Zhik partners with US SailGP team
Australian sailing brand Zhik has been appointed as the official technical partner to the US SailGP Team and US SailGP Team Foiling First.
Zhik says the USA is an important market for the company and with four SailGP events scheduled in the country the association will play a strategic part in building the brand’s US marketing and dealer support. The company also believes the SailGP series is important for the growth of the sport to reach new audiences.
“We are excited to be working with Jimmy, a two times America’s Cup winner and World Sailor of the Year, and his team to help us grow our US brand awareness as well as inspire and engage more young people with sailing,” says Mat Belcher, Zhik CEO and triple Olympic medalist.
“This is a significant partnership for Zhik, where both performance and sustainability are key to Zhik’s and US SailGP’s core values. We want to back the team with our in-house design team and R&D-focused technical products. Overall, this is a great fit for Zhik and helps us in our drive to innovate more eco-friendly products for the benefit of the wider sailing community.”
Jimmy Spithill, US SailGP CEO and driver, who was a Zhik ambassador early in his career, comments: “It’s fantastic to be working with Zhik again; they are absolutely the best brand to help us do our job.
Their intensive R&D drive towards more sustainable fabrics and manufacturing and new more sustainable lines fits with our US SailGP Team ethos. And from the outset Zhik has always supported youth sailors making their way in the sport. Importantly, their involvement will help us get more young sailors onto the Foiling First program and wearing the best kit from the outset.”
The Foiling First programme is part of the SailGP #RaceForTheFuture sustainability initiative. The scheme enables young people from all backgrounds to try foiling for the first time and creates a pathway for the next generation of foiling athletes to build skills and expertise.
In February 2023, Zhik launched an equity crowdfunding campaign to raise AU$4m (£2.29m) to drive future growth.
