US Qualifier Ready at Red Bull Foiling Generation

Newport, RI (October 14, 2016) – Two years in the making, Red Bull Foiling Generation has finally made its way stateside. With the World Finals looming on the horizon here in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, thirty of the top youth sailors from across the country, ages 17 – 20, have been training, preparing, and working long hours to get themselves familiar with the latest in speed sailing technology for the US Qualifier.

Three days of competition on October 14-16 looms as the winds off Fort Adams State Park reach speeds of 18 – 22 knots, making it too windy to sail for a few hours. Competitors anxiously waiting-it-out, are keeping themselves busy with studying competition, going through maneuvers and of course, blowing off steam by playing ping-pong and soccer.

Scott Ewing, 20, from Miami, FL is an accomplished 29er and 49er Sailor and Team Member of Youth Americas Cup Team Next Generation USA. He and teammate Ian MacDiarmid, 17, also from Florida, have been ranked the highest going into today’s first round.

“There is a very high level of sailing between everyone here and I believe competition will be tough,” said Ewing. “My plan is to keep it conservative, do our maneuvers the way we want and keep the boat upright. I think our chances are good as long if we keep it simple.”

“Red Bull Foiling Generation is an absolutely amazing opportunity for our generation to get into high performance sailing. It was very hard for the generation above us to advance,” added Ewing when asked about what he’d like to get out of this experience. “This is making it easier to get our names out there. Roman and Hans Peter are great instruction, experienced sailors. Hopefully I can be on their level one day.”

One of the youngest of the group, Aiden Shay Doyle, 17, hails from San Francisco and is partnered with fellow Californian Neil Marcellini. He has big goals to reach number one this weekend but recognizes the barriers to the competition.

“The Red Bull Foiling Generation format is odd because it’s a knock-out series and definitely not what I am used to,” said Aiden. “Usually it’s a Regatta style where there are several races, it’s an unforgiving system.”

Teammates Riley Gibbs, 19, and Quinn Wilson, 19, both hail from California. Both accomplished and confident with their skills, they are both focused on the prize.

“Our goal is to definitely get that number one spot this weekend,” said Quinn. “We’ll think about the World Finals when we get there.”

Both competitors are part of the 13Fifty team, whose goal is to put a team together to compete in Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Along with brother teammates Luke Muller, 20, and Nicholas Muller, 18, from Fort Pierce, Florida, they have been sporting their aspirations around the competition with matching hats and jackets.

However, Red Bull Foiling Generation has a deeper meaning for The Muller brothers this time around. Being two of five kids and both into competitive sailing, they used to vie to be better than the other. This weekend, this is no longer the case.

“My biggest goal is to sail the boat really well with my brother,” said older brother Luke. “ We’re trying to have a really good time without focusing on results. We know that if we sail well together, winning will come along with that.”

The winning team will stay in Newport to race in the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final on October 22 and 23, joining top youth competitors from 14 countries – Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Italy, Turkey, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Great Britain, New Zealand, Japan and Belgium – that have qualified for this first ever world-wide competition.

Event details – Facebook

Source: Red Bull