Kites at Lancelin

WA Kitesurfing Association has been invited to particiate in the 2012 Lancelin Ocean Classic by providing demonstration event/s on Friday 13 January commencing in the PM.
The designated area will be at the northern end of Lancelin beach opposite Lancelin Island.
The Windsurfing Wave Expression will be taking place at the same time at South Passage and we ask that Kitesurfers respect the competion that will be running.
In an effort to create a harmonious environment and mutual respect we ask that you work through WA Kitesurfing who are managing this demonstration event for 2012.
We look forward to meeting you all on the Friday.
Lancelin Chamber of Commerce

Is the ledge to Lancanlin windsurfing race still on ?

thats what we used to really enjoy as kiters doing the down wind race !
and then the freestyle.

A lot of kite surfing crew are now into there racing, ala red bull rotto to leigton

bit of a soft inviation asking us kiters only to do a demo ....

well we have kitestock anyway, but there is enough kiters now to get the numbers
and judging by the offer of demo on Friday afternoon maybe you do not want the numbers ...

in the early days it was great, the race and then the big party at the lano - where the kiters tried to out party the windsurfers (and vise versa)

It was a big weekend and i only remember good vibes between all, so for me it would all or nothing for the ledge to lancalin to become a extreme sailors event for all with all the events included.

Awesome so we are in next year ??

This will be fantastic combined kite/poley event bring it on, will only be positive for all involved and stick it up Werner, ha ha

And for the record Werner rescues more kiters than poleys, so he seems to be a good bloke to have around despite his occasional grumpiness.

Thanks Chris6791, you have got it right.
The Lancelin Chamber are a voluntary organisation and we have been involved on and off with the Lancelin Ocean Classic for the 27 years so you can assume correctly we are not windsurfers or kiters - we are much better administrators. We do have daily contact with both disiplines so we see the evolution and challenges. The current crew have been involved for the past 6 years and some of us worked on this event during the early 90's.... good times - good people.

In an effort to expand water sport activities we need to evaluate whats wanted and how we can fit it all in....within the confines of a commercial fishing harbour.
We are working with WAKSA as they know better than us what may be possible for kites at Lancelin.
Chamber will assess whats needed in terms of infrastructure, forward planning really is our focus. We are looking at your demo day as a stepping stone and a 'get to know you'. I can advise there have been phone calls from photographers who want to come up for the kites so there is external interest which is encouraging.

To be involved in the Lano ocean clasic would be great for kitesurfing.

My question is, will the kitesurfers be included in the down wind race from Ledge to Lancelin.

Your posting about having a kite surf demonstration event on at the same time as the wind surfers are out at the South passage reads more like you just want the kiters out of the way for that time.
Fair enough, there should be no kiters at South passage during the windsurf event, but why would you not have consecutive events at South passage instead of splitting up the spectators.
I think Lancelin should embrace kite surfing as a sport in a more positive way, and include the kiters into all events staight away. There are lots of experienced people who are probably willing to help with information on how to go about including the kite surfers.

What is the ledge to lano run like for a downwinder?anything you need to know if your going to tackle it?

I have no affiliation with anyone organising the LOC but I am aware it has taken some hard work by the LCCI, WWA and WAKSA just to get to the point where inclusion of kites, if only as a demonstration, is being considered.

It's a windsurfing comp, if the organisers want to take baby steps in the inclusion of kiters that's their choice, it isn't going to happen overnight either way. Co-ordinating resources to safely run the marathon with 2-300 poleys and how-ever many additional kiters is a massive undertaking and will take a full year or more of planning and approvals, whether it be a combined race, two separate marathons on the same day or a separate series of wave comps @ SP. Hence LCCI looking for feedback on what the kiters want now for a greater inclusion in future events. For my vote, I'd love to see the start line of the marathon with a heap of poleys and kiters belting down the coast, line honours and bragging rights for which ever discipline wins would be fkn awesome.

@ ste, the Ledge to Lancelin downwinder is about 11k's, I haven't done it but it isn't very popular either way. Don't confuse that with the Ledge to Lancelin LOC Marathon which zig-zags from relatively close to shore and some distance out to sea for the outward markers.