As a long time and serious competitive windsurfer and boat sailor and class organiser, I'd just like to give the kiters of the internet world a genuine "thanks" for behaving so well over the Olympic decision.
Given the flak sometimes flung around between windsurfers and kiters, I could understand it if some kiters had stirred the pot about windsurfing getting dumped, but instead the kiting world has been understanding, gracious and sympathetic as far as I can see.
Well done, thanks, and good winds.
Agreed... you guys have behaved very well...
and that is totally against what these forums are for.....
Where are the slinging matches Kiters vs Windsurfers?
The olympic dreams stolen from a bunch of 40 year old pole boarders and given to a bunch of young dudes who wear polka dot boardies over their wetsuits....
Nah, Im just kidding, I both windsurf and kite (and neither to an olympic level) so am totally abiguous to the decision...
it is nice to see though that snide comments and pot stirring have been left aside....
Dude you got to realize that probably a good percentage of kiters come from a sailboarding background , none of us are happy to see windsurfing dropped from the Olympic games , same thing happened several years ago with the catamarans in the games , and thanks to a huge outcry they are back for 2016 .
With any luck sailboarding will be back in the near future , hopefully they will dislodge one of the other dinosaur classes out of the games , as there are only so many spots . I think kiteboarding racing will be in for a fairly long time looking at the spectical of the racing and the overall popularity of the sport.
I agree, I didn't really see any smartarse "windsrfing has ben cancceled loz" comments, nor windsurfers whinging about kiters in general. I think it was a pretty mature discussion.
Let's hope for both sports in 2016.
Nah, I think it was a genuine thanks for the mature approach to an obvious sore spot that could have been pushed....
Even though its often funny to watch the kite vs windsurf battles play out on seabreeze.
I've sailed all all my life in heaps of classes (dinghies, skiffs and keel boats) and represented Aus couple of times but never elite level. I agree with Chris that Olympics is focusing too much on high performance/spectator friendly classes. Anyone who has sailed rafts (catamarans) and even 49ers knows that they are way less boat-on-boat tactical than Lasers or Finns or even 470s. Winners of the last three classes I respect more because of the tighter competition and higher participation numbers in these classes.
There was a world cup event in holland a few day ago. 3 girls entered, and 2 did not finish first race. No disrespect to them.. But that is pretty weird for a potential olympic sport!
NAaaah just a total lost of interrest! Tea bagging at the OJ's................... baaaaaah who cares........ pass another beer!
Since when was getting a sport like this into the olympics a good thing?
Isnt everyone just a bit bemused about the whole incongruence of purist/discipline types of sports (based on the Greeks concept of the strongest person/fastest person/most accurate etc) alongside modern 'creative' sports which are based on trying to do something other people are NOT doing... ie a new twist, a new invert, a combo not achieved before.
it seems a bit like a bmx stunter showing up at the tour de france, if i can use a poor example to demonstrate. Its even slightly demeaning to be wheeled out as a sideshow for the more 'respectable' set to chuckle haughtily at.
lets be honest, even the olympic commitee doesnt take this side of the games seriously, its a marketing angle to attract more viewers, with the intention of maintaining support for the classic central themes of running fast, jumping high, and behaving most like a herculean greek.
its 20 knots. i now vacate the soapbox.
I think many people are missing the bigger picture with kiting being accepted into the Olympics.
We are now considered a class of sailing, without dispute. We can legitimately join a sailing club and with the resources of the sailing club hold races if that's what we wish. Also, we potentially have the support of Yachting Australia, an organisation of over 60,000 members. Think about it.
IMO, kitesurfing is not yet mature enough in terms of numbers (around the world) to really justify participation at an Olympic level.
As I understand things (happy to be corrected), the ISAF decision was for course racing to be "the" Olympic demonstration. Whilst I understand that course racing is a bit of a growth area currently, IMO it's nowhere near as exciting as freestyle or waves, and I'll be surprised if it draws 'crowds' as much as freestyle or waves might.
If we look at the number of kiters who are actually 'in to' course racing as a proportion of the total number of kiters, it is probably a pretty small number - whilst it might be growing in popularity, the actual number of course racing enthusiasts doesn't IMO, justify Olympic demonstration.
IMO I think 99% of kliters & windsurfers have no idea of the actual amazing performance of kite racing boards from 6 to 15 knots and up to a mind bending 25/30 knots. The 2012 race board and kites are actually very mature in their performance and handling and are easy to ride at extreme speeds if you put in the time. For bang for your buck in wind sports from 6 to 15 knots nothing comes close for a balls to the wall rush when most kite freestyle and wave riders are bitching on the beach about no wind.
I think the people who organise these things were shown a easy to organize, extreme performance sport that could be raced legitamitely from 6 to 15 knots and above if wind fills in. On my race board In 6 to 10 knots I average 15 knots around a 4 km triangle up wind coarse with max speeds of 22/23 knots down wind, radical when you think most other kiters on beach can't even keep a kite in the air. 
This link may shed some light on people who organize racing events from 2 days ago...http://kiteracingblog.blogspot.it/2012/05/us-sailing-statement-on-kiteboarding-vs.html
P.S I use my raceboard because nothing else works in kiting in light winds and gives me an excuse to pissoff from work and get on the water in very light winds.
WAKSA is organizing a new 2012/2013 kite raceing series focusing on fun and learning how to ride and race / rather than race results on night from 6 to 15 knots plus. If anyone wants to race at a higher level this series will help to give you the skills. At a minimum series will get you out of work and on water LIT in 6 to 15 knots.
The sad thing is with all olympic sailing classes is that it difficult for the spectators with most courses being set offshore.
Sorry for my ignorance, is the kiting going to be based on a one design concept? When windsurfing was introduced there was only a couple of the chosen one design model in Australia. One design course racing, including the original Windsurfer class, also only made up a very small percentage of what windsurfing was actually about, at least in Australia anyway.
The disappointment for many was that the spectacle of wave sailing or even slalom racing would never be seen and the sport would not get the exposure as we had all hoped it would.
Johnno Keys
what kites are you using in 6 -10 knots?
I know you are the richest guy in Perth and prob can afford the some customized SpaceX developed Lithium gas kite but are you using off the shelf?
I love your stoke for course racing, which of course I retired from when I beat you in the Rotto race. Wal 1 John 0..... I am happy to go out with a perfect will loss ratio against national champ.
seriously though, am interested in kite choice.
even giving you a chance to spruik!
I not so sure $$$ the Real estate market has been pretty tough over last 12 months...
Yes mate, all the 2012 17m race kites are great, all standard issue nothing fancy just very lite for size ( mine about 4.1kg ) & fewer struts on most with quite a small front diameter leading edge, any brand, Ozone, Cabrinha, Airrush, North, RRD etc etc , I use a 17m Ozone Edge and it rocks, they are very different to big kites from years ago, very easy to fly, just rock up wind and turn very fast for size. You can also relaunch in 6-8 knots if you know how as they are pretty high aspect and long. I'm using a 85 litre raceboard so not sure what bottom end you would get on TT or surfboard, but I reckon probaly 8 - 10 knots on surfboad with a bit of volume. Have a go on mine any time you got a minute just text me your number and I'll let you know when we are kiting - Also used the 17m in 15 to 18knots, other race kiters on day were lit on 13m kites and the 17m was OK to use at top end and not out of control or scary at all. In old dayz in 18knots my 20m X2 would have been totally over powered & dangerous.
ANY DAY with your mates in in exotic locations, with 15knots plus of wind, 9m kite on a surfboard in proper down the line 4ft plus waves kills kite racing - any day - anyway- any how - no question - BUT
but when the windz are **** in Perth you get to go and have some fun.
I don't think windsurfing should have been dropped in favour of kitesurfing. Both sports should be at the Olympics.
There could also be a downside for kitesurfing - some locations are now already quite crowded.
I agree with Juddy too - course racing is currently a very small part of the sport - and I have a race board (sort of, Sector 60).
www.peterskiteboarding.com/2012/05/kitesurfing-in-olympic-games-but.html
