Why is our talent pool so shallow considering we have world class conditions?
COMPETITION
Most sports have state or local competitions held throughout the year to encourage competition and give riders the opportunity to test themselves against each other. The UK has a national tour with multiple events and this is highly regarded and run by the governing body BKSA.
WHY?
Can AKSA or WAKSA explain why they do not arrange freestyle competitions in WA? It makes absolutely no sense to me considering we have insane locations, plenty of room and epic winds at our disposal?
DOWNWINDERS, COURSE RACING & DRESS UPS
I get it but still at the core of our sport is freestyle riding. How sick would a series of events be allowing riders to compete.
Am I wrong do the majority of the community not want this? Or is it just not priority for WAKSA?
Is WAKSA awaiting someone else to step in and get the ball rolling?
A competition series would lead to more talented riders, healthy competition and an enjoyable event.
What are the other benefits for our sport?
As far as I can tell WAKSA themselves dont put on comps.
They help people with the motivation as to what they need to do.
If you want to see comps you need to run them. There has been a couple of wave comps this year as there a couple of people keen to put in the work to get them happening.
WAKSA will help out, but someone else needs to do the work.
Good luck with it.
I know the merging with the BKSA debate has been spoken of with regards to schools/instructors/learning, but why not spice it up with the pro tour as well. I know this stops it from being purely Australian, but........
- You get help advice from an organization that started from nothing, and now has an international training program, and probably the best (non-international) pro kite freestyle tour in the world. This could mean instant big time sponsorship of events!
- Half the BKSA riders are already in WA crowding your flat water spots during the summer months anyway!! (UK winters are ****!!!). Tom Court, Sam Light, James Boulding, Nicky Rudd, Hannah Whitely, Luke Whiteside (to name a few) are all here at the moment.
-A rivalry as fierce as the Ashes could be forged, but in kitesurfing, which is more exciting than cricket.
-Benefits for young Australian riders are that it would act as a more accessible stepping stone towards international events (PKRA). And you end up with more guys and gals following in Andy Yates' footsteps. Australian Kiteboarding already has the talent - Just give them the stage they need.
-As in the BKSA tour, you have to have the amateur categories, so the weekend warriors get a chance at glory!!!
I've heard the early BKSA comps, started with a Jet Ski, 2 Buoys, a cheap ally scaffold judging tower and tricks like a Backroll Transition bringing cheers!!
And by the way, who organized the Core Slider Jam at Woodies? That brought in some big names! Surely there is a starting point!!
Now a grass roots event for aussies with waves, sliders, beers and a BBQ, I'm there!
yep much rather something home grown, just a bunch of beers and freeride format type of jam would be heaps better. similar in concept to what kite jam used to be like.
its a more chilled environment where riders are riding more for the fun than for the competition pressure then end of day you decide who was really pushing them selves and landing more / better sh!t than they normally do and who was just taking it easy and being a lazy sh!t.
need a coconet equivalent over this side
dude if you saw the pages of regulations core had to go through with the govt to hold the event it was just such a head ache.
besides that you'll find there aren't THAT many freestyle riders left in perth like there was a few years ago, and even then half of them would be from east coast or around other parts of oz.
A lot of the crew has given up on kiting or moved to other places by now.
Sci
thanks for your post and thanks for your questions.
Simply put, in the past couple of years WAKSA hasn't been asked by the freestyle crew for a freestyle event. We've put on events that we have been asked to do...of course, posting on SB is one way to ask us those questions but no one has contacted the association directly (that I am aware of) to start this conversation.
Whilst we are up here at Kitestock this weekend, our focus is on this event.
We would be very happy to discuss with you or any of the freestyle crew when and where to put on a freestyle event.
Please PM me or email me directly presidentATwaksa.org.au...
Juddy
WAKSA President
i think this sounds like a great idea Sci. I would be keen as to enter into something like this just to help motivate and push my riding! Would be wicked to see classes or something similar. I think it would of put a few people off with the core slider jam mixing it up with pro ridings and looking like a total twat trying to learn how to ride rails. I know it did with me! If you need any help pm me and i will be happy to offer assistance.
Cheers
Tristan
Im keen plus three other perth girls that would probably be keen as they are travelling to Alva to compete in the nationals.
Cheers
Shan
Sci is absolutely right - there should be a WA freestyle titles event every year but there has been little or no demand from freestylers themselves over the past couple of years.
All it would take is one dedicated (non WAKSA c'tee) person to take on the coordinating role and recruit volunteers to cover all the ground work. WAKSA will give it full backing to ensure and make sure the event itself and the results are legit. (Thats their job but they cant be expected to do ALL the organising).
Im sure the good folk at Woodys Kite Surf & SUP would jump in as sponsors and provide much of the background organising.
there are talks that the 2012 National Freestyle titles are going to be in WA- Perth/ safey bay area!?
make it happening guys!
best bet is to save it for next year though IMO seeing as we hardly have wind as it is this year let alone it being near end of season.
