SkillsUSA has selected Tristan Coates, of Jacksonville, Fla. as the official U.S. competitor for Carpentry at the 2026 WorldSkills Competition. This prestigious international skills competition, often referred to as the “Olympics of skilled trades,” will be held Sept. 22 -27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

Coates is a past national champion for Carpentry and a SkillsUSA Florida state champion. Since high school, the now 22-year-old has been growing his own business, Coates Builder Improvements.

“SkillsUSA has pushed me to a higher standard,” he said. “It’s not just about knowing how to build—it’s about precision, efficiency, safety, and professionalism under pressure. Competing has taught me how to stay focused, manage time, and execute at a high level even in stressful situations. Now running a business, it’s like second nature, problem-solving daily and quickly, in every aspect.”

Coates is eager to compete internationally at the highest level of the trade and will use the opportunity to grow, sharpen his skills and learn from other countries.

“You’re going up against the best in the world, and that’s where you really find out what you’re made of,” he said. “I don’t just want to be good locally or nationally—I want to represent my skills against the top craftspeople globally.”

Coates said he’s honored to be named to the U.S. team for WorldSkills.

“It’s not just about me—it’s about representing my community, my team, and the trades as a whole,” he said. “I take that responsibility seriously, and I’m proud to show what American craftsmanship looks like on an international level.”

Between now and September, Coates will train to refine fundamentals like layout, framing accuracy, and finish work, while also practicing competition-style builds under timed conditions. He also will study the technical side of the competition, like codes, measurements and problem-solving, to ensure he’s fully prepared for whatever the competition will entail.

Coates’ expert for WorldSkills is Boyd Worsham, CEO of the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER). Coates’ participation in the 2026 WorldSkills is supported by DEWALT and NCCER.

Carpentry is the eighth competition in which the U.S. delegation will compete during WorldSkills. WorldSkills brings together young people, industry, education, and government leaders from around the world to advance career and technical education and training. Competitors vie for international honors in skill competitions, showcasing dozens of trade skills.