Meet Denmark’s Youth America’s Cup Team
The Youth Vikings Denmark team was initially formed for the first Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in 2013, but while the team showed great potential, they weren’t among the final teams that made the regatta lineup.
Today, with new management, the team is looking even more fierce, collectively representing multiple Olympic campaigns and World Championships. Following the legacy of the late Danish sailing legend Paul Elvstrøm, a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist, the team is ready to fight for their country.
Daniel Bjørnholt [skipper] The Project Manager, Administrative for Youth Vikings Denmark, Daniel Bjørnholt, 22, is one of the most successful youth sailors in Denmark’s history. [His twin brother Nicolaj is another.] Daniel has won Gold and two Silvers at the Youth World Championships, plus two Golds and one Silver at Youth Europeans. As a senior sailor he earned two additional Silvers at the European Championships, and most recently he was crowned Hobie 16 World Champion for 2016. The Svendborg resident skippered the last Danish Red Bull Youth America’s Cup team in the 2013 selection series. The fact that they weren’t chosen strengthens his determination to see Youth Vikings Denmark succeed in Bermuda this year. Daniel also coaches and trains other youth teams.
Mads Emil Stephensen Lübeck brings the benefit of high-level experience as a professional sailor to his role as Project Manager, Sportive for Youth Vikings Denmark. Already one of the most experienced dinghy sailors of his age group, Mads began an Olympic 49er campaign with his brother Christian that delivered results including a Silver medal at the Youth 49er World Championship. Then Mads started crewing for the SAP Extreme Sailing Team, and for more than two seasons he has competed with SAP in the Extreme Sailing Series, sharing in SAP’s first-ever overall podium position as runner-up in 2015.
Nicolaj Bjørnholt Like his twin brother Daniel, 22-year-old rigger Nicolaj Bjørnholt is one of the most successful youth sailors in Denmark’s history. Nicolaj twice won Silver at the ISAF Youth World Championships, and he set a new record in Hobie 16 Youth European titles with three consecutive triumphs. As a senior sailor, Nicolaj has multiple top-10 finishes at Europeans, and a victory in the Hobie 16 European Spi Cup. In 2013 he finished second at the Hobie Wildcat World Championship. Nicolaj is another veteran of the Youth Vikings Denmark team from 2013.
Christopher Falholt Professional sailor Christopher Falholt Elvebakken has extensive experience in a variety of youth classes. His career highlights include winning the Nordic Zoom 8 Championship and earning fourth place at the EUROSAF Youth Europeans in the 29er. When faced with a choice between an Olympic career and furthering his education, Christopher took a break from high-level competition to focus on his schooling. During this period, however, he occasionally sailed the Melges 24. Christopher has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Copenhagen, and is currently studying chemical engineering at the Technical University of Denmark.
Anders Kronborg Kjær After being introduced to Match Racing in 2009, in 2011 Anders Kronborg Kjær joined one of Denmark’s best amateur sailing teams, Oxygen Sailing Team, with which he won the X-35 World Championship, the European Championship, and Silver at Worlds. Anders’ latest win was at the famous Cowes Week 2016, sailing with the Lady Mariposa Sailing Team, a victory that was particularly impressive because the team had sailed together for only half a year. Since 2012 Anders has sailed a variety of high-performance keel boats, learning from some of the best professional sailors in Europe. His main experience is in physically challenging jobs from the bow. The 24-year-old is completing marketing management studies in Aarhus and looks forward to beginning new studies in sports and health.
Mathias Bruun Borreskov Twenty-year-old Mathias Bruun Borreskov of Skanderborg has strong experience in the A-Class, M32 and Swan 60, and he has earned the Danish National Championship in the F18. Mathias started out on the Optimist at age 6, but quickly grew bored with the lack of speed and moved on to catamarans. When he’s not sailing, he’s studying at the Marselisborg gymnasium, and his dream is to become a professional sailor.
Stig Steinfurth Twenty-four-year-old Stig Steinfurth has claimed medals in several youth championships in the Olympic Laser and Finn classes, including the Silver medal at the Laser Under-21 World Championship. He also works as a sailing coach.
