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A skateboarding accident in Auckland is threatening Luna Rossa grinder Shannon Falcone’s chances of seeing action in the America’s Cup final against the New Zealand team.
The veteran has won the Cup twice with the American union Oracle, including a major role in the Mangos during the remarkable 2013 victory over the New Zealand team in San Francisco.
But he’s only getting back into a rut after the mishap happened shortly after arriving in New Zealand.
COR 36 | Borlenghi study
Luna Rossa master Shannon Falcone knows what it takes to beat the New Zealand team and win the America’s Cup, he already has.
He was taking his young daughter to school on his electric skateboard when they fell and broke a clavicle to protect her.
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“I hugged her and broke her fall onto the pavement with my shoulder instead of crushing her. She is doing very well, ”mountain-man Falcone said Tuesday night, explaining his situation after receiving his Prada Cup winner medal in a second ceremony after Sunday’s victory over the UK team.
Explaining the accident to Luna Rossa’s boss, Max Sirena, was no fun.
“It was definitely an interesting phone call. He’s a family man, so he got it. Alright, it’s the kind of thing that happens in life, so it is what it is, ”Falcone said.
RICKY WILSON / Stuff
Shannon Falcone tops off the Prada Cup for patron Max Sirena while Luna Rossa enjoyed a second celebration after winning the challenger series.
“I’ve had a very light series … the young people who have intervened are doing a great job so I don’t have to intervene very often.”
A lot of muscle is still required in training and Falcone’s vast experience and enthusiasm has helped Luna Rossa march towards the America’s Cup match.
He knows what to expect, with great respect for the New Zealand team, who believe he is “fast”.
“They are a strong team, they always come up with incredible things. They are the benchmark, that’s why they are the defenders.
“We know there is a very big mountain to climb ahead, but we are up for the task and the challenge.”
Falcone has had a seafaring life. Born in England in 1981, his family sailed from Italy to Aintgua when he was three years old and grew up there. His father Carlo represented Antigua and Barbuda in the Star class at the 1992 Olympics.
A professional nautical life always attracted and Falcone He loves Auckland and says his Cup career has “come full circle” after debuting here in 2003 with Italian challenger Mascalzone Latino.
He joined Luna Rossa for the 2007 Cup in Valencia, where they lost the challenger final to the New Zealand team.
He was then picked up by the Americans, where he won successive America’s Cup victories before returning to Luna Rossa.
He says the team has savored its final Prada Cup victory, but is ready to jump into the water for final adjustments to the boat before it is measured next week and locked for the race.
“Then we can finally do what we came here to do,” he smiles as he gets a chance to win the Auld Mug for the first time in his beloved Italian colors.
He likes the upward curve in which the team finds itself with the boat and the work of its crew.
COR 36 | Borlenghi study
Luna Rossa’s grinder Shannon Falcone chats with the great Richie McCaw of the All Blacks.
“This was never a fact, two other big challenges and a new class of boat. You saw through the Christmas Cup and the round-robins that everything was going every way.
“It’s about peaking at the right time and continuing that development in the never-ending quest for speed.
“We are learning these boats, and it is when you start racing them that you make these huge advances.
“I hope that whoever wins the class will continue to advance in some way or form because I would love to continue browsing.”
AC75s are power hungry beasts, which means tireless work for the milling department.
“On these boats, the training days are much longer days and you work at 80% of your heart rate all the time.
“In racing it is difficult. The guys are super fit and that’s the great part of it, just driving.
“You train and you can manage your schedule beforehand. You get to the races, and it’s just about maintenance and making sure you control all the problems and recover well.
“We were lucky to finish 7-1 with the British. But he can go to 13 races and at that point, efficiency in the systems and how he has trained definitely comes into play. “
It will be interesting to see how much Falcone comes into play now that he’s rocked his shoulders again.
Duncan Johnstone and Todd Niall de Stuff review the Prada Cup result and listen to Jimmy Spithill and Sir Ben Ainslie
