Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Artnautica60 728x90px TOP

Sail Canada On Deck: Dan Cunningham

by Sail Canada 14 May 2022 17:03 PDT

Sail Canada just launched its Kite Foiling program in Canada for 2022.

"On Deck" discussion with the National Development Kite Foiling coach, Dan Cunningham.

What are the highlights of this Kite Foiling program for 2022?

Kite Foiling now has four events in Canada: Icebreaker Regatta at the Etobicoke Yacht Club, Fork/Foil Kingston Regatta, CORK and Fall CORK. The program also includes five additional domestic training camps as well as support at World Championships and a few other international events.

As the National Development Kite Foiling coach, what are your responsibilities?

I'm working to build participation in domestic Kite Foiling racing, while helping our top athletes to achieve their goals. These two things may seem opposed to each other, but I believe a strong North American race circuit is imperative to a successful training program for kiting.

How many athletes do you expect for our National Championships to be held this summer?

We will have a good Canadian participation, maybe 15 riders, 20 would be amazing.

How has Kite Foiling evolved in Canada since the official inclusion of this event in the Olympic program?

I've only been involved for the last 12 months, but it is interesting to see all the different backgrounds that competitors are coming from. Many are from traditional dinghy racing, but some were snow kiters or freestyle kiters getting into racing for the first time. As a coach, this is a fun challenge as some racing skills that would be acquired while youth sailing in dinghies are brand new for some of the racers.

Is there any opportunity for sailors to try Kite Foiling?

I am working on something, but it is much more difficult than say stepping into a 49er or Nacra 17 and giving it a try if an athlete has no board sports background. I personally would recommend sailors try Wingfoiling as a gateway to Kite Foiling. It's a much easier transition and most skills are transferable. It will also help with their own sailing immensely. But look out for some news in the next few months!

A little more than in two years, Kite Foiling will be presented for the first time at the 2024 Olympic Games. Where is Canada standing so far?

We have a long way to go. At the last World Championships, I believe we were the 18th nation on the women's side and 22nd for the men. We need to get athletes into Gold Fleet to guarantee participation at the Olympics.

What is the qualification road for Canada in Kite Foiling toward Paris 2024?

The first step towards Paris 2024 is to qualify the country through the World Sailing qualification process. After we qualify the country, there will be trials (yet to be determined) to select the top male and female to represent Canada at the 2024 Games.

What's coming up internationally for our Canadian athletes in Kite Foiling?

We will have kiters attending events in Netherlands, Italy, and Austria in the next few months. There are also events in Los Angeles and San Francisco this summer. Following that, the World Championships will be held in Cagliari in October.

Related Articles

Sail Canada introduces 2023-24 Sailing Team
28 squad members were selected based on the Canadian Sailing Team Sport Canada Carding Criteria Sail Canada is pleased to announce the list of sailors who will be part of the 2023-2024 Canadian Sailing Team and Canadian Sailing Development Squad. Posted on 18 May
Sarah Douglas wins gold in Hyeres
Winning the ILCA 6 class at the French Olympic Week Sarah Douglas from Toronto (ABYC) won the gold medal in ILCA 6 at the French Olympic Week sailing competition which ended Saturday in Hyères, France. Posted on 29 Apr
13 Canadian sailors set for French Olympic Week
Competition starts Monday in Hyères A total of 13 Canadian sailors will take part in the 2023 French Olympic Week competition that starts Monday in Hyères, France, and will continue until Saturday, April 29. Posted on 21 Apr
Canadian sailors qualify to be nominated
Six more for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Six additional Canadian sailors have qualified to be nominated for Canada's Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Team following the Princess Sofia Regatta, held last week in Spain, at the last qualification competition for Santiago 2023 in non-Olympic events. Posted on 11 Apr
Canada qualifies a spot in the Sunfish class
For the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Canada qualified a spot in a ninth class for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, this time in Sunfish, after Luke Ramsay from Vancouver (Royal Vancouver Yacht Club) finished fourth at the first qualifier in this class Posted on 4 Apr
Qualification at stake for 30 Canadian sailors
At the Princess Sofia Regatta in Mallorca, Spain A total of 30 Canadian sailors will compete at the 2023 Princess Sofia Regatta, April 3-8 in Mallorca, Spain, a competition where a lot will be at stake as it will serve as a Canadian qualifier for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Posted on 30 Mar
Canadian Sunfish sailors set for US Nationals
Looking to qualify Canada for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games Luke Ramsay from Vancouver and Lee Parkhill from Oakville, ON, two Canadian sailors who have represented Canada at past Olympic Games, will take part in the Sunfish United States Nationals at Midwinters, March 30-April 1 in Pensacola, Florida. Posted on 28 Mar
Sarah Douglas top Canadian at ILCA Europeans
With a 21st-place finish in Andora, Italy Sarah Douglas from Toronto was the top Canadian sailor at the 2023 ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 Senior European Championships, which ended Friday in Andora, Italy, as she came up with a 21st-place finish. Posted on 21 Mar
Emily Bugeja qualifies for PanAmericanGames
Fifth Canadian sailor to be nominated Emily Bugeja from Vancouver (RVYC), B.C., became the fifth Canadian sailor to qualify to be nominated to Team Canada's Santiago 2023 Pan American Games squad after she took part in the 2023 Formula Kite Pan American Championships. Posted on 14 Mar
12 Canadian sailors to face the best in the world
At 2023 ILCA 6 & 7 Senior European Championships Close to 500 days prior to the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 12 Canadian sailors in ILCA 6 and 7, including Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sarah Douglas, will face the best in the world at the 2023 ILCA 6 & 7 Senior European Championships Posted on 9 Mar
Lloyd Stevenson - T2Artefact 728x90px BOTTOMVisit Pensacola 2023 FOOTERHella Dual Colour Floodlights - 728 x 90px - 004 gif Bottom