FAQ

The North American Teams are a structured, class-owned development pathway for sailors who want to grow in the WASZP and progress into high-performance foiling. Rather than operating a single “national team,” the North American WASZP Class now runs a tiered pathway beginning at age 12 and continuing through top-level international competition.
USFoil in the United States and WeCANFoil in Canada work together to host, coach, and support these teams each season, ensuring consistent development across the entire region. This collaborative model guarantees that every sailor—regardless of geography—can access training, coaching systems, and a defined progression from entry-level development to elite competition.

The teams are established and governed by the North American WASZP Class, which sets the standards, selection criteria, pathway structure, and annual framework.
Delivery of training, coaching, and operations is provided by:

WeCANFoil (Canada)

USFoil (United States)

Both organizations work together under a unified model, aligning coaching quality, training blocks, hub development, and event support so that sailors receive consistent guidance anywhere in North America.

The pathway is simple and clearly defined:

Youth Development Teams (starting at age 12)
For motivated young sailors who are learning to foil, developing foundational WASZP skills, and attending their first regional events. This is where sailors build confidence, boat handling, safety awareness, and the ability to train in structured environments.

North American Race Team
For committed youth athletes pursuing national-level competition and preparing for international regattas. This team focuses on:
Racing skills
Boat speed development
Physical and mental training
Data-driven improvement (telemetry, session debriefs, etc.)
Exposure to major continental and world events

A1R Podium Team (Ages 18-29)
The highest tier, supported by America One Racing. This team provides professional-level coaching, high-performance systems, and preparation for world championships, international circuits, and future Olympic-pathway opportunities. It is the gateway into the highest levels of North American performance sailing.

America One Racing (A1R) brings decades of experience in high-performance sailing, athlete development, and program design. Through this partnership, A1R will share its proven coaching methodologies and long-term development expertise to help strengthen the Class’s coaching structure and athlete pathway. By integrating top-level coaching, professional training methodologies, and a focus on sustainable athlete growth, A1R will help ensure that every sailor in the program benefits from world-class knowledge, structure, and guidance — while maintaining the Class’s inclusive and accessible spirit.

USFoil and WeCANFoil collaborate each season to:
Deliver consistent coaching at training camps and major regattas
Operate hubs that provide loaner boats and local programming
Train local coaches and develop regional foiling ecosystems
Manage logistics for team training blocks
Provide athlete support, mentorship, and development tools

This partnership ensures that North American sailors benefit from the combined expertise of both national foiling programs.

All travel and transport will need to be coordinated by the sailors and their families. We do have connections and resources and will work with the team when we can but every athlete should consider anything outside of coaching to be their personal responsibility.

To be clear, housing and accommodations as well as travel to the venue each day, meals, safety and supervision outside of coached time will not be managed by the team. We do plan to suggest and support a team housing model, however, where the team parents split up the housing rentals, meal preparation and support to minimize costs. Stay tuned!

The pathway begins at age 12 when sailors are ready to safely learn foiling, build confidence, and begin structured development.
From there, each athlete moves forward based on demonstrated skill, commitment, and readiness—not age alone.

Team applications open once per year. Selections are based on:

Motivation and commitment
Safety skills and on-water awareness
Demonstrated progression and coachability
Training availability
Participation in regional events and clinics

Owning a WASZP is not required for the Youth Development Team. Loaner boats and charters may be available through hubs and program partners.

Youth Development Team: No — loaner boats and charters are often available through hubs, USFoil, and WeCANFoil.

NA Race Teams and A1R Podium Teams: Ownership is recommended due to the training schedule and travel demands, but charters are sometimes available through partners and hubs.

A typical season includes:
Regional training camps
National clinics and development weekends
Class-supported coaching at major championships
Weekly remote training goals
Data-review sessions and online coaching calls
Opportunities for international racing for qualified athletes

The goal is to create a predictable, repeatable program that delivers consistent growth year after year.

The pathway is intentionally designed to bring sailors from their first foiling experience all the way to the professional stage.

Each tier builds on the next:
Foundational boat handling
Racing skills
Tactical awareness
Physical conditioning
Mental preparation
Data-driven performance
Professional exposure and elite coaching

The system is built to support athletes for multiple years as they progress.

Costs vary by team, training block, and regatta schedule, but the Class works hard to keep the program accessible.
Financial aid is available, and hubs help reduce costs by offering local training, shared equipment, and loaner boats.