The Alta Lake Foiling Community and Whistler Sailing are excited to present Alta Lake Foil Day on Saturday, August 15—a full day dedicated to learning, riding, and bringing together Whistler’s growing foiling community.

Whether you’re new to foiling, looking to fine-tune your equipment, or ready to line up on the start line, Alta Lake Foil Day offers something for everyone.

The day begins with hands-on foil and board repair and tuning clinics led by Rob Mulder, founder of Robert’s Composites. With more than 40 years of experience designing, building, and repairing high-performance composite equipment, Rob will share practical techniques for repairing carbon and composite damage, tuning foils, performing preventative maintenance, and optimizing equipment performance.

Following the morning sessions, everyone is invited to enjoy a complimentary lunch at Whistler Sailing before the afternoon’s excitement begins.

At 1:30 p.m., competitors will gather for the Skippers’ Meeting ahead of the Alta Lake Wing Foil & Windsurf Slalom, with the first race starting at 2:00 p.m. The downwind slalom features separate starts for wing foil and windsurf fleets, with women and men starting together but scored separately.

The slalom is designed to be welcoming and accessible. Whether you’re racing for the podium or simply looking to complete the course, participants of all experience levels are encouraged to join in.

Participation in the slalom is free, although all competitors must register, hold a current Whistler Sailing membership, and complete the online event waiver before racing.

Not planning to race? We’re also looking for volunteers to assist with race management, including recording finishes and scores from the start/finish barge, helping with event setup, and supporting other shore-based activities. It’s a great way to be part of the action and support the local foiling community.

Alta Lake Foil Day is presented by the Alta Lake Foiling Community in partnership with Whistler Sailing and is made possible through funding from the Whistler Community Foundation’s Small Neighbourhood Grants program.

We look forward to welcoming the foiling community to Alta Lake for a day of learning, connection, and fun on the water.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Location: Whistler Sailing Association, Alta Lake

Schedule

• 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Foil & Board Repair and Tuning Clinics with Rob Mulder
• 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Community Lunch
• 1:30 p.m. – Slalom Skippers’ Meeting
• 2:00 p.m. – Wing Foil & Windsurf Slalom

Visit the Alta Lake Foil Day page for full event details and registration information.

The 2026 Whistler Regatta & BC Optimist Championships brought two exciting days of racing to Alta Lake this past weekend, welcoming sailors from across British Columbia for one of the province’s premier youth sailing events.

The weekend delivered a wide range of conditions. Saturday challenged competitors with shifty winds that demanded constant tactical decisions and quick reactions as the breeze shifted across the lake. Sunday offered sunshine and a lighter, steadier breeze creating a very different style of racing and keeping the competition close right through the final races.

Across all fleets, sailors battled it out over two days of racing, with tight competition and exciting finishes throughout the regatta. The BC Optimist Championships featured an especially strong fleet, with many of the province’s top young sailors competing for the provincial title ahead of the upcoming national championships.

After an outstanding weekend of racing, the overall BC Optimist Championship podium was swept by sailors from the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club:

1. Hansen Yuanchen Huang
2. Ebrahim Sheikh
3. Mack Cullen

Whistler Sailing extends a sincere thank you to the many volunteers, race officials, coaches, parents, and supporters whose hard work made the event possible. From race management on the water to registration, launching, and shore operations, their dedication helped deliver another successful championship.

A special thank you also goes to our event sponsors, Mustang Survival, Rekord Marine, and Nesters Market, whose support helped make this year’s regatta possible.

Congratulations to all of the competitors for an outstanding weekend of racing, and we look forward to welcoming sailors back to Alta Lake for another Whistler Regatta next year.

For results, visit whistlersailing.com/whistler-regatta

The biggest sailing weekend of the summer is almost here.

On July 18–19, Whistler Sailing Association will welcome sailors from across British Columbia for the 2026 BC Optimist Championships, held alongside the annual Whistler Regatta.

For two days, Alta Lake will come alive with colourful sails as competitors race in one of the province’s most scenic venues. Youth sailors in the Optimist class will compete for the provincial championship, while ILCAs and Pirates will race in the annual Whistler Regatta.

A Championship Returns to Whistler

The Optimist is the world’s most popular youth sailboat old and serves as the first step for many of Canada’s top competitive sailors.

Hosting the BC Optimist Championships is an exciting milestone for Whistler Sailing, showcasing the club’s growing race program and introducing visiting sailors and families to everything Whistler has to offer.

“We’re thrilled to welcome the sailing community back to Whistler,” said François Hébert, General Manager of Whistler Sailing. “Alta Lake offers incredible racing conditions, and it’s always exciting to share our club with sailors from around the province.”

Racing on Alta Lake

Alta Lake is well known for its reliable afternoon thermal winds and stunning mountain backdrop. While the scenery is spectacular, the lake also provides tactical racing, with shifting winds that reward smart decision-making and good boat handling.

Racing is expected to begin each morning following competitors’ meetings, with multiple races scheduled throughout the weekend, weather permitting.

Spectators can often catch glimpses of the action from Lakeside Park, Rainbow Park, and the Valley Trail surrounding Alta Lake.

Thank You to Our Sponsors and Volunteers

Hosting an event of this scale wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and volunteers.

A special thank you to Mustang Survival for supporting the event with prizes and premium gear for our competitors. As a Canadian leader in water safety equipment, Mustang Survival has been helping people stay safe on the water for decades.

We’re also grateful to Rekord Marine, a longtime supporter of Whistler Sailing and youth sailing in British Columbia. Their continued support helps make events like this possible and provides fantastic prizes for competitors.

A big thank you as well to Nesters Market Whistler for helping keep our volunteers and race officials fueled throughout the weekend. Community support like this plays a vital role in creating a successful event.

Finally, thank you to the many volunteers, race officials, coaches, and families who dedicate countless hours to making the BC Optimist Championships and Whistler Regatta a success.

Follow Along

Live results will be posted throughout the weekend on the Whistler Sailing website.

Whether you’re a longtime sailor or simply enjoying summer in Whistler, we invite you to stop by Alta Lake and experience one of the most exciting weekends on the local sporting calendar.

We look forward to welcoming everyone to Whistler and wish all competitors fair winds and great racing!

Register or learn more at whistlersailing.com/regatta

Read our local media coverage at the Pique Newsmagazine

We were thrilled to welcome The Amazing Race Canada to Whistler Sailing as part of the Season 12 premiere.

The episode showcased Whistler as the starting point for the Race, with teams making their way through a series of challenges before arriving at Whistler Sailing. It was an exciting opportunity to share our spectacular sailing venue with audiences across Canada.

Hosted by Jon Montgomery, the premiere featured one of the biggest twists in The Amazing Race Canada history, as every team received an Express Pass at the very start of the Race, creating an exciting strategic element from the opening moments.

If you missed the premiere, Season 12 is now streaming on Crave.

A big thank you to the cast, crew, Bell Media, CTV and everyone involved for choosing Whistler Sailing as part of this incredible adventure. It was a fantastic experience for our team, and we’re proud to have played a small role in showcasing Whistler and Alta Lake to viewers across the country.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of CTV

With summer just around the corner, the Whistler Sailing team gathered on Alta Lake this past weekend for our annual instructor training, marking the official start of another exciting season on the water.

This year’s team brings together a great mix of returning instructors and new faces. We’re also excited to welcome several former volunteers into instructor roles this season, continuing their journey with Whistler Sailing while helping inspire the next generation of sailors.

The weekend was led by Head Coach James Cannon and Senior Sailing Instructor Charlotte Spencer, who guided the team through on-water coaching, rescue procedures, safety training, lesson delivery, and the standards that help ensure every participant has a fun, safe, and memorable experience on the lake.

Beyond refreshing certifications and refining coaching techniques, the weekend also gave the team an opportunity to reconnect, build relationships, and prepare for a busy summer ahead.

With training complete, the team is ready to welcome children and youth to Alta Lake over the coming months. Whether it’s a sailor stepping into a boat for the very first time or a returning racer looking to sharpen their skills, our summer camps are designed to build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of sailing.

It’s shaping up to be another busy season at Whistler Sailing, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the lake for another fantastic summer of sailing.

Learn more and register at whistlersailing.com/kids-youth/

WSA Race Team Heads to WAVES Regatta This Weekend

The Whistler Sailing Association Race Team is heading to Vancouver this weekend to compete at the 2026 WAVES Regatta, hosted by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club on June 20–21.

WAVES is one of the premier youth dinghy regattas in British Columbia, attracting sailors from across the province for two days of competitive racing. The event features dedicated race courses for Optimists, ILCA dinghies, and double-handed classes, supported by experienced race management teams and a strong coaching environment.

For our sailors, WAVES is an important opportunity to test their skills against some of the strongest competition in Western Canada, build race experience, and continue developing toward future provincial and national events. The regatta also serves as valuable preparation for athletes planning to compete at larger championships later this summer.

The team has been training hard on Alta Lake throughout the spring, taking advantage of Whistler’s unique sailing conditions to sharpen boat handling, tactics, and racing skills. With strong attendance at practices and plenty of enthusiasm on the water, the group is excited to put their training into action.

We wish all of our athletes the best of luck this weekend and look forward to following their results from Vancouver.

Fair winds and good racing, Team WSA!

Whistler Sailing Association is proud to congratulate Valentino Blewett on winning the 2026 iQFOiL Canadian Championship, held June 12–14 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Competing against a strong field of athletes from across Canada and the United States, Valentino delivered a dominant performance throughout the regatta. Sailing CAN 187, he won 12 of the 14 races completed over the three-day championship and finished with just 12 net points, securing the national title by a comfortable margin.

The event brought together many of Canada’s top foiling athletes and served as the country’s premier championship for the Olympic iQFOiL class. Valentino’s consistency and speed were on full display as he led the fleet from the opening race and never looked back.

Valentino’s sailing journey began right here at Whistler Sailing, where he first learned the sport in our Optimist program on Alta Lake. Since then, he has progressed through a variety of sailing disciplines and has become one of Canada’s top iQFOiL athletes, competing and training internationally while continuing to maintain Whistler Sailing as his home club.

His championship victory is a testament to years of dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence both on and off the water. Valentino’s success also serves as an inspiration to the next generation of sailors currently learning and racing at Whistler Sailing.

On behalf of everyone at Whistler Sailing Association, congratulations Valentino on an incredible achievement. We look forward to following your continued success on the national and international stage.

View Results

Well sailed, Valentino! ⛵🏆

This past weekend, Whistler Sailing was thrilled to host our first ever Women’s Wing Foil Camp on Alta Lake.

The camp brought together a fantastic group of women from a variety of backgrounds, all eager to learn, connect, and develop their wing foiling skills. Throughout the weekend, participants enjoyed a welcoming and supportive environment while building confidence and knowledge alongside fellow riders.

Each morning began with guided stretch and mobility sessions led by Astrid Kent, helping participants prepare both physically and mentally for the day ahead. These sessions quickly became a favourite part of the camp, setting a positive tone for the learning and activities that followed.

With lighter-than-expected winds throughout the weekend, the group made the most of the conditions through a series of classroom and land-based sessions covering wing foil theory, equipment and technique. Participants left with a stronger understanding of the sport and valuable knowledge they can apply on the water.

The positive attitude, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn shown by everyone involved made the weekend a success. We’re looking forward to welcoming the participants back soon to complete the on-water portion of the camp and continue their wing foiling journey.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, as well as Astrid Kent, Sandra Bicego, and our coaching team for helping create such a positive and empowering experience. We can’t wait to get everyone back on the water soon!

The Whistler Sailing wing foil instructor team came together this week on Alta Lake for our annual instructor training session ahead of the 2026 season.

The day focused on reviewing coaching techniques, safety procedures, rescue protocols, and best practices to help ensure every student has a safe, enjoyable, and rewarding experience on the water.

Instructor training is an important part of preparing for the season. It gives our team the opportunity to refresh key skills, share knowledge, review teaching methods, and spend valuable time working together on the water. As wing foiling continues to grow, maintaining a strong and consistent coaching standard helps us provide the best possible experience for riders at every level.

Alta Lake once again delivered ideal training conditions, allowing the team to practice a variety of on-water scenarios while fine-tuning the skills that help students progress confidently and safely.

With training complete, our instructors are ready for another summer of wing foiling in Whistler. Whether you’re completely new to the sport or looking to build on existing skills, our programs are designed to help you develop confidence and spend more time riding.

We look forward to welcoming both new and returning students to the lake this season.

Interested in learning to wing foil?

Visit our Adult Wing Foiling page to learn more about lessons and programs available this summer.

Kick off the season on the right foot with our 3-hour Season Opener Clinic — the perfect way to get back on the water and into the rhythm of sailing.

Designed as a pre-season tune-up, this session focuses on the fundamentals that make a real difference once racing begins. We’ll work on boat handling, revisit key skills, dial in boat balance, and tighten up mark roundings to help you sail more confidently and efficiently.

The session will be led by coach Jeff Baird, who will provide hands-on coaching and practical tips throughout to help you shake off the rust and feel ready for the season ahead.

Details:
Date: Wednesday May 20, 2026
Time: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Boat: Pirate Sailboats
Price: $60 + tax
What to Bring: Positive attitude (lifejackets & helmets will be provided)
Après: Join us for a social at Alpine Café after the session

A great way to reconnect with the water, refresh your skills, and set yourself up for a strong start to the season.

Valid 2026 membership required.