USA iQFoil athletes ready for action at the future Paris 2024 venue

iQFoil European Championships © Sailing Energy

Three US athletes are on the ground in Marseille, France, the sailing venue for the Paris 2024 Olympics, for the 2021 iQFoil European Championships. Racing begins Saturday, October 23 and continues through Thursday, October 28.

Competing for the United States:

• Alexander Temko (Clearwater, Florida), competing in the Under 21 division
• Fiona Wylde (Hood River, Oregon), competing in the Open division
• Xavier Ferlet (Santa Clarita, California), competing in the Open division

This group of talented sailors is coached by former US Sailing Team Windsurf athlete and recipient of the 2020 US Sailing Developmental Coach of the Year award, Phil Muller. "The Mistral [cold and dry strong wind in southern France] was in full force today and pumping 4' swell with chop on top," said Muller after the team's practice day. "We have six days of racing scheduled and the USA is here at the 2024 Olympic venue to learn and compete with the best in this new Olympic class."

Temko, Wylde, and Ferlet bring a range of experience to Marseille. Alex Temko is scheduled to compete on Team USA at the inaugural Jr. Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia this November 26 through December 5, after winning the domestic qualifiers at the San Francisco edition of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series. Fiona Wylde, three-time Stand Up Paddleboard World Champion, has devoted her efforts to the foiling windsurfer and brings a unique set of skills from her success in other board sports. Xavier Ferlet put up an impressive set of scores at four of the six West Marine US Open Sailing Series events across Florida and California and has extensive experience sailing overseas.

Notable competition:

• Tokyo 2020 Men's RS:X silver medalist, Thomas Goyard (FRA)
• Mattia Camboni (ITA), 5th place, Tokyo 2020 Games, Men's RS:X
• Tom Squires (GBR), 7th place, Tokyo 2020 Games, Men's RS:X
• Angel Granda Roque (ESP), 10th place, Tokyo 2020 Games, Men's RS:X
• Marta Maggetti (ITA), 4th place, Tokyo 2020 Games, Women's RS: X
• Zofia Noceti-Klepacka (POL) 9th place, Tokyo 2020 Games, Women's RS: X

Quick Links:

• IQFoil Europeans NOR
• Event Website
• Entry List