Armstrong and SailGP Inspire team up to bring wingfoiling to youth sailors
by Kjell van Sice, Armstrong Foils 6 Oct 2022 02:02 NZDT
6 October 2022
Young sailors in the SailGP Inspire program try out the Armstrong wing and foil board on Race Day 1 of the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix in Saint Tropez, France. 10th September © Felix Diemer/SailGP
At Armstrong, we believe our experiences on the water are truly inspiring. As wing foiling quickly becomes one of the most popular foiling disciplines, its accessibility, fun factor and potential for progression appeals to both experienced sailors and newcomers to foilsports alike.
By partnering with SailGP’s Inspire program, we’re able to give the next generation a chance to get inspired by winging.
“We are honored to be partnering with SailGP’s awesome Inspire program for youth sailors. Developing opportunities to bring the pro sailors closer to aspiring youth through shared enjoyment of the new sport of wing foiling is very cool to see. Sharing our love for being in and on the ocean has always been at the center of the Armstrong philosophy. We feel privileged to be supplying equipment to SailGP Inspire and we can’t wait to see this new generation of keen and talented young sailors grow in their experience and take on the world.” - Armie Armstrong
"Having Armstrong join the SailGP family is huge news for the next generation as many of our SailGP athletes are wing foiling when they are not sailing. It really ties in with our vision of technology, innovation and having fun on the water. Armstrong’s kit is the best and uses similar technology to the F50. Within the program we will offer opportunities to our Waszp sailors to have a go when they are not busy racing, as well as getting a new generation into the world of wing!
"In Cádiz we got 60 newbies into the sport by offering a series of taster sessions, and in the SailGP Grand Final we will have a full wing foiling exhibition series. It has been so great to witness the reaction of the participants who are absorbed by the feeling of foiling and long may we continue to get more people trying and understanding how amazing this sport is." - Thomas Herbert-Evans, SailGP Youth Program Manager
"When we're not racing aboard the F50, myself and many of my teammates love to wing foil. Winging is also a great opportunity for us at SailGP to introduce young sailors to foiling through the Inspire program, and I'm excited to see where the SailGP partnership with Armstrong goes." - Blair Tuke, co-CEO and wing trimmer, New Zealand SailGP Team
Armstrong is supporting SailGP Inspire’s mission to bring wing foiling to youth sailors around the world by supplying the program with a dozen complete setups that cater to all rider levels. Foils between 1550 and 525sq/cm provide ideal platforms for everything from first flights behind the dinghy up to introductory wing foil racing. A complete suite of A-Wing V2 hand wings accommodates a wide range of wind conditions at each SailGP event venue.