With the Olympic opréning ceremony taking place in Italy last night, hosting our own Olympic Day was a great idea. The classroom was decorated with Olympic memorabilia. Olympian Nikki Barnes and her crew, Ryan, and coach Pat Downey were in attendance. giving motivational speeches to all of us.
Another cold front was supposed to descend on us today. It would bring rain, thunderstoms and windy conditions. It was suggested that we may need to cancel the day before. Looking at the weather radar this morning, it didn’t look good. The SYSTEM sailors stayed inside the classroom doing lab work, while our Next Level sailors did chalk talks and some land drills.
Today was a very good day, perhaps the best day we ever had in our youth sailing program. I know, it's a big statement. We have had many good days before, and I can't remember ever having a really bad day. What made today so extra special was, in no particular order: watching kids who had never skippered a boat before now wanting to sail singlehanded or with any number of crew; and the camaraderie between the kids and the coaches: By now, the coaches are basically our best friends. Susan, our Executive Director, called for a debrief at the end of the day. We all need to stay on top of our certifications, such as Red Cross, SafeSport, and US Sailing; Team Paradise is the only Accredited Community Sailing Program on Biscayne Bay. We are honored to be in the position we are in, and we care about protecting….
Despite the lack of wind and cooler temperatures both in the air and water, Team Paradise delivered on a safe and fun-filled day, both on land and on the water. While waiting for the wind to pick up, Coach Ella and Coach Justine had the Next Level sailors teach the SYSTEM kids about the Thin Ice Challenge while the volunteers prepared and launched the sailboats. Eventually, we towed out behind our Boston Whaler and our propeller-less safety boat….
Team Paradise picked up where we left off at the King Mango Strut. Today, we cleaned Paradise Island 305 to prove a point. We are the Defenders of Biscayne Bay!
Before we began the cleanup, we lined up for a photo. It’s a valuable sailing skill that will eventually lead to a sailboat race. It’s all about awareness of time and distance, forward progress, and how your boat moves compared to other boats. Are you on a parallel course, merging, or diverging? Adjust your sails accordingly. Trim the jib to perfection….
Magnus, our founder and executive program director, was awarded the Kevin Burnham Memorial Award during a ceremony at the New York Yacht Club on February 12th, 2026
The award is a prestigious honor in competitive sailing, established to honor the Olympic gold medalist Kevin Burnham. It is designed to recognize athletes who embody the spirit, passion, and competitive drive that Kevin was known for throughout his career.
For the first time since its inception in 2000, nominations for the Magnus Liljedahl Sportsmanship Award were submitted electronically. Anyone can nominate a sailor for sportsmanship-like behavior. Parents/guardians, race committee, judges, and fellow competitors may nominate a competitor from any of the sailing classes, Traditionally, nominations were submitted on a piece of paper which oftentimes were challenging to interpret. The online process is a lot more streamlined and it makes perfect sense in these Covid times.
Unstoppable Tracy welcomes Magnus Liljedahl, who is the founder and Executive Director of Team Paradise, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives by inspiring and empowering disabled and underserved communities”. Team Paradise makes sailing Accessible for ALL!
To listen, please click the arrow above!
The theme of this week’s episode is support and kindness. Earning independence comes from rallying the support of many people. Having a circle of people that stand behind you and beside you through thick and thin exponentially boosts your chances of success. Additionally, when you dedicate time to help others, you gain a sense of fulfillment that is unmatched. Magnus shares his journey and affirms the importance of relationships to our development.
You’ll hear Magnus and Unstoppable Tracy talk about:
Taking action even in the face of uncertainty.
What fueled Magnus’ drive to start Team Paradise.
The importance of focus and self-care.
How support can be just as effective as criticism.
How to emulate Magnus’ success in your own life.
