Australian kiteboarding nationals 2012 - Townsville in June!
It's on again! And it's set to be bigger than last year
Last years nationals in Alva Beach were such a resounding success, AKSA has once again granted the responsibility of organising the Australian kiteboarding Nationals to Marvin up in Townsville. His professional organisation of last years event was second to none, and regarded by most as the best nationals ever held in Australia.
For the first time last year, AKSA crowned a national kiteboard racing champion; the emerging discipline was pushed as a main event during the nationals and proved to be one of the most exciting aspects for spectators. A change from the usual spinny, floppy tricks we're used to in the PKRA style freestyle events, Racing is an exciting alternative and far more interesting than watching a dinghy race. Competitors crash, kites tangle and places are won and lost in the space of a few seconds. It's a fantastic move in the right direction for the sport, and this year it's set to be even bigger!
Of course freestyle will be back, and the big names like Andy Yates, Keahi De Aboitiz and those young whipper snappers from down in Melbourne - Ewan Jaspan and Declan Mcarthy will all be attending. Keahi stole the show last year with an impressive arsenal of tricks; fresh off his PKRA wave title win only a couple of days before. Several other promising young groms are going to be testing their skills against the big guns, which is sure to entertain the spectators with some thrills and spills (Safe ones of course!).
A first for this year, will be the long distance race from Magnetic Island back to Townsville. The 20km race will take around 45 mins for the front runners, and run from Nelly Bay to Townsville Strand, then finish in Pallarenda right through the main event site.
The Save the Ocean Festival will be making a return, hopefully this time without the locals from last year who proved to be a slight hiccup in proceedings. Several local bands and a few big names will be playing over the weekend; best of all it's right next to the event site at Pallarenda.
Entries for the competitions open on the 1st of January, and you can find out more info on the events Facebook page here. We'll be bringing you daily updates from the comp as it happens, to if you can't make it, Seabreeze.com.au will be your next best bet!
What: Australian Kiteboarding Nationals (Freestyle, Racing)
When: 7th-11th of June
Where: Townsville, Pallarenda Beach
Cost: TBA
Enter: 1st January 2012
Pinnaroo Point, WA
