Open talent search for new Olympic Formula Kite team – deadline looms

British Sailing Team (BST) is seeking male athletes as part of its Olympic Kite talent search. The organisation’s #Kite4Gold talent search hopes to identify between three and six male athletes with the potential to take up the Olympics’ newest sport and achieve the highest accolades.

Entries are open to competitors aged between 16 and 21, with the deadline for applications closing at midnight on 19 August.

BST says: “The aim is to be racing on the international circuit by 2023, with the ultimate goal being to compete as part of the British Sailing Team to win the 2028 Olympic Games. We will consider a wide variety of applicants, though in order to apply you must be a male British citizen, aged between 16-21 years, you must be highly competitive and enjoy sports that involve fast racing.

“We will consider applications from applicants outside this age range if they show a large potential with a high level of race experience in the classes stated below.”

With Tokyo 2020 proving a huge success and just three years to go until the Paris 2024 Olympics, the British Sailing Team is looking to bolster its men’s Formula Kite team.

“We are particularly interested to hear from people who have got a racing background, especially in fast classes (e.g. Skiffs, Catamaran or any foiling boats, iQ Foil, RS:X, Techno, Slalom and Winging), and especially with existing kiteboarding skills (though prior kiteboarding experience is not a formal pre-requisite),” the organisation says.

Formula Kite is a cutting-edge, high-performance hydrofoiling sport that sees riders race round a course at blistering speeds of up to 55 knots (63 mph).

The original #Kite4Gold was launched in September 2018 and by the following summer had produced a raft of international-level riders including a European champion in Ellie Aldridge.

BST is working with the English Institute of Sport, and UK Sport and British Kitesports, for the talent hunt.

Those shortlisted will be expected to attend the following camps:

• Camp 1: September 2-5 at Easy Riders in Poole
• Camp 2: September 18-21 at Easy Riders in Poole
• Camp 3: October 16-17 at Easy Riders in Poole
• Camp 4: November 6-7 at Venue TBC
• Camp 5: November 27-28 at Venue TBC

Initially, it was thought that the discipline would make its Olympic debut as a mixed event, but in May 2021 World Sailing opted for separate men’s and women’s events.

Anyone can apply to be part of #Kite4Gold. The deadline for applications is midnight on August 19. If you have any questions, please contact kite4gold@rya.org.uk.

Image courtesy of Oliver Hartas