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At 40 years old, Kiwi boardsailing legend Barbara Kendall is considered one of the veterans of the sport. But to Canada's CarolAnn Alie-Rosenberg, Kendall is just a spring chicken.
More than seven years after competing in her last international regatta, 47-year-old Alie-Rosenberg is making her comeback at the RS:X World Champs in Auckland.
The three-time world champion's return to boardsailing has seen her career come somewhat full circle. In 1983 she attended her first world champs in Auckland. Now, 25 years on, she is back in Takapuna looking to qualify for what will be her fourth Olympic Games.
"I gotta tell you, five months ago I wasn't even thinking about being here," she said. "I just thought it'd be fun and the worst that can happen is we'll have a two-week family vacation in Auckland."
Alie-Rosenberg said she has fond memories of her first visit to New Zealand. "I finished 10th and it was my first international event and my first time overseas ever and I thought it was fabulous."
With Canada having already qualified the class for the Games, Alie-Rosenberg is battling it out with two other compatriots for the berth.
"I think all three of us have an equal chance - they're sailing very well as well and I think it's going to be a real battle."
Though she is a former world champion, Alie-Rosenberg said her sole objective is to be the top Canadian and whatever comes after that is a bonus.
It seems odd that, having been a world beater before, Alie-Rosenberg is no longer driven to achieve such heights. But she said she now has a much stronger driving force.
"It's an opportunity I thought was never going to be given to me again and the biggest opportunity of all was getting to show my 9-year-old son what Mummy has done for all these years and he got to see my world."
