VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK

Top ten finishers equipment data from the World’s.
Name / Country / Board / Kite / Fins (if known)

1. Johnny Heineken - USA - Mikes Lab ML70 - Ozone Edge (2013) - Tectonic
2. Adam Koch - USA - Mikes Lab ML70 - Ozone Edge - Rista
3. Julien Kerneur - France - RRD K-Rapida Special - RRD Addiction MKIII
4. Riccardo Leccese - Italy - Mikes Lab ML70 - Ozone Edge (2013)
5. Maxime Nocher - France- North Race LTD 69 - North Dyno/Dyno LTD
6. Bryan Lake - USA - Mikes Lab ML70 - Cabrinha Crossbow - Tectonic
7. Florian Gruber - Germany - North Race LTD 69 - North Dyno/Dyno LTD
8. Oliver Dansin - France - North Race LTD 69 - North Dyno/Dyno LTD
9. Dave Robertson - New Zealand - NJS CF6 - Ozone Edge (2013)
10. Wilson Velosa - Brazil - Aguera CR 69 LE HW - Ozone Edge

3 North boards in the top 10 and an RRD in 3rd. This will change what people are chasing a little, since they don't have a 1 year wait list!

Greg, Adam (Jessica's brother) is out practicing every time there is a breath of wind (13m Ozone) and there hasn't been much. It looks fast and maybe thrilling but I think it is a lot more difficult than the accomplished guys(you) make it look. Riding those big fins has to be tricky. I had enough trouble with pointer fins back in my ws days! (last century if I remember)
Always went back to the wave style fins as they were more forgiving on the ankles.
Makes me think of SUP racing. The good guys are fast but looking at there back contortion, ouch.
Oh well, I will have to give both sports a try. Never know.
Was a ws, tried kiting once (just once) and the rest is history.
martin

Adam placed 3rd in the Bridge to Bridge race!

Race boards are difficult board to ride Martin. Very frustrating, and then that gives way to accomplishment, and then a need for speed. Give it a shot, you never know.

Sounds a bit like riding a skimboard the first time. Totally frustrating (where are those straps anyways?) but slowly the fun meter starts to climb and a big grin comes across your face that just can't be wiped off!

Looks like Alex Aguera has teamed up with Mean Line fins in Maui; http://www.meanlinefins.com/about There are now three Kite Race fin designers/manufactures on Maui. I have also heard rumors of a prepreg carbon super fin being produced in Hood River. If anyone hears anything about new Kite Race fins being produced in the Gorge please let me know (it might be G SPORT, but I do not see Kite Race fins on their website).

The following news release (from IKA) is going to make it very difficult for Windsurfing to get ISAF to reverse its decision on the inclusion of Kiteboarding in the Rio Olympics. This is excellent news for the growth of Kiteboarding throughout the world.

"African Course Racing Championship secured for 2013-2015

Friday, 02 November 2012 11:48

We are happy to announce the African Kite Course Racing Championships to be held in Hurghada, Egypt, in the years 2013-2015. The event will be held every year in the last week of March at the famous Hotel Magawish in Hurghada, and feature a price purse of 20000 Euro every year. As a continental championship, the event is expected to be graded as a 100 point event for the ISAF world ranking.
The event will be hosted by Colonia Watersports and Royal Dream Tours in cooperation with the Egypt Sailing Federation.
Kiteboarding is the first of the 2016 Olympic events that managed to secure a continental championship in Africa for the upcoming years, providing another opportunity especially for the emerging regions in africa to take part in the Olympic Qualifying process.
Details will be published soon through the ISAF and IKA websites."

This is Kiteracing: http://vimeo.com/52493924

Olympic WS champion talks about kiting in Rio...

http://www.thekiteboarder.com/2012/09/e ... tesurfing/

I don't follow this racing stuff, so apologies if already posted elsewhere.

Appears ISAF has now flip flopped, put windsurfing back in for Rio 2016 and kiting is now out.

* * *

The Annual General Meeting of the International Sailing Federation approved the decision to keep windsurfing in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, reverting the initial option for kiteboarding.


In one day, the hopes of kiteboarders changed dramatically, as it was feared in the International Kiteboarding Association headquarters. On the 9th November, proposals to re-open the debate did not receive the required 75% of votes from ISAF Council. The Events and Equipment confirmed the May 2012 decision and Formula Kite would open the way to the "box rule".

Twenty four hours later, as reported by SurferToday.com, things could change and they did. In the morning of the 10th November, kiteboarding was in the Olympic Games. Now, it won't be.

This means that the Rio 2016 Olympic Games set for Brazil will have Men's RS:X and Women's RS:X competitions, only. Tension rose during the entire week.

Both the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) and International Windsurfing Association (IWA) did not answer any questions before the ISAF decision proving that anxiety took control of the sports' governing bodies.

During the entire year of 2012, it was clear that IKA and IWA could not communicate efficiently with each other. Cooperative actions were never seen and both wind sports wanted radical changes or conservative approaches, depending on the side.

A few hours before the final decisions, the official IKA page on Facebook was pouring sincere feelings. "First objective for us is not to reopen the debate. If this would happen, then there are various options on the table", IKA wrote.

Windsurfing has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1984 for Men and 1992 for Women. The RS:X class by NeilPryde was introduced in the Olympic movement in Beijing 2008, with the One Design board concept.

Dutch windsurfer Stephan van den Berg was the first windsurfer to win a gold medal in the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. At that time, the class was named "Windglider". Scott Steele (USA) took silver and Bruce Kendall (NZL) took bronze.

Kiteboarders have been working for years to get their sport at the Olympic venues. With the support of media-hyped VIP and even windsurfers, kiteboarding grew and conquered ISAF officials.

As the Olympic drama comes to a close, windsurfers, kiteboarders and ISAF do not leave the process with an immaculate image. Will time heal all the wounds?

The sailing events for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games are:

Men's RS:X
Women's RS:X
Men's One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women's One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men's One Person Dinghy (heavy) – Finn
Men's Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women's Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men's Skiff – 49er
Women's Skiff – 49er FX
Mixed Two Person Multihull – Nacra 17

grumble mumble grumble grumble

Initial results from the first “2013” ISAF World Cup in Melbourne, Australia. This is the ISAF World Sailing Series for all Olympic class boats and “invitees”. These races are used to determine invitation to World Championships and Olympic qualifiers for each of the sailing classes.

http://www.yachting.org.au/site/yachtin ... ll_12.html

http://www.yachting.org.au/site/yachtin ... all_8.html

Come on! Someone say something. 3 Windsurfers vs 41 Kite Surfers!!! The ISAF Olympic debacle is ????? Anyone?

Out with one of the duplicate dinghy classes, in with Kiteboarding. That should have been the solution. Or axe one of those completely obscure (and boring to watch) sports that nearly no one does - like shot put.