THE RS:X CLASS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE’S STATEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE RS:X CLASS IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Following recent statements from World Sailing regarding the selection process for Events and Equipment for the 2024 Olympic Games, the RS:X Class Executive have released the following statement.
The RS:X Class was selected by World Sailing in 2005 as the equipment to be used as the Olympic Windsurfer and was specifically designed for this purpose. The RS:X has supported World Sailing through three different Olympic Games as well as showcasing its versatility by providing a pathway for Youth sailors at over 10 different Youth World Championships.
The RS:X Class are aware that the sport of sailing is constantly evolving and that there are new technologies and elements of sailing that provide a broader technical challenge as well as offering a more spectacular showcase. The RS:X Class, whilst enjoying its status as the fastest and cheapest Olympic equipment, is looking at options of development in order to continue to lead the Olympic Classes forward towards 2024. In order to achieve this, the RS:X Class is looking to amalgamate with the RS:X Convertible Class to bring foiling windsurfing under its wing. This will allow dual events with both conventional windsurfing and foiling windsurfing events running side by side which will deliver exceptional footage and images as well as providing sailors with opportunities to learn new skills.
The RS:X Class will look to take these steps in order to grow the sport of sailing – currently the RS:X is the second most diverse Olympic Class behind the Laser with more than 70 different nations actively competing. By supplementing a foiling option into the RS:X Class, it will mean less cost to transition from one piece of equipment to another which will provide stability for the smaller nations looking to compete.
The RS:X Class would also like to acknowledge the support of the IWA and in particular the Techno Class Association. With over 400 boards competing at the Techno World Championships, this class provides an excellent first step on every junior sailors pathway to Olympic windsurfing. The skills that the Techno Class teaches its sailors, both the physical elements of windsurfing as well as the tactical elements of sailing in general, breed strong and independent sailors which flourish further as they reach the RS:X at youth events.
Finally, the RS:X Class acknowledge that with World Sailing looking to showcase the breadth of the sport, that there will be demand for Kiteboarding to be included as an Olympic discipline for 2024. The RS:X Class agrees and supports the principle that the whole sport of sailing should be showcased, similar to both windsurfing and kiteboarding living alongside each other at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games where both board sports will be looking to support World Sailing in delivering a fantastic event with the perfect backdrop of Buenos Aires.
Executive Committee
The International RS:X Class Association