Zhik Team Riders
Olympic medallists. World champions. Round-the-world ocean race winners. The athletes who push our gear harder than anyone.
The Athletes
Every piece of feedback from the Zhik Team goes straight back into our design process: prototype, test, re-prototype, re-test. Their results are the proof. Discover their stories, classes and achievements below.
GERSprint Paddle
Jacob Schopf
Jacob Schopf is one of Germany’s leading sprint kayakers. He won silver in the K-2 1000 m at Tokyo 2020 with Max Hoff, then two Olympic golds at Paris 2024, in the K-2 500 m with Max Lemke and in the K-4 500 m. He has also won several world titles, most recently the K-2 500 m and K-4 500 m in Poznań in 2026. He adds European Championship titles and a European Games gold.
ESP470
Jordi Xammar
Jordi Xammar is one of Spain’s best 470 sailors. He won bronze in the men’s 470 at Tokyo 2020 with Nicolás Rodríguez. He then teamed up with Nora Brugman in the new mixed 470, and they won world silver and the European title in 2023. In 2024 they became world champions on home waters in Mallorca, which made them one of the crews to beat in the class.
GERILCA / Moth
Philipp Buhl
Philipp Buhl is Germany’s most successful ILCA 7 (Laser) sailor and has been a mainstay of the German Olympic team over several Games. In 2020 in Melbourne he became the first German to win the Laser World Championship. He has won eight medals across World and European Championships, the latest a silver at the 2026 European Championships in Split.
FRAILCA
Louise Cervera
Louise Cervera is one of France’s top ILCA 6 sailors. She made a strong start to her Olympic debut at Paris 2024 by winning the opening race of the regatta. She won bronze at the 2024 ILCA 6 European Championships. In 2025 she became ILCA 6 Women’s World Champion in Qingdao, climbing from second place to take the title over the final two days of racing.
FRASlalom Paddle
Marjorie Delassus
Marjorie Delassus is a French slalom paddler who races in both canoe and kayak. She represented France at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She won the U23 world title in the K1 team event in 2019, along with U23 silver in the C1 team. At senior level she took bronze in the C1 at the 2024 European Championships in Tacen. In 2026 she won two world medals in Oklahoma City: silver in the K1 team and bronze in the C1 team.
HUNILCA
Mari Erdi
Mári Érdi is Hungary’s leading ILCA 6 sailor. She learned to sail on Lake Balaton and first made her name by winning Laser Radial gold at the 2015 Youth Sailing World Championships in Langkawi. She has since represented Hungary at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In 2023 she won the ILCA 6 World Championship in The Hague and was named Hungarian Sportswoman of the Year. She followed that with the European title in Athens in 2024.
FRASlalom Paddle
Titouan Castryck
Titouan Castryck is one of France’s most exciting slalom kayakers. He won silver in the men’s K1 at the Paris 2024 Olympics on home water, just 0.2 seconds behind the winner. In 2025 he became K1 World Champion in Sydney and also won the overall World Cup title, after victories in La Seu, Prague and Tacen. He has also won world medals in the K1 team event, taking bronze in 2022 and silver in 2023.
GBRMoth / AC40
Hattie Rogers
Hattie Rogers is one of Britain’s top foiling sailors and has world titles in both the Moth and the WASZP. At the 2024 Moth World Championship in Manly, Australia, she won the women’s title and was the only woman to make it into the gold fleet. She also races in match racing and is continuing to build towards the next Moth Worlds in Perth.
FRAIMOCA
Paprec / Yoann Richomme
Yoann Richomme is one of France’s top offshore sailors and has a long partnership with Paprec. He won La Solitaire du Figaro in 2016 and 2019, and he won the Class40 division of the Route du Rhum in 2018 and 2022, the second time aboard Paprec Arkéa. When he moved up to the IMOCA class with Paprec Arkéa, he won the inaugural Retour à La Base in 2023 and The Transat CIC in 2024. He then finished second in the 2024–25 Vendée Globe, his first time in the race. Paprec has since launched Team Paprec around him, with a new foiling IMOCA.
FRAMOTH / F50
Enzo Balanger
Enzo Balanger is a French foiling sailor. He won the 2025 Moth World Championship on Lake Garda, taking five race wins from ten and finishing 12 points ahead of SailGP record winner Tom Slingsby. He then joined DS Automobiles SailGP Team France as wing trimmer and made his SailGP debut in New York in 2026. The team finished fourth at the event, and driver Quentin Delapierre praised his first outing on the F50.
USA470
Justin Callahan
Justin Callahan is an American sailor from Newport, Rhode Island. With his twin brother Mitchell, he won the 420 class at the 2019 US Youth Sailing Championships and the Club 420 North American Championship. In 2024 the brothers won the Snipe Junior World title in Miami, and Justin also won the Snipe National Championship. While sailing for Harvard, he won the 2025 College Sailing Open Team Race National Championship. He then launched his 2028 Olympic campaign in the 470, winning the Long Beach Olympic Class Regatta.
FRAOffshore
Pierre Leboucher
Pierre Leboucher is a French sailor who has raced at the top level in both Olympic dinghies and solo offshore racing. In the 470 he sailed with Vincent Garos, and the pair represented France at the London 2012 Olympics. In 2016 he left his engineering career to race offshore in the Figaro class, later sailing for Guyot Environnement. He won his first solo stage in 2019 and a stage of the 2021 Solitaire du Figaro.
CROMOTH / 470
Šime Fantela
Šime Fantela is one of Croatia’s most successful sailors. Sailing the 470 with Igor Marenić, he won the junior world title in 2007 and the senior world title in Rungsted, Denmark, in 2009. The pair then won the 470 at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Croatia’s first Olympic gold in sailing. Fantela later moved to the 49er with his brother Mihovil, and they won the 2018 World Championship in Aarhus before representing Croatia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
NORSolo expedition
Erik Aanderaa
Erik Aanderaa is a Norwegian solo sailor and adventurer, known for taking his Contessa 35, Tessie, into some of the toughest waters in northern Europe. Sailing from his home port of Haugesund, he has crossed the North Sea alone in mid-winter several times to reach Shetland’s Up Helly Aa festival, including one 32-hour crossing through a gale. He has also sailed north toward Greenland via Iceland. Away from the water he teaches sea survival, and his storm-sailing videos have built him a large YouTube following.
National & SailGP Teams
From Olympic programs to the high-speed F50 circuit, these teams race in Zhik at the very top of the sport.
AUSOlympic program
Australian Sailing Team
The Australian Sailing Team is one of the most successful Olympic sailing nations in the world. Its men’s single-handed dinghy run is unmatched: Australia has won gold at four straight Games, from Tom Slingsby at London 2012 and Tom Burton at Rio 2016 to Matt Wearn at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. Wearn’s Paris win made him the first sailor ever to defend the Olympic title in the ILCA 7. Grae Morris added silver in the men’s windsurfing in Paris.
Zhik has been the team’s technical apparel partner since 2013. Over that time the partnership has helped deliver four Olympic gold and four silver medals across three Games. In 2025 it was renewed for a fourth Olympic cycle, through to Los Angeles 2028. The team works with Zhik on product development, and together they have pioneered gear such as Zhikgrip II boots, hiking straps and wetsuits made with sustainable Yulex. Zhik also backs grassroots sailing through the Zhik YouthSail series and a rewards programme for Australian Sailing clubs.
DENOlympic program
Danish Sailing Team
The Danish Sailing Team is Denmark’s national Olympic sailing squad and one of the strongest programmes in Europe. Its best-known athlete, Anne-Marie Rindom, has won a full set of Olympic medals in the women’s single-handed dinghy: bronze at Rio 2016, gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024. She also carried Denmark’s flag at the Paris opening ceremony.
Zhik is the team’s Official Technical Apparel Supplier, and the partnership was renewed in 2025 through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Zhik’s support goes beyond the Olympic sailors to the development and youth squads, so it reaches the next generation of Danish talent. The partnership also involves product development: the Danish sailors work directly with Zhik’s R&D team and give feedback on fabrics and technical details.
GEROlympic program
German Sailing Team
The German Sailing Team is the national Olympic squad of the German Sailing Association (DSV). It is strongest in the skiff and multihull classes. Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel won Olympic bronze in the 49er at both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer won bronze in the Nacra 17 in Tokyo. The team keeps reaching the podium in these classes, and German crews won two medals at the 2026 European Championships.
Since 2025, Zhik has been the exclusive technical apparel partner of the German Sailing Team and the DSV. It supplies the elite squad and the wider team through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Zhik was also the technical apparel supplier when the Germany SailGP Team, led by Zhik athlete Erik Heil, made its debut in 2023.
NZLSailGP F50
SailGP New Zealand
The New Zealand SailGP Team, the Black Foils, is led by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke. The pair are among the most decorated duos in sailing, with 49er Olympic gold and America’s Cup wins together. They are co-CEOs of the team, with Burling driving and Tuke trimming the wing on their F50, one of the fastest boats in the league.
Zhik is the team’s Official Technical Sailing Gear Partner. The crew race in Zhik technical apparel, including wetsuits and drysuits made for high-speed foiling. Burling has said the team is “very proud to continue our partnership with Zhik.”
USASailGP F50
SailGP United States
The US SailGP Team is having a breakout 2026 season with driver Taylor Canfield. It is the team’s first strong run since a 2023 ownership change brought in a new crew. They won their first event under the new line-up in Sydney, qualifying third and then winning the final ahead of Great Britain and Spain. They added a second win in Valencia in September, beating Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos in the final.
Zhik has been the team’s Official Technical Partner since the 2023 season opener in Chicago. It supplies the crew’s technical gear, including wetsuits and drysuits. The partnership also supports the US SailGP Team’s Foiling First youth programme, which helps bring more young Americans into high-performance sailing.
USAOlympic Program
US Sailing Team
The US Sailing Team is America’s national Olympic sailing squad, run by US Sailing. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ian Barrows and Hans Henken won bronze in the men’s 49er, the team’s first Olympic sailing medal since Rio 2016. It was also the pair’s first Olympics. The team is now building towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which will give American sailors a home Games.
In 2025 Zhik became the US Sailing Team’s Official Technical Apparel Supplier under a multi-year partnership running through to Los Angeles 2028. Zhik’s support goes beyond the Olympic squad to US Sailing’s development and pathway programmes, including the Olympic Development Program and youth athletes. The partnership is also bringing Zhik’s wetsuit recycling programme, ReZhikle, to sailors across the United States.
GlobalTP52
52 Super Series
The 52 Super Series is widely seen as the world’s top grand prix monohull circuit. Owner-driven TP52 yachts with professional crews made up of America’s Cup and Olympic sailors race a season of regattas at leading venues, mostly in the Mediterranean. The racing is famously close, with the fleet often separated by seconds at the finish.
In 2026 Zhik became the series’ official technical clothing partner. Zhik supplies a custom-designed range of technical wear for the series team, built for daily on- and off-water work across venues with very different conditions. The partnership also includes a limited-edition 52 Super Series event clothing line, sold through a dedicated microsite on the series’ website and its social channels.
USAPADDLE
ACA & US Paddle Team
USA Paddle is the American Canoe Association’s national team programme, covering sprint, slalom and paracanoe athletes. Its focus is on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, a home Games for American paddlers. Ahead of that, the US hosted the 2026 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at RIVERSPORT in Oklahoma City.
In 2026 the ACA named Zhik the Official Apparel Partner of the USA National Teams through to LA28. Zhik supplies team apparel for athletes and coaching staff in all three disciplines. It is also working with athletes and coaches to develop race uniforms and specialist equipment such as spray skirts. Zhik’s link to American paddling goes further: it was also the official technical apparel partner of the Oklahoma City World Championships, dressing the event’s volunteers, officials and staff.
AUSPADDLE
Paddle Australia
Paddle Australia is the national body for canoeing and kayaking. It runs one of the most successful paddling programmes in the world. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Jessica Fox won both the women’s K1 and C1 slalom, a double that made her the most-decorated athlete in Olympic slalom history. Her sister Noemie Fox won the new kayak cross event on her Olympic debut, and they became the first Australian siblings to win individual Olympic gold. In 2025 Australia hosted the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships at Penrith, the Sydney 2000 Olympic whitewater course.
Since 2024 Zhik has been Paddle Australia’s Official Apparel Partner under a multi-year deal covering every national squad, from junior and U23 athletes up to the senior and Olympic teams. The partnership grew in 2025, when Zhik became Platinum Partner and Official Technical Apparel Partner of the Penrith World Championships. It supplied technical uniforms for the event’s volunteers, officials and staff. Zhik also developed its first paddling-specific apparel range with the Paddle Australia Olympic Team, and the range made its debut at the Penrith championships.
NZLPADDLE
Canoe Racing New Zealand
Canoe Racing New Zealand is the national body for canoe sprint. Paris 2024 was a golden Games for the team, as New Zealand topped the canoe sprint medal table with three golds. Lisa Carrington led the way. She won the women’s K4 500 m with Alicia Hoskin, Olivia Brett and Tara Vaughan, New Zealand’s first medal in the event. She then won the K2 500 m with Hoskin and the K1 500 m in an Olympic best time. That took her to eight Olympic golds, level with Birgit Fischer for the most in canoe sprint history.
Zhik has been Canoe Racing New Zealand’s apparel partner since 2024 under a five-year deal. It supplies team apparel to the high-performance squads and also supports grassroots paddling. The partnership also involves product development: Zhik developed and tested its first paddling-specific range with Canoe Racing New Zealand and the Paddle Australia Olympic Team.
GERROWING
Coastal Rowing Germany
The German Coastal Rowing Team races beach sprint, a fast format that will make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. Crews start on the beach, run to their boats, row a short slalom course through the surf and sprint back up the sand to the finish. It tests speed, power and boat-handling in open-water conditions, and Germany is building a dedicated squad to compete when the event joins the Olympic programme.
Zhik is the German Coastal Rowing Team’s apparel partner. Zhik’s first rowing range was developed with the team, and the sport’s surf and spray conditions suit the brand’s background in sailing and paddling. Since that first range Zhik has added rowing unisuits and new baselayers, which brought its “Made for Water” approach to a new sport.
CANROWING
Rowing Canada Aviron
Rowing Canada Aviron is the national governing body for rowing in Canada. The country has won a rowing medal at every Olympics since 1992. Its women’s eight leads the programme: after winning gold at Tokyo 2020, the crew won silver at Paris 2024, holding off Great Britain over the final 500 metres. Four members of the Tokyo crew, including coxswain Kristen Kit, raced in Paris.
In 2026 RCA named Zhik its Official Performance Apparel Provider under a four-year agreement. Zhik was chosen through a formal tender for its record on sustainability, product innovation and performance-focused design. It supplies apparel to RCA’s athletes, staff, board members and umpires in every rowing discipline. Zhik also works closely with the High Performance programme, testing gear on the water and developing new cold-weather products with Canadian rowers.
Made To Win
Worn by World Champions
The same gear our athletes race in, built through obsessive testing and a refusal to accept the existing standard.