Just over two hundred & thirty kiters, families & friends have come and gone for KS2012. It's all over for another year.
We faced howling easterlies and some reasonable swell. We dealt with bushfires and road closures, and unbelievably long detours. We sweltered in the shade and waited. We SUP'ped and waited...and waited.
Our patience was finally rewarded late on Saturday afternoon when we saw 30 kites out for a couple of hours and KS began to feel like a kitesurfing festival once again, albeit briefly.
Thanks to Airborne Kitesurfing for bringing a fleet of Starboard SUP boards and Kitesurf SUP for bringing their Coreban boards also. Both Airborne & KSS can take credit for keeping us busy and entertained during the day.
Thanks also to those other sponsors who have shown dedication to the event despite trying conditions for the past couple of years: Mel & Nigel from Best; Jen from Zephyr Kite Tours; Sean Webb from Kitesurf Warehouse; Sam from Jeep; Ben Wilson & crew from BWS - thanks for a kick arse after party boys...still not fully recovered from that... 
Adrian Roper/Underground Boards provided two boards with the KS2012 Logo imprinted in the board - many thanks to Adrian for these unique prizes - Dan Anderson must also be recognised for bleeding for the team/brand/sport/event - an unrivaled dedication - cheers mate!
Thanks also to our friends at KSA designs and Kite Elements for providing some very fashionable attire.
Support & assistance from the Shire of Irwin & Dept of Sport & Recreation (Mid west region office) was also appreciated.
Thanks to all the dedicated WAKSA/AKSA members who've maintained their faith in this event over the past couple of years - especially those crew who've come from interstate just to be here (Ben, Ash, Brad to name a few of you)....it's been a pleasure putting this event on for the members.
The planning for KS 2013 begins next week....
glad i stayed in gero, had the point smoking on a SE all to myself [}:)][}:)][}:)]
This has been the only KS I have missed, the public holidays are family time, any other weekend I can get away. Could we have it on a regular weekend next year.
Great job guys, just some feedback I have allot of friends who didnt go due to the expense...I know its good value but maybe you look at one where you have 2 day passes or limited food like just dinners for some or a temporary waksa membership for those not here all year...just ideas.
Despite the lack of wind, I had a wicked time hanging out on the beach SUPing and also kinda learnt how to surf 
Great company, well organised and awesome tunes on Saturday night 
Alot of my mates didn't come up this year as it was a four day event (extra dollars) and clashed with Australia day weekend.
My two cents, have a three day event, with the option to buy two or three day ticket for food and don't combine with Australia Day.
Hard to predict the wind but if you pack the ute and trailer with kites, sups, surf boards, snorkeling gear and cold beers you gunna have a good time one way
Cheers to all the guys and girls that organised and a big thanks to Leon for providing fun and games with the MC ing... I am biased off course 
Pity about the wind but still had fun with the SUP's.
Good call for the WAKSA guys to bring in the SUPs this year, welldone. I think the SUP market has just trippled in WA. I was not bored once especially with the female SUP acrobatic team.
Welldone Juddy and the WAKSA crew, the nights enternainment was good and social and you could not fault the organization of the event.
The guys have been a bit harsh on Juddy (myself included) but like Phil said you have been the best so far and have done so much in keeping kiting open at a lot of places - and that is more worthwhile and valuable than any event (with or without wind).
Gud on ya Juddy!
Cheers
Rich
i organized withmyself an unstrapped big air freestyle wave riding comp with only one entrant and only one judge heres a few pics from the first heat i actually one itb but had to return home so couldnt make the next heat ,the good wife managed a few piccs great job waksa and all the volenrteeres
your the king of masters ben'o the heel clicking comes naturally 
what about getting tickets just for the evening party, seems to work well for the L2L dancers
Yep the wind may not have came to the party but that didn't stop it from being a great few days for most crew.
It was fantastic to see so many families/groms out enjoying themselves, learning or improving there surfing/suping with beaming smiles on there faces and the Radfamily was a classic example, I don't think there would have been another family that spent so long in the water.
I knew radman was a bit of a waterman but I was blown away with the amount of time radwoman spent on the surfboard and it looks the eldest radgrom is now hooked on SUP, the other radgroms were also in the water nearly all day also.
Although I bought along a couple of my own SUP's it was a real bonus to be able to try out all the demo SUP's that Ian and Phil had bought along and I made sure I had a go on most of them.
I managed to get out on a 16mtr kite on Saturday arvo but was still struggling to hold ground until I demoed the Airush Sector 60, now I had heard that these things were good upwind but was totally amazed at how good they really are.....I want one.
Cheers to all the WAKSA crew, retailers and volunteers that made it happen.
