Such a fun and exciting race - I had a blast. A great achievement for Tim and his team to set up such an amazing event.
Congratulations to Johnno on a great win, well deserved.
I can't wait till next year.
My story.
Launched early and warmed up then came in and parked up on the beach up at the northern end of the line and patiently waited for the 10min warning horn. I had my watch in stopwatch mode ready to start it on the horn so I knew that in 10min I was to be crossing that starting line.
Nothing happening so I switch back to time mode and it is 2:23. 10min horn was scheduled for 2:20 but at the briefing we were warned that the start might get delayed due to two ships leaving port at 2:30 so I wasn't concerned.
I go back to stop watch mode and wait. I hear the horn and start the count down for 10min but it was the freaking 5 min horn. Since I (wrongly) believe I am in the 10-5min countdown I don't look at the boat since the start sequence flags don't get exciting until 5-0min.
So there I am standing on the beach, board actually further up the sand bank and I am admiring the scenery out over natural jetty when Millie shouts to me that they have started. WTF! For a few seconds I was speechless, dumbfounded and frozen to the ground, I just couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I wake up and grab my board and get in the water and head to the start line in last position and just thought of all of the training I did and I've blown it but at least I had no one to blame except myself.
Now what I want Tim Turner and co to explain to me is how come I still freaking enjoyed the race?
Many thanks to TT, RB, WAKSA, Sponsors and especially the volunteers for another sensational L2L.
Here is a legisticial nightmare of a good idea.
Next year 2 races of 75 kiters. Pro's/semi pros in one division and an amature division! That would allow an extra 40 kiters race.
Get first prize 10k...The international field would be incredible. The pro race would be invite/ selection only with the amature race luck of the draw.
Well done Johnno! train hard, go faster. Team Boss.
Dale, well done
Tim and all support crew fantastic event. thanks for your help on the beach, launching and packing up
2013 bring it on!!
Huge thanks to the organisers. What an amazing job they did.
, J
^ Yeah not sure about that one, I kind of like the idea of racing against the pro's on my borrowed $65 dollar board from cash converters and my surf kite even if I know i've got little chance of winning.
It would be hard to determine who was a pro/semi pro or an amatuer and also hard to get a field of 75 pro's.
Fantastic and well organised event!! This was my first one and I must admit I was a bit nervous about the open ocean thing but it was totally fine - I actually found it very invigorating.
Big cheers to everyone who made the event possible!
Thanks Tim & his racing officials & starters, boat crew, Redbull, Reg & Daniel & Cabrinha, Rotto express, the amazing WAKSA crew on beach making the day calm & organised on Rotto & start beach.
The most fun day in kiting for sure - came 33rd last year & 1st in 2012 and both were unreal. 2012 just better because of crazy, big REDBULL trophy in my living room.
I was having great race on my F-one gun 6ft 9 till 11km mark, lost it in chop, kite down 7minutes to relaunch and body drag to my board, very happy to find it and make it to the finish in one piece. Here is my GPS linkconnect.garmin.com/modern/activity/251800333
Can't wait for next year, still unable to beat my time in first year.
Great event and kudos to Tim, volunteers and sponsors.
Thanks so much to the organisers. The event was nothing short of perfect. Special thanks to Tim for the work he put into the event and the sport. See everyone next year and well done Johnno yeww!!
Had an fantastic day. Loved the trip :) I have to admit though 5 min into the race I was completely buggered. I thought I had better fitness then that but hey... For the next 30 min I was just hanging on...
Thank you all the crew that give up their own time to put the race on and thanks Rotto Express for getting me a spot. 
Photo's from the start end.
Enjoyed helping out, hung out with a great crew.
The beer at the Quokka Arms tasted sweet.
and i forgot to add massive thanks to whoever brought that carton of corona to the ferry terminal while 20 or so of us waited till 7pm for the F&@#^E(@&^# ferry to bring our gear back .
Was great fun to sit there drinking beers and talking about the day .
Fun day. I'm curious where I actually came, as the results aren't correct - if anybody happened to notice a green Naish Park (see below) crossing the line about the same time as you, can you let me know how long the crossing took?? My watch stuffed up and I expected a backup to the electronic method (like recording numbers as people cross the line)...
Lets do it all again next year!
Same time
Same place
see you all then!
Australia's best kitesurfing event!!
if anyone knows who the guy and girl in the 4m'ish zodiac support boat that was following me in in last place and took some photo's i would love to get my hands on the glory shots of last place if possible .
Great day and a big thank you to ALL those people that helped and made it all possible.
Red Bull, Tim and sponsors great show and getting better with each year.
My race went slightly differently to how I had planned.
Expected that once the green flag went up we would all head in the same direction well roughly, I had just passed the start boat and started to settle into the race when #77 came back through the field and collected my kite as he went BUGGER!
It took 6 minutes to get untangled and get kite back in the air, thank you to the rescue boat that came over to offer help which I declined as did not want to retire or be disqualified. Starboard line had got round centre lines but I could not get that sorted so had to try to continue as it was. Once back up I could only see the rear of the field as tiny dots on the horizon with the safety boat following the last person. So now I was in last place, race plan now forgotten and only wanting to run the course I continued to follow the field and in the back of my mind the thought of my lines now rubbing through and breaking. After 5 minutes I could see I was gaining on the boat ahead and some of the kites were getting bigger, my lines were still holding together so being only slightly competitive, let's see if I can catch up with the back of the field and not be last! Got 75th place in the end and will be back next year I hope, #77 had to retire not his day either. Well done #66 who ran the entire race with a nasty deep inch long gash to his big toe (race fins) and then went off to hospital for stitches.
Is it just me or does anyone else have a painfull swollen calf muscle (back leg), just wondering how long it'll take to settle down, J
was and awesome day, glad to be a part of it helping out at rotto :)
even had time for a few snaps
What a brilliant day! It just can't be over-stated, well done to Tim and his team, and the sponsors for putting on such a "feel good" event. It was my first kite race of any kind, and has whet the appetite for more.
And how good is it to read so many happy posts in such a long thread with no flaming or negative comments? I'm lovin' it.
Of course there is a down side to all the great feedback and endless superlatives - next year will be even tougher to get spot.
Great day!! BIG THANKS to the people that helped make it possible.
What's with the guy jumping with a fishing rod? Is this some sort of new extreme, cross-over style i'm not aware of?
So obviously most people would be on surf and race boards.
I am just wondering if anyone was riding on a twintip and if so what place did you end up?
