The World Paddle Sport Foundation [WPSF] was founded in 2007 by Chris Wiegand of Boulder, Colorado and Katayoon Ashraf of Esfahan, Iran. The focus of the WPSF is on providing paddle sport opportunities to all people, regardless of political affiliation, disabilities, age, religion or race.

Their mission is to introduce the ideals and visions of the Olympics, providing leadership to women from Muslim and Arab lands as well throughout Oceania and the rest of the world. If indeed sport and exchange of cultures can lessen tensions between Nations, this is the goal of the WPSF by bringing people together to realize we are of the same skin, mind and spirit. In June 2007 Ms. Ashraf and Mr. Wiegand began exchanges between individual Iranian and US athletes, disregarding the political tensions between the two Nations. Since Ms Ashraf and Mr Wiegand have used their athletes to create mentoring and collaboration opportunities in Africa to help create a solid foundation for paddle sport where it was once not well known.

 

Our directors, staff and supporters all believe in one vision of peace, gender equality, positive sportsmanship, ethics, education and discipline through paddle sport. The WPSF was founded with the backbone of Director, Chris Wiegand’s beliefs of positive foundations of life, through sport. These ideals were the basis in forming the Front Range Paddle Association in 2002, in Boulder, Colorado. Mr. Wiegand has since provided many young athletes to various paddle sport US National Teams and has gone on to coach members of the Chinese Olympic Team during 2005-2006 as well bring Chinese Development athletes to North America for Collaboration camps and Iran athletes in 2007.

With Mr. Wiegand’s inclusive programming, he was granted the US Olympic Committee- USA Canoe/Kayak Development Coach of the Year Award in 2005 and the Positive Coaching Alliance, Youth Sports Coach of the Year as well Denver Sportsman of the Year Finalist.

The Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, based in Berlin, and the Women’s Sport Foundation, based in New York are official partners of the World Paddle Sport Foundation.