KEY POINTS:
Young New Zealand yachtie Jo Aleh has already mapped out a few questions for her newly-appointed mentor, three-times Olympic medallist Barbara Kendall.
Aleh, 20, was one of 10 young athletes selected in the Inspiring New Zealanders Olympic Sport scholarship programme. The programme, an Air New Zealand initiative, was
launched last year. Aleh will receive support from Kendall throughout the year. She will also take part in two workshops, with one-on-one mentoring sessions, and will receive a free flight to an international event.
Aleh, who finished 11th in the laser radial class in this year's world championships, said she is looking forward to picking Kendall's brain. "The one thing I find hard is the mental side of things. Handling the pressure at the world champs and being able to sail as you usually do," she said.
Kendall has been involved in a similar programme with Sparc. "This, to me, was the perfect opportunity to concentrate on a couple of athletes and try and take it a bit further," she said.
Next year is important for Aleh and Kendall, who will be both be trying to qualify for Olympic spots in their respective classes. Board-sailor Kendall finished fifth in this year's world championships, which means she retains her place in Yachting New Zealand's Olympic squad and secures funding. Had she finished worse than 10th, Kendall said she would have retired.
With many of their regattas in the same locations next year, Kendall will be on hand to offer her protege support. "I'll be a bit of a mother hen really."
Other recipients of the scholarships are: Clark Ellice (triathlon), Sarah Saddleton (track and field), Max Andrews (yachting), Kane Radford (swimming), Tania Perret (canoe polo), Nick Hyne (snowboarding), Ben Griffen (skiing), Lauren Ellis (cycling), and Natalie Wiegersma (swimming).
The 10 are partnered with one of five mentors - Kendall, triathletes Hamish Carter, Bevan Docherty, cyclist Sarah Ulmer and skier Claudia Riegler.
Carter mentored swimmer Zara Baker and triathlete Andrea Hewitt last year and this year will offer support to Saddleton and Ellice.
Carter said: "I know from my own experience that any athlete will have got major pitfalls the whole way through their career.
"To have some you can call on, bounce ideas off or figure out a way around a problem is the whole point of the programme. They can utilise us as much as they want.
"It is nurturing the talent of the next generation coming through."
While he will be on hand to offer Saddleton and Ellice advice, Carter is not sure what his own future holds.
"After the world champs, I thought it would be a good time to retire - then I realised that I couldn't do anything else.
"I thought I'll have a break, then when I start training I'll see what happens. I am at a point where I will race next year but, at what level, I am not sure."