “They’ve molded all of these other events to try to be like that, so you’re used to it – it’s replicated. I’d say I’m pretty used to Weymouth.” LeBlanc said despite hosting less competitors and higher stakes, he will try to treat this race like any other competition. While these events leading to the Paralympics are still competitive, he explained the team uses them to practice on specific areas that require focus. “You’re competing and you’re training inside the competition,” LeBlanc said. “You kind of focus on what you want to do, so it’s nice to win, but the goal is not really to win every competition.” During the first few days of a competition, participants figure out their position in the contest, he said. As the race draws to the end, sailors will figure out what they need to do to win a medal or continue training if medaling isn’t likely. LeBlanc said his training for the 2012 Paralympic qualifications as well as his current training has proved far more extensive and intense than his preparations for the 2008 Paralympic qualifications, which he fell a few feet short of making. “In 2008, I basically didn’t do any more sailing,” he said. “In 2011, I did four international events and spent approximately 10 to 12 weeks sailing.” LeBlanc approached the 2012 qualifications more methodically, he said, making additional preparations and training more. “Last time around I had been in the boat a year and a half before the trials, and I really didn’t know how to sail it very well,” he said. “I got a personal coach, more sails and equipment. I bought a new boat in spring 2011, so there’s never guessing about the equipment – that’s something you want to rule out.” Since he qualified however, LeBlanc said his training has been increasingly time-consuming, especially with all the travelling required. He was gone all of January, and anywhere from a week to three weeks every month leading up to July. “You’ve really got to treat it like a job,” he said. “It’s not like I’m over there being a tourist.” LeBlanc said his training days generally begin with a morning run, sailing about once or twice and then fixing and maintaining his boat. July presents a slower month for LeBlanc since he’ll only be gone a week. This also gives him some time for his marrige to his fiancé, which he said will take place this weekend, followed by a “non-sailing-related honeymoon.” LeBlanc said his ultimate goal for the 2012 Paralympics is to bring home a medal, which he said should be manageable. “I know I have the skillset in hand,” he said. “I just need to be relaxed and execute everything.”
 
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