When kitefoil made its Olympic debut at the Paris Games, Ellie Aldridge (Poole, 1996) secured her place in sporting history. The British sailor became the first Olympic champion in Formula Kite — an achievement built on dedication, countless hours on the water and one key training ground: the Canary Islands, her second home.
The Olympic debut of kitefoil in Paris, where competitors reached speeds of up to 40 knots, confirmed the rapid evolution of a sport that in little more than a decade has progressed from an emerging class to an Olympic discipline. “Being part of the first Olympic kitesurfing event, the Olympic debut of Formula Kite, was incredible,” Aldridge explains. “It was a privilege to represent the whole sport. It’s something we had been waiting for for a very long time. And winning was simply spectacular.”
From Poole to Olympic gold
Born in Poole, on England’s south coast, Aldridge grew up close to the sea and began sailing at a young age. She gradually steered her career towards high-performance sailing and, from 2018 onwards, focused on kitefoil just as the discipline was beginning to establish within the Olympic programme.
Her rise was swift. In 2023 she became Formula Kite European champion and that same year claimed a silver medal at the World Championships, confirming her status as one of the sport’s leading international figures.
After winning Olympic gold in 2024 came the America’s Cup. Aldridge is part of the British Athena Pathway team, with whom she competed in the 2024 Women’s America’s Cup and is now preparing for the next edition of the historic competition. She is also a member of the Emirates GBR team in SailGP, one of the fastest and most technologically advanced sailing competitions in the world today.
Yet behind all these achievements lies a key factor: the need to accumulate hours on the water and train at the highest level possible. And this is where the Canary Islands play a fundamental role.
The archipelago has established itself as one of the world’s leading destinations for wind sports. Its unique conditions attract elite athletes from across the globe every year. Aldridge is among them. She first discovered the islands in 2020 and has since made them one of her regular training bases.
A key training ground
Throughout much of the European winter, international sailors relocate to the archipelago to continue their preparation. Here they find an environment that allows them to train consistently and share sessions with some of the best athletes on the circuit.
Aldridge explains it clearly: “The Canary Islands are a fantastic place, especially for winter training. We can come here to train, enjoy the best conditions and at the same time be alongside our biggest rivals”.
That competitive environment is one of the reasons many athletes return each season. Training in the same spot as other top competitors makes it possible to compare performance and raise the overall level.
The stability of the climate is another advantage, allowing sailors to spend far more time on the water. “You simply don’t find the same weather systems or climate elsewhere in Europe,” Aldridge notes.
In addition, the archipelago’s proximity to mainland Europe makes it a particularly practical destination for European athletes. “For us, without having to travel very far, we have the best climate: warm conditions, sunshine and good wind every day.”
An inspiring setting
On many beaches across the archipelago, it is easy to spot colourful kites gliding across the water at high speed, driven by the wind — a spectacle that rarely goes unnoticed. “People on the beach see us training and probably think: ‘I’d love to try that,’” Aldridge says.
Perhaps that is why, when asked to describe the Canary Islands in three words, Ellie’s answer is clear: “Idyllic, relaxing and welcoming.” For many athletes, the destination has become much more than just a training base — it is a place where the wind, the ocean conditions and the hours spent on the water truly make the difference.
