Julia Castro | Waterwoman and Sports Communication Expert

Julia Castro (known as fuertejulia on Instagram) is a Spanish professional waterwoman from Fuerteventura with a unique career that bridges elite competition in board and wind sports (kitesurf, wakeboard, wingfoil, foil) and a top-level career in international sports communication.

At just eight years old, Julia earned her first diving star thanks to her parents, who were professional divers. By then, sports were already second nature to her: karate, horse riding, sailing, handball, canoeing—always in motion. Hyperactive and full of energy, she soon discovered that the only way to channel that whirlwind inside her was through sport.

From hurdles to kites: an unexpected turn

In 2011, she began to stand out in athletics, particularly in hurdles and heptathlon. In a single Canary Islands Championship, she won four gold medals (100m and 300m hurdles, javelin, and another event she no longer recalls), becoming the most decorated athlete of the season. Her future seemed set… until a minor knee injury and surgery changed everything.

Far from giving up, Julia found a new passion almost by chance. While working as a waitress at the Windsurf and Kitesurf World Championship in Fuerteventura, known as “La Carpa,” she hopped on the back (“mochila”) of one of the competitors—and that moment changed her life. A year later, she made a deal: kite lessons in exchange for taking photos of her instructor (back then, Julia dreamed of becoming a photographer). That summer marked another turning point; from then on, she spent every day at the beach, covering 60 km to train without a driver’s license—by bus, hitchhiking, or carrying her gear from school.

At first, she trained with borrowed equipment. Gradually, through various jobs and photography prizes (her other great passion), she bought her first board—a North Soleil 2011. In 2012, she dared to compete at the Spanish Championship in Lanzarote, where she surprised everyone by finishing 3rd in both freestyle and waves, and soon after, she took another 3rd place at the Tarifa Masters of Kite.

2016–2019: Golden era – Vice World Champion

This was undoubtedly Julia Castro’s golden era and her period of international consolidation—a time when she turned injury into a historic global breakthrough.

• 4× Spanish Wakeboard Champion (2016–2019)
• 6th place at the European Championship (first Spanish woman ever to reach the final)
• Vice World Champion, Kite Park League (KPL) 2018
• 7th at the IWWF Cable Wakeboard World Championship (2018)
• Member of the winning team at Red Bull Tarifa 2 (2019, team category)

Post-COVID reinvention: the Waterwoman era

A new stage of versatility and 360º communication—winning in waves, qualifying for the Wingfoil World Championship, and becoming the first Canarian to lead online communications for the 2024 Olympic Games.

In 2022, she took 1st place in Waves at the GWA Iberian Wingfoil Tour (Nalu Galicia), earning her a spot at the Wingfoil World Championship. In 2024, with Kitefoil’s debut at the Paris Olympic Games, she didn’t compete—she worked for World Sailing as Online Communications and Content Lead, becoming the first Canarian (and possibly the first Spaniard) in that role.

Beyond competition: 360º sports communication

Alongside her athletic career, Julia has built a strong professional path as a sports community manager and digital creator. She has led communications for over 70 international events (see her full portfolio here). A specialist in social media content, presenting, and sponsor and engagement strategy, she has spoken twice at the Yacht Racing Forum (2024 and 2025).

She speaks Spanish, English, German, Italian, and understands some Danish.

Today

Julia defines herself as a Waterwoman: a versatile athlete who enjoys all board and wind disciplines (kitesurf, wingfoil, Foil Drive). She still competes occasionally, though her main focus is no longer competition. She continues to run kite, wingfoil, and Foil Drive camps around the world, with about 70% of her work now focused on sailing and Foil Drive events, where she manages online communication.

Follow her daily adventures, tutorials, and event coverage on Instagram: @fuertejulia