KALAHEO — The tail of the javelin flitted in the wind as it flew in a steep arc through the morning air in a secluded Kalaheo park. Its thrower, Olympian Robert Minnitti, carefully studied its flight behavior in the warm
KALAHEO — The tail of the javelin flitted in the wind as it flew in a steep arc through the morning air in a secluded Kalaheo park.
Its thrower, Olympian Robert Minnitti, carefully studied its flight behavior in the warm wind that bathed the small rural park.
Minnitti was in his final day of a four-week warm weather training program in Kalaheo, a site he likes because it allows him to train outdoors in the sun.
“If this was in Seattle, there’d be children flocking into the park and they’d shut down my practice,” Minnitti said as he strode from one side of the park to retrieve his javelins.
But, the park in Kalaheo was deserted because the children were all in school.
Practicing in the sun is also good, Minnitti said. “The sun gets your mind in a good mood, and it also heals your body. The best part is you get to throw (outdoors).”
“A lot of athletes go to different places for warm weather training,” Minnitti said. “Some go to South Africa, others to California, and even to Hawai’i.” Currently, the Olympic Women’s Judo Team from Japan is wrapping up its practice at a dojo in Nu’uanu on O’ahu.
In Seattle, where Minnitti is based, the temperature currently hovers at about 30 degrees and the city is partly shut down by a heavy snowstorm. Back at home the blond, lithe, muscular athlete has to work out indoors at a facility at the University of Washington due to the blustery weather.
Minnitti said the indoor facility is like an indoor football field with high ceilings allowing him a place to throw, but it’s not like being outdoors.
His Olympic competition will take place outdoors in Athens, Greece this summer, and he will probably face variable wind conditions. By throwing outdoors, Minnitti said he is able to study the flight behavior of his competition-level javelin as it reacts to the different wind conditions. Friday’s prevailing Kona winds blowing from the southwest offered him some variety compared to the normal tradewinds that blow almost daily into and through the hillside town of Kalaheo.
Minnitti said this flight behavior allows him to make adjustments in his release during competition throws.
Currently, Minnitti is in a wind-down practice where he puts in between three to five hours of hard practice. He explained that this will change as the competition dates get closer, his practices geared towards getting his body into peak condition.
His performance coach, Marilyn Allen with whom he’s staying during his trip here, added that Athens is really warm, and by training in Hawai’i, it allows him an opportunity to perform in conditions similar to Athens.
Here on a trip in 2002, Minnitti returned with his javelins and training gear in 2003 as his girlfriend Jessica, Allen’s daughter invited the Olympian back for warm weather training.
The final two days of his four-week trip here will be spent with Allen who will be doing a presentation at the Aloha Kaua’i Beach Resort this weekend.
Minnitti also notes that in addition to the ideal workout conditions, he has reaped some additional benefits as some of the people he’s met during his stay here have contributed towards his Olympic competition.
Unlike athletes from Russia, Germany, and some of the other European countries, Minnitti explained that he needs to raise his own funds to perform as part of Team USA in the Olympics, a task that can sometimes be distracting to his training program.
Currently, Minnitti’s corporate sponsors include Microsoft and X-Box which have contributed towards his Olympic competition.
As his trip winds down, Minnitti’s only regret is not being able to work with more of Kaua’i’s youth. He explains that javelin throwing can put you through college, allow you to travel, and teach you valuable life skills, Allen adding that Hawaiian culture has spear-throwing as part of its roots.
“Lots of kids can do this”, Minnitti said. In Finland where he competed during the summer, he noted that they had plastic “turbo javelins” which are geared towards the children, and competitions are held geared towards the younger throwers.
Equipment is also available for both women and children as well as men with varying skill levels, Minnitti noting that his two competition javelins run about $800 each.
Minnitti finished a silver medalist at the Finnish Javelin Carnival over the summer with a throw of 77.34 meters his personal best, and finished as a finalist in the Pan American Games that wrapped up in the Dominican Republic, his best throw flying 71.64 meters.
Currently, Minnitti is number two in the United States after finishing in the silver at the 2003 USA National Competition in Stanford, CA.
Minnitti is also a two-time NCAA All-American in the javelin and earned a Number One ranking in the NCAA in 2003 after earning the gold medal for Boise State in the 2003 WAC conference championships. Minnitti is also the holder of four school records at Boise State where he was also the team captain.
When Minnitti goes to Greece, a piece of Kaua’i will accompany him as he strives to be, not the best in America, but at least in the top five of the world.
For more information, or to help Minnitti with his Olympic task, people may visit his Web site at http://www.seattlespearthrower.com.
