14 US squad athletes competing at iQFoil National Championships
by US Sailing Team 13 Nov 2021 02:02 NZDT
12-14 November 2021
iQFoil NationalChampionships © US Sailing Team
14 US iQFoil athletes are ready to fly in Clearwater, Florida for the 2021 US National and Gulf Coast Championships. 23 competitors from six countries will take the water November 12-14 at Clearwater Community Sailing Center.
This venue is no stranger to hosting performance board events, and has welcomed the new foiling Olympic equipment with open arms.
On the water for the US from the iQFoil Squad:
- Pedro Pascual - Miami, FL (Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Men's RS.X Athlete)
- Alex Temko- Palm Harbor, FL (US Representative at Inaugural 2021 Jr. Pan Am Games)
- Bryn Muller - Largo, FL (US Representative at Inaugural 2021 Jr. Pan Am Games)
- Justin Ahearn - Clearwater, FL (US iQFoil squad coach)
- Danicka Sailer - Honolulu, HI
- Maverick Putnam - Tarpon Springs, FL
- Ethan Froelich - Austin, TX
- Larry Thomas - Ocala, FL
- Noah Lyons - Clearwater, FL
- Dominique Stater - Miami, FL
- Xavier Ferlet- Santa Clarita, CA
- Tom McDonald- Kailua, HI
- Fiona Wylde - Bend, OR
- Colson Zack- Hood River, OR
"It's great to have everyone back here in Clearwater after hosting the US Open Sailing Series last February," said Clearwater-based Justin Ahern, who will coach the US Team at the inaugural Jr. Pan Am Games. "We have had big U19 groups from both Hawaii and Canada sailing in the pre-camp... our focus leading up to Jr. Pan Ams is tuning, and we are working to dial in what works for us."
"Every training session is crucial, and this regatta is even more critical because it will be my last time on a starting line with the US Squad before Jr. Pan Ams," noted US student athlete Bryn Muller. "Nothing compares to actual regattas in terms of preparation and pressure management."
Pedro Pascual, Tokyo 2020 Olympian, debuts on the iQFoil. "I am super excited to be competing again, I've missed it after the Olympics. The new equipment is wicked fast and challenging, I can't wait to find the tricks to get the most out of it."
Coaching the US group will be Olympic Performance Director Leandro Spina and Grant "Fuzz" Spanhake, US ODP partner from Quantum Racing. "There are significant takeaways from the recent Europeans in Marseille, I look forward to working those into the USST/ODP." Said Spina. "Having Fuzz work with the squad adds an additional layer of professionalism and expertise that's vital to their development."