A1R Hosts First Women’s High Performance SWITCH Camp in the U.S.

The inaugural A1R Women’s High Performance SWITCH Camp in Long Beach, CA marked an important step forward for performance sailing and A1R’s investment in the future. 

Hosted at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, A1R’s camp united Olympians Helena Scutt, Paris Henken, Erika Reineke and Stephanie Roble, alongside a group of highly driven athletes across various classes. The objective was clear: create a high-performance environment where athletes could push each other, accelerate learning and raise the standard.

At the core of this effort is A1R’s commitment to developing athletes through structured, advanced-level training. The SWITCH platform plays a key role, as focus shifts immediately to execution on starts, speed, maneuvers and decision-making in a one-design environment. From day one, athletes test themselves and make real-time adjustments. That kind of direct comparison drives immediate progress.

Each day followed a consistent rhythm: clear objectives, high repetition and immediate feedback. On the water, coaching was precise and performance-driven. Off the water, sessions were debriefed through video, data and open discussion. This type of A1R environment stresses information sharing and transparency regardless of different sailing backgrounds and experiences. Pivotal is A1R’s approach: when athletes align around a common performance language, improvement accelerates. A willingness to test, adjust, share and move forward…together. 

Executive Director Leandro Spina was thrilled with the camp’s achievement. “What stood out wasn’t just the level of talent, but how the group approached the process. Different backgrounds, same mindset. The individual commitment within a shared learning environment is where meaningful gains are made.”

This Women’s High Performance Camp reflects A1R’s broader focus: building a clear pathway for female athletes in the U.S. to reach the highest levels of the sport. As performance demands continue to evolve, particularly in foiling, access to structured, high-intensity training environments like this is essential. Stephanie Roble reflected on the experience stating, “I left feeling inspired and excited about the future of women’s foiling and high performance sailing in the United States.”

A1R will continue refining the model, expanding opportunities and identifying athletes ready to commit to a high-performance system. 

Contact Us to learn more about future camps