interesting times ahead.
answers my question as to what brand they'll use for kites and boards in the olympics.
From that interview it seems that there is probably only a couple of Kite companies that would be capable of supplying all the gear for free for the Olympics if they go one class equipment.
It would be great to have a one class equipment so that all competitors are on the same gear. This would eliminate having to upgrade your race board and kite every 3-6months to stay on top of equipment technology.
One design sounds good on paper but in reality I don't think it will be the best option for Kiting in the Olympics. It will create a separate class of racing which only the die hard olympians will race in. Also I think the equipment race has slowed down a lot, the top guys have been using the same kite design for the past 2 years and will be using the same board design for next year to come. All the brands will become so similar that it is essentially one design or everyone will be on the leading designs anyway. Yay for a competitive market :)
it has to be one desgined to make the racing fare.
all the yacht divisions are.
Neil didn't seem to sad to looser windsurfing in that clip, seems kiting makes more money...
To race a "lazer" even in local races u need the "measured" crap sail that is worth way too much.
Relate that to a kite.....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I would have thought you sould ride what you want and what you thought to be the best. Like a MT Bike race and most of the other sports.
If all the gear is the same then it will e allot more test of skill, like saying lets race motocross on a postie bike, if everyone has say, a Cabrina crossbow from on year and that's the designated kites and a Cabrina board and that's the designated board then all that is being jugged is the skill level of the riders not how good/fast there gear is.
cool 
Mmm , think NP is delusional if he thinks sailing as a sport is going to collapse in the Olympics because sailboarding has been punted . As he admits he has a vested intrest in both RX and Cabrinaha so I think his views are a little bias.
You got to realize that windsurfing racing has been around since the late seventies so there is a bit of a head start over the fairly resent kite racing , look at some videos on YouTube 5years ago kite racing was done on surfboards and twin tips , the boards /kites and techniques have come along way in 5years.
On the other subject,
Kite racing does not have to be strict one design , many of the olympic classes are not strict one design . The 470s , stars , finns and now defunct tornados all have very strict class rules but you can get who ever you want to build the boats /sails /foils ect . You can even build it your self as long as it measures. The strict one design classes such as the Rx's ,lasers 49ers ect have to be built by the one manufacturer , not saying these classes don't have their place but limiting kite race equipment to the one manufacturer would be seriously harmful to a still developing class , and probably ruin a lot of the smaller niech manufacturers who are pushing the development of the class . As long as the board and foils measure , and comes in above a specified weight , I don't see any issues .Take a look at the bike racing in the be velodrome and road and mountain bikes...do they get made to all ride malvin stars .. Same as the shooting /tennis / ect ect ,do they all use the same guns and tennis rackets .............no.
The race kites are getting fairly close in specifications so I don't a huge advantage in any one brand . I think the 3 kite limit per event is a winner and obviously different size riders will chose different size kites.Those brands which put in the hard yards , devopment wise and get the runs on the board in race results will obviously do well in the sales department. Biggest issue this year I think is quality of boards more than anything , if these companies get a bad rep building sub standard gear , eventually their market share will be lost no matter how fast the gear is.
I got my fire extinguisher ready so flame on bee atches..;)
i love that check out tribecarew.com adventures
justin just loves to get dirty in any country good kiter too
OK just watched the vid sour grapes!! I know a number of people in the sailing/Olympic decision making, and the placing of kite racing was done for one reason, to maintain sailing at the Olympics which has been under pressure for a long time. The Olympics cost lots of $$$ each sport needs to show its worth in dollars!! The biggest income is media rights "television" the problem with sailing it is not media friendly, if you watched any of the sailing you would have notice chenel 9 coverage came from BBC which would have paid for the rights then sold it on, hard to sale windsurfing even if your Country has a chance of gold if the race is in 6 knots boring!!! Then you have classes with a upper wind limit, which is a different problem like having no wind, the air time is booked for particular start time with the possibility of a postponement and nothing to cover then if it is run at a later time it may clash with a higher rating event. Kite racing is not only a growing, exciting, extreme sport, it can and has a viewing appeal in 6 knots or 30 knots that is the reason it was chosen.
Mr Neil Pride comments about supplying all his gear for the Olympics and ISAF youth worlds then to sale them only to break even, he forgot to mention all the revenue from sales that come in from teams all around the world bidding to be medallist buying his over priced gear.. If you think Cabrinha had a chance think about what he said on air about the Committee who makes the
decisions.
