Meet the US SAILING Roadshow Crew
Meet Brooke Thomson
Brooke Thomson grew up sailing Sabots in Newport Beach, Calif. After attending Newport Harbor High School and sailing on the varsity team, Brooke continued her education at St. Mary's College of Maryland as an English major. Brooke was an active member of the St. Mary's sailing team. Brooke shares her passion for sailing in different ways, such as regatta promotions, communications and coaching. Along with sailing, Brooke also enjoys movies, reading, writing, running, Pilates, and photography. Brooke is excited to be part of the first ever US SAILING Roadshow.
Meet Will Ricketson
Will Ricketson (Westford, Mass.) grew up sailing on Gardener's Bay near Long Island, N.Y. He competed throughout the Northeast as a junior sailor for the Shelter Island Yacht Club. Starting in the Optimist dinghy, he eventually moved into Lasers, 420s, FJs and Etchells. Will was Captain and President of the George Washington University sailing team, and competed in the MAISA conference for four years. Passionate about all things sailing, Will's interests range from maritime history, to community programs, to grand prix sailing. Will is a great fit for the 2011 US SAILING Roadshow.
US SAILING: Why is the Roadshow program special to you?
Will: "Promoting the sport of sailing is my passion. The chance to be a part of the US SAILING Roadshow and to help showcase the vibrant sailing communities that exists in the United States is an incredible opportunity. This is my first chance to help the sport on a national level, having worked and sailed with junior and collegiate programs in the past. Being part of a team that helps increase the overall strength and visibility of sailing in this country will be an exciting challenge and a true privilege."
Brooke: "The Roadshow is important to me because it’s the perfect way to promote sailing on a grass roots level and give back to the community. I've always been passionate about sailing but in the past four years it's actually been even more satisfying to be able to help others in the sport through writing and media coverage of sailing. I'm really looking forward to the chance to be actively involved in promoting and expanding sailing to communities."
US SAILING: How can you make a positive impact on sailors you meet this summer?
Will: "I think the most critical aspect of our role this summer will be to bring as much energy and enthusiasm as possible to each venue we visit. Sailing has been personally beneficial to me in many, many ways, and making it a big part of my life has been very worthwhile. I hope to get this message across to everyone we meet, but especially to junior sailors and potential newcomers to the sport."
Brooke: "I'm looking forward to making an impact on young sailors this summer. I am still inspired by some of the coaches I had when I was young and I hope to be able to do the same. Sailing is a sport that requires a lot of patience and knowledge for younger generations and I hope to make the sport something accessible and really fun for kids to be involved in."
US SAILING: What are you looking forward to most?
Will: "Perhaps the two best things about sailing are that people enjoy and experience it in so many ways, and can do so for their entire lives. I'm really looking forward to getting to know people and programs around the country, and spreading the word about the unique ways they enrich the sport. There are so many great stories waiting to be told, and so many events that deserve to be better exposed. Frankly, I can't wait to get started!"
Brooke: "There are a lot of aspects of the Roadshow that I'm looking forward to. One is playing a role in promoting the sport and having a part in bringing sailors to a higher level. I'm really excited to have a role that is so active in the sailing community. I also cannot wait for the traveling and all the encounters of the open road. Lastly, aside from sailing I am also passionate about film and media and can't think of a better opportunity to combine all of these interests."
Follow the US SAILING Roadshow crew at http://media.ussailing.org/2011_Road_Show.htm as we track our every move.
Stay connected with US SAILING through Facebook and Twitter for breaking news, daily updates, reminders, photos, videos, and more.
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US SAILING is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US SAILING offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org .