Buddy Melges Racing Team
The Buddy Melges Racing Team promotes high end, competitive youth sailing at the local, regional, national and international levels.
Due to the SAFER AT HOME ORDER that is in effect until May 26th 2020, the BMRT practices are suspended. The team will be meeting periodically on Saturdays for online video chat and Wednesdays for Virtual Regattas. Please email sail@glss.org to be added to our Team Snap program and receive updates about all our activities.
In September of 2016, the Geneva Lake Sailing School launched the Buddy Melges Racing Team. Harnessing the history and legend of our patron, this Racing Team seeks to introduce young sailors to regional, national and international competitions. After focusing on development of new generation of champions in the Optimist class we are now expanding in the Laser Radials as well.
BMRT offers the opportunity to continue sailing past the summer months. Once the Sailing School programs are over; we organize regular weekend practices all the way through Halloween and participate in major National and International events throughout the winter. We then resume training on Lake Geneva in early April to get ready for a successful Summer Season. Additional time on the water, and practice with the Buddy Melges Racing Team has a proven track record of allowing our sailors to be top performers at ILYA regattas in both Optimists and X Boats and represent the region at national and international regattas as well. In 2019 our sailors swept the podium in the Optimist Class at the Dinghy Fest and Inland Championships, they won the X Boats at Dinghy fest and Inland Senior fleet and finished second in the Junior competition. Our alumni won the US Youth Championships and North Americans in the Laser Radial class and won bronze in the US Youth Championship in the International 420 class.
On top of sailing skills, we are highly focused on conditioning and nutrition to help our sailors become better athletes and competitors. We also strive to develop our youth through building confidence and self-esteem, independent decision making and respect for others.
BMRT offers the opportunity to continue sailing past the summer months. Once the Sailing School programs are over; we organize regular weekend practices all the way through Halloween and participate in major National and International events throughout the winter. We then resume training on Lake Geneva in early April to get ready for a successful Summer Season. Additional time on the water, and practice with the Buddy Melges Racing Team has a proven track record of allowing our sailors to be top performers at ILYA regattas in both Optimists and X Boats and represent the region at national and international regattas as well. In 2019 our sailors swept the podium in the Optimist Class at the Dinghy Fest and Inland Championships, they won the X Boats at Dinghy fest and Inland Senior fleet and finished second in the Junior competition. Our alumni won the US Youth Championships and North Americans in the Laser Radial class and won bronze in the US Youth Championship in the International 420 class.
On top of sailing skills, we are highly focused on conditioning and nutrition to help our sailors become better athletes and competitors. We also strive to develop our youth through building confidence and self-esteem, independent decision making and respect for others.
BMRT HEAD COACH MAREK VALASEK
The presence of our off-season Buddy Melges Racing Team, combined with the new building housing the Lake Geneva Yacht Club and Geneva Lake Sailing School, provided us the infrastructure necessary to attract top talent to lead our program. Marek Valasek joined us in January of 2017 with a resume and a coaching ability that we welcomed with enthusiasm.
Marek Valasek arrived at the Geneva Lake Sailing School having been a sailing director and professional coach for over fifteen years. In 2016, Marek’s high school team won the ISSA Mallory Trophy and placed 4th at the ISSA Baker Cup. Valasek coached the U.S. National Team at the Optimist World Championships (2015) and the Optimist Asian Championships (2016). He has consistently coached Optimist sailors to top finishes -2nd Place (2016 USODA Team Trials), 2nd Place (2011 USODA National Championships), 1st Place (2010 & 2011 USODA Team Trials).
An accomplished sailor, Marek won multiple national titles in Optimist, Laser and Finn classes and represented Slovakia in the at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Marek Valasek arrived at the Geneva Lake Sailing School having been a sailing director and professional coach for over fifteen years. In 2016, Marek’s high school team won the ISSA Mallory Trophy and placed 4th at the ISSA Baker Cup. Valasek coached the U.S. National Team at the Optimist World Championships (2015) and the Optimist Asian Championships (2016). He has consistently coached Optimist sailors to top finishes -2nd Place (2016 USODA Team Trials), 2nd Place (2011 USODA National Championships), 1st Place (2010 & 2011 USODA Team Trials).
An accomplished sailor, Marek won multiple national titles in Optimist, Laser and Finn classes and represented Slovakia in the at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.