Optimizing athlete performance for LA28

For every parent, scheduling various summer camps keeps kids occupied and enlightened during the school break. The aspiring Olympians working with America One Racing recently went to camp too… here’s their report:

Spirits are high on the A1R Project Podium Team, following a highly successful sport science camp that left a deep impression on the athletes and support team. Held at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach, CA, the camp combined physical testing, targeted training protocols, and expert-led education to optimize athlete performance heading into the 2028 Olympic cycle.

Nick Thompson, two-time Laser World Champion and A1R coach, praised the team’s early momentum and unified approach. “We’ve built something really special here,” said Thompson. “The atmosphere was upbeat and progressive from the start. It’s rare to see such immediate trust and openness across an entire squad, especially with some of us meeting in person for the first time.”

Led by performance experts Ryan West, Baden Cashmore, Megan Foley, and Jorge Gonzalez, the camp kicked off with intensive aerobic, strength, and mobility testing, including state-of-the-art assessments at the Red Bull High Performance Center in Los Angeles.

This facility is at the cutting-edge of sports science and performance training, and was an amazing and impactful opportunity to continue raising the bar for this program. “We are so thankful to Red Bull for making their facility and their expertise available to us, and to Quantum Racing for recognizing the importance of supporting this aspect of our program,”, commented Leandro Spina, A1R Executive Director.

“I’ve worked with many top-level sport science teams in Olympic sailing, and beyond,” added Thompson. “What we have now with A1R is world-class—these guys not only know their stuff but know sailing and how to get the best out of the individuals.”

In addition to land-based testing, the team integrated on-water performance monitoring to close the gap between physical conditioning and race-day demands. Observational sessions helped fine-tune athlete movement patterns, while practical equipment tweaks are already driving performance gains.

Educational workshops on performance nutrition, anti-doping, recovery strategies, and holistic training integration helped build a shared foundation across athletes and support staff. “Every lecture became a two-way conversation,” said Thompson. “The level of engagement was phenomenal.”

Reflecting again on the leadership of Spina and Head Coach Charlie McKee, Thompson notes how they have empowered the experts to build a system around performance first. “That’s not easy to do, and it’s making a difference already,” he observes. “The key message is this isn’t about one silver bullet—it’s about building great habits across the board. We’ve made an incredible start, and I’m more motivated than ever to be part of this journey.”

Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Sailing Program (July 16-28):
First Week – July 16-20
Men’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Kiteboard – Formula Kite Class – Long Beach, CA
Men’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA
Women’s Windsurfing – iQFOiL – Long Beach, CA

Second Week – July 23-28
Men’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 7 – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s One Person Dinghy – ILCA 6 – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Two Person Dinghy – 470 – Los Angeles, CA
Men’s Skiff – 49er – Los Angeles, CA
Women’s Skiff – 49erFX – Los Angeles, CA
Mixed Multihull – Nacra 17 – Los Angeles, CA