Steve Erickson (sailor)

This article is about the American sailor. For the Canadian fantasy author of the Malazan Book of the Fallen, see Steven Erikson.

Steve Erickson
Personal information
Full nameSteven Richard Erickson
BornAugust 14, 1961 (1961-08-14) (age 63)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Sailing career
ClassStar
Medal record
Men's sailing
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1984 Los Angeles Star
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1985 Nassau Star class
Gold medal – first place 1988 Buenos Aires Star class
Gold medal – first place 1988 San Francisco Maxi class
Gold medal – first place 1995 Klintholm ILC 40
Gold medal – first place 1996 Athens ILC 40
Bronze medal – third place 1982 Medemblik Star class
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Chicago Star class
Bronze medal – third place 1992 San Francisco Star class
North American Championship
Gold medal – first place 2009 Westport Star class

Steven Richard Erickson (born August 14, 1961) is an American sailor and Olympic champion in the Star class. He competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and won a gold medal in the Star together with William Earl Buchan.[1]

Career

Olympic sailing in the Star class

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and just finished with studies at University of Washington, Erickson won the gold medal in the Star event at the 1984 Summer Olympics.[2]

Steve Erickson continued in the Star class and won the Star World Championship two times: in 1985 with William Earl Buchan; and, in 1988 with Paul Cayard.

America's Cup and Whitbread Round the World Race

Erickson's first America's Cup was with Tom Blackaller, on the 12 Metre US 61 USA R-1 from San Francisco. He served as the mainsail trimmer during the 1987 America's Cup in Perth, Western Australia.

At the 1992 America's Cup, Erickson was one of the coaches for the Il Moro Challenge.[3]

At the 1995 America's Cup, Erickson was a trimmer on board Dennis Conner Stars & Stripes.[4]

Erickson won the 1997–98 Whitbread Round the World Race as part of the EF Language crew, before joining Luna Rossa as their coach for the 2000 Louis Vuitton Cup, which they won. He was a member of the boat's afterguard during the 2003 Louis Vuitton Cup, before working as their operations manager at the 2007 and 2013 Louis Vuitton Cups.[5] Erickson also spent time with the 2007 Ben Ainslie Team Origin.

Star class again

Erickson, together Mark Reynolds, tried to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics.[6]

In 2009, Erickson won the Star North American Championship in Westport crewing for Andy Horton.[7]

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Steven Erickson". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  2. ^ "Olympedia – Steve Erickson".
  3. ^ Trouble, Bruno, The Louis Vuitton Cup, p. 171
  4. ^ Roberts, Rich (May 4, 1995). "America's Cup '95 : A Kiwi Cruise?" – via LA Times.
  5. ^ "Cautious Debut For Luna Rossa In Naples". sailblast.blogspot.co.nz. April 12, 2012.
  6. ^ "Steve Erickson Stars in Supporting Roles". March 2004.
  7. ^ "Star Class | Event Details".


Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2

This article about a yacht racing Olympic medalist of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.