Sail Canada has announced the winners of the 2025 Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Awards, with the 29er team of Laura Eisenhauer and Freida Smith, both from Halifax, N.S., and iQFoil athlete Valentino Blewett from Whistler, B.C., earning the prestigious honours. The announcement was made on October 14, 2026, from Kingston.
The Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award is presented annually to two Canadian athletes or teams of different gender identities. It recognizes sailors aged 18 and under who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in national and international youth competition, brought recognition to Canadian competitive sailing, set an example for fellow youth competitors through their behaviour and conduct, and shown leadership and sportsmanship.
Nominations were evaluated based on performances between January 1 and December 31, 2025.
During that period, Laura Eisenhauer and Freida Smith captured gold in the 29er class at Sail Canada’s Youth Championships and earned a silver medal at the 2025 Canada Summer Games. Competing for the first time at the Youth World Sailing Championships in 2025 in Vilamoura, Portugal, the duo finished 17th overall in the 29er class.
“We are honoured to be named the 2025 Sail Canada Youth Female Athletes of the year,” said Laura Eisenhauer and Freida Smith. “Over the past three years sailing together, we have put focus and commitment into achieving excellence on the water, and this award is a meaningful reflection of our dedication. We would like to thank all of our supporters, specifically our families, coaches, and community at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and Lunenburg Yacht Club. We are proud to have the privilege of representing Canada on the international stage.”
On the men’s side, the award went to Valentino Blewett, who opened his 2025 campaign with a 28th-place finish out of 149 participants at the iQFoil Youth and Junior World Championships held in France. He followed that with a 30th-place result out of 95 sailors at the iQFoil U23 World Championships, then capped his season with a remarkable fourth-place finish out of 100 athletes at the iQFoil Youth and Junior European Championships.
“I am really grateful for this award, and I want to thank everyone who helped me achieve it,” said Valentino Blewett.
Additional information on the Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Awards and past winners is available through the Sail Canada website.
Established in 1931, Sail Canada is the national governing body for the sport of sailing in the country. Sail Canada is a leading international sailing nation, proud of its world-class athletes, lifelong participants, and inclusive culture. The organization and its members are committed to excellence by developing and training leaders, athletes, sailors, instructors, coaches, and officials. With valued support from partners, Provincial Sailing Associations, and member clubs, schools, organizations, and stakeholders, sailing is promoted in all its forms. From home pond to podium, dinghies to keelboats, cruising to navigation, windsurfing to powerboating, and accessible sailing, Sail Canada sets sail for all, sail to win, and sail for life.
Sailing has been part of the Olympic program since the first Games in 1896, with the sole exception of 1904. The pursuit of success at these Games fuels Sail Canada’s focus, as Canadian athletes have so far achieved nine Olympic and five Paralympic medals.
