Pia Dahl Andersen / Nora Edland

Pia Dahl Andersen grew up in Asker, a small sailing community outside Oslo, and first stepped into an Optimist at the age of five, following her older sister Emilie into the sport.

She joined forces with Nora Edland in the 29er as a teenager, and together they won the 2018 Youth Sailing World Championship before moving into the 49erFX. The journey peaked on 17 May 2026, Norway's national day, when, as the only Norwegian FX team in the fleet, they won the country's first-ever 49erFX World Championship in Quiberon by a single point.

Off the water, Pia has been completing a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration while chasing the dream of one day making a living from sailing.

From the same Asker sailing community as her skipper, Nora Edland also began sailing aged five, following older sister Maren, who, in a neat twist of fate, once crewed in the 29er with Pia's sister Emilie.

Nora and Pia have sailed together since 2015. "We're like sisters, but also best friends," she says, crediting a simple rule, always be friends again before reaching shore, for the partnership's longevity. After heartbreak at the 2025 Worlds, where Nora led the regatta despite being hospitalised with dehydration, the pair returned to win the 2026 World title on Norway's national day.

She is studying Digital Marketing and Management alongside a program of some 200 sailing days a year.