Kai started kiteboarding in 2008 at the age of 14 and was immediately hooked. All he could think about was how to get down to the beach each day to fly the kite or send some jumps. With his father being a Bronze Medalist in the Soling class, the Calder family’s original intent was for Kai to sail Optis and enter the sport in the traditional way, but Kai was sold on the high speeds of the kite class. After several years of competing in the Freestyle kite discipline and getting injured, he transitioned into course racing and ultimately added the foil before Formula Kite was announced as an Olympic discipline.
In 2022 Kai was able to finish as the top male American (19th overall) at the World Championships in Poetto, Italy, securing him a spot on the US Sailing Team. Calder recently quit his full time job to commit full time to his Paris 2024 Olympic Campaign.
GO USA!
About:
Hometown: Delray Beach, Florida
Education: University of North Florida, B.B.A - Transportation and Logistics / Supply Chain Management
Club: St. Francis Yacht Club Sailing Foundation, New York Yacht Club Foundation
Sailing Achievements:
1st, West Marine US Open Sailing Series, San Francisco CA, 2021
3rd, West Marine US Open Sailing Series, Long Beach CA, 2021
2nd, West Marine US Open Sailing Series, Clearwater FL, 2021
1st, St. Francis Yacht Club Thursday Night Race Series 2019
9th, Hydrofoil Pro Tour Stop #3, San Francisco CA
4th Overall, 1st American, US National Championship, Santa Barbara CA 2019
4th Overall, 3rd North American, North American Pan American Qualifiers, San Diego CA 2019
4th Overall, 3rd Long Distance, La Ventana Classic 2019
2nd, St. Francis Yacht Club Thursday Night Race Series 2018
2nd, Elite Watersport Spring Kite Foil Race 2018
9th, Hydrofoil Pro Tour Stop #3, San Francisco CA 2018
25th, Aarhus World Sailing Championships 2018