Ellie Aldridge claims Kite World Championships silver
by British Sailing Team 18 Oct 2021 16:22 BST
11-17 October 2021
Silver for Ellie Aldridge at the 2021 Formula Kite World Championships in Torregrande, Sardinia © IKA Media / Robert Hajduk
British kite foiler Ellie Aldridge bagged herself another international medal taking silver at the 2021 Formula Kite World Championships in Torregrande, Sardinia.
With two European titles to her name, Aldridge has now added a world podium to her growing collection of silverware in the new Olympic class.
The world championships in Sardinia is the first since World Sailing announced the kites would get two sets of individual medals as opposed to a single mixed event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Ahead of Aldridge, American Daniela Moroz once again proved too strong for the international field claiming her fifth consecutive title. France's Lauriane Nolot completed the podium in third.
Aldridge, 24 from Poole, Dorset, said: "It feels pretty good to come away with second. I was super lucky to qualify directly into the finals in second place because the winds on the final day were crazy, like the most unstable breeze I've ever kited in.
"It was a full-on week with wind from almost every direction, so we definitely had the variety you'd want at a world championships.
"Unfortunately I didn't do enough to take the title away from Daniela this time, but I got a few bullets from her so that'll keep me happy until next year."
Aldridge was one of three British female riders to make it through the qualifying series although she had the luxury of going straight through to the final in second place.
Teammates Maddy Anderson and Katie Dabson had the unenviable task of trying to make it through a tough semi-final process in which only one of six could go through to the final showdown from each of the two groups.
Placed in the same group, neither Anderson and Dabson could advance finally finishing their championships in 10th and 13th respectively.
Anderson, 26 from Weymouth, Dorset, said: "We've had all sorts of conditions this week, perfect really for a world champs, so in the end I'm really pleased that I managed to put together a decent series, especially after putting in some deep scores on day one.
"I learned heaps this week round the racecourse and also learning to reset after setbacks; I'm motivated and excited to make some big gains over the winter with the team."
From the other British interests in the fleet, Jemima Crathorne finished in 20th while Lily Young was fifth in the silver fleet on her return from injury.
In the men's competition, both Connor Bainbridge and Guy Bridge fell just short of a chance for a medal going out at the semi-final stage.
Both posted top ten finishes in qualifying to make the semi-finals but couldn't get through what is proving to be a very tough route to a medal.
Bainbridge eventually finished sixth with Bridge just behind in seventh.
All results can be found at www.formulakite.org/component/sppagebuilder/?view=page&id=10