Salzburg’s Keanu Prettner and Jakob Flachberger are aiming for a place at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with preparations already well underway. The duo, who compete in the 49er class, began their competitive season late last week in Spain, seeking to implement training gains made during a winter program based in Portugal, Lanzarote, and Palma de Mallorca.
“We have been able to operate a lot on speed and also on racing and small tactical decisions,” said Jakob Flachberger, according to reports from ORF Salzburg. Keanu Prettner added that minor adjustments were still needed before the Trofeo Princesa Sofia regatta, but expressed confidence in their current standing. “Basically, we are in a highly good position and know what we demand to work on,” he said.
The pair have been focusing on optimizing their equipment, a crucial element in the high-performance 49er class. “We are still trying things out with the set-up and don’t quite know where the journey will take us. We are currently still experimenting to perhaps gain a little more speed somewhere,” Prettner explained.
Prettner and Flachberger recently participated in a test regatta in Palma de Mallorca, providing a benchmark against international competitors ahead of the Trofeo Sofia. Their season will continue with the World Championships in France in May and the European Championships off the German Baltic coast in July, according to reports.
The Austrian Sailing Federation (OeSV) is supporting the team’s efforts, with technical director Roman Hagara providing on-site support. A training camp in Los Angeles last July, alongside other Austrian sailing teams including the Nacra-17 crews of Farese/Zöchling and Haberl/Stamminger, allowed the athletes to familiarize themselves with the Olympic sailing venues. The board events will be held at Belmont Shore in Long Beach, while the boat regattas, including the 49er, will take place off the Port of Los Angeles.
The Land Salzburg has also identified Prettner and Flachberger as part of its Olympic cadre, providing a dedicated funding program for athletes targeting the 2028 Games. The team aims to establish Los Angeles as a “home venue” through extensive training in the Olympic waters, according to OeSV Sport Director Matthias Schmid. “We want to understand the Olympic venue better than any other nation,” Schmid stated. “We want to establish a lead on all levels – meteorology, technology, etc. – and we can’t start too early.”
Further training slots in Los Angeles are already planned for the coming year, as Prettner and Flachberger continue their pursuit of Olympic qualification.
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