How to get $1,000 to go to the 2020 Techno Worlds!
US Sailing, US Windsurfing, Pensacola Yacht Club and BIC Sport / Tahe Outdoors join hands to offer travel grants and free equipment charters for the 2020 Techno Worlds!
For young windsurfers with Olympic aspirations, there’s no bigger regatta each year than the Techno Worlds: there were 369 competitors at the 2019 edition last month in Cadiz, Spain, and 314 in Liepaja, Latvia, the year before. Guess where the 2020 edition will be contested? On Lake Garda in Italy in October, at the world-famous Circolo Surf Torbole. Officials are already making room at the venue to accommodate a record number of competitors!
That’s not a party you want to miss, but it’s far from the USA and expensive to get to. To ease the financial hurdle a little, US Sailing, US Windsurfing, Pensacola Yacht Club and BIC Sport / Tahe Outdoors have joined hands to offer four $1,000 travel grants and free equipment charters to four deserving young American racers.
“US Sailing and the US Sailing Foundation are thrilled to support the young American sailors competing at the Techno 293 World Championship!” says John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Director. “The Techno is the most popular youth windsurfing equipment worldwide and the fleet is growing in the US, so we are excited to cheer on the American sailors competing at the highest levels at the World Championship!”
Those four big prizes will be awarded to the top under-15 and under-17 boy and girl at the 2020 US Sailing Youth Championship (Pensacola, FL, June 20-24, 2020).
The US Sailing Youth Champs is the pinnacle regatta in the US for young sailors. Ask any US Olympic sailor today, and chances are that they’ll point to that regatta as the breakthrough moment that launched their career. But in an age where the international youth windsurfing kit was the RS:X, the event was largely inaccessible to younger Techno kids who missed out on the opportunity to rub elbows with like-minded sailors from other competitive classes and earn berths to compete internationally.
Not anymore! In 2020 in Pensacola, US Techno kids will join their sailing buddies and race at the US Youth Champs!
But look out: the event is by invitation only, so if you want to attend, you’ve got to earn your spot. There’s a whole qualification system in place, based on results and on resume, so make sure to read the fine print.
“Pensacola Yacht Club is honored to join the efforts of US Sailing, US Windsurfing and BIC Sport / Tahe Outdoors and help youth sailors attend the 2020 Worlds in Lake Garda, Italy!” says PYC Commodore Nikki Ferry. “We encourage all young windsurfers to attend the qualification series in Miami and Clearwater and the US Sailing Youth Championship June 20-24 in Pensacola. Sailors, be prepared for great courses, strong competition, and exceptional hospitality in Pensacola. You bring your best, we will give you ours!”
“BIC Sport/Tahe Outdoors is stoked to support the Techno 293 Class and the USA sailors traveling to the Techno 293 Worlds in Lake Garda, Italy!” says Nevin Sayre, Techno 293 Class North America. “With some 400 competitors expected at the Techno 293 Championships, we are happy to help this committed group of USA athletes!”
“The event in Garda is going to be awesome,” says Jerome Samson, president of US Windsurfing. “We’ve heard from many kids and their parents already that they’d love to be there if they can afford it, and we’re proud to offer our support and help bring this goal within reach for these families. A big thank you to our friends at US Sailing, PYC and BIC Sport / Tahe Outdoors for believing in those kids and helping us turn their dreams into reality!”
2020 is going to be a busy season for the Techno fleet in the USA. Here’s what the schedule looks like at the moment, but make sure to check in regularly on the US Windsurfing’s website to get the latest updates:
Dec 28-30, 2019
Miami, FL – Orange Bowl Youth Windsurf Regatta (early-acceptance event for US Youth Champ)
Mar 13-15, 2020
Clearwater, FL – Clearwater Midwinters (early-acceptance event for US Youth Champ)
May 23-24, 2020 (TBC)
Annapolis, MD – Annapolis Windsurfing Festival / US Nationals
Jun 20-24, 2020
Pensacola, FL – US Sailing Youth Championship
Aug 3-4, 2020 (TBC)
Vineyard Haven, MA – East Coast Techno Championships
Oct 24-31, 2020
Torbole, ITA – 2020 Techno Worlds