As the majority of the nation prepares for the holiday season, training activities are intensifying within the Youth and Olympic Development (ODP) arenas. In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, three training camps operated concurrently for more than 200 athletes, supported by 32 coaches from US Sailing, 22 coaches from regional programs, and seven staff […]
As the majority of the nation prepares for the holiday season, training activities are intensifying within the Youth and Olympic Development (ODP) arenas. In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, three training camps operated concurrently for more than 200 athletes, supported by 32 coaches from US Sailing, 22 coaches from regional programs, and seven staff members from US Sailing.
For athletes involved in Olympic boat classes, the first ODP camp following the Paris Olympics was held at the US Sailing Center in Miami, FL. Simultaneously, the traditional Youth Thanksgiving Racing Camp welcomed participants for the first time on both coasts, hosted at Miami Yacht Club in Miami, FL, and Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach, CA. Youth camps cater to sailors training in boat classes that feature in the Youth World Sailing Championship, offering training platforms for these young athletes as they gear up for Olympic class sailing.
“This marks our inaugural ODP camp of the new LA2028 quad, and we’re off to a fantastic beginning. We’re aligning the right resources with dedicated sailors to establish a comprehensive, full-time training hub while they’re with us,” remarked Rosie Chapman, Olympic Development Director. “Every day, we put sailing at the forefront, adapting the schedule to take advantage of optimal breeze conditions, while also incorporating time for gym workouts, informative sessions with specialists, land drills and briefings, and recovery periods with our physiotherapists.”
On-Water Training
To enhance knowledge retention within the USST and ODP network, five Olympians from the Paris 2024 Games returned to mentor the upcoming generation of athletes. They shared their expertise in the classroom, sailed alongside ODP athletes, and guided them through expert rigging workshops to ensure their success even before departing the dock.
In addition to the well-known athlete faces, Chapman recruited experienced USST coaches such as Mark Asquith, 49er coach who helped Barrows and Henken secure a bronze medal in Paris, Dave Evans, who is coaching the Paris 2024 49erFX team, and Steve Mitchell, Olympian and Tokyo 2020 ILCA 6 coach.
Adding to the coaching team were new faces offering fresh insights: Charles Baillie (Paris 2024 Coach, Belgium Team) and James Gray (British Sailing Team Coach), who provided guidance to ILCA 6 and 7s, respectively.
