The KSP (Kite Surf Pro) Professional wave tour just released their 2011 schedule, but where did this event come from, who are they and what happened to the PKRA?

Over the last two years - there's been quite a bit of competition between two organising bodies in kiteboarding. The PKRA, Professional Kiteboard Riders Association, and the IKA International Kiteboarding Association. Both run world tour style competitions and both are planning on crowning a world champion this year - but why? 

This is what the organisers of the KSP have to say: "The KSP was launched as a rider-driven nonprofit association and was granted the World Championship title in the Wave discipline by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) on February 8, 2011." 

The PKRA has been around much longer, since kiteboarding really began back in the early 2000's. It's more commonly known, in fact if you're a kitesurfer, you've surely heard of the PKRA. The winner each year is know as the world champ, take Aaron Hadlow for example - his 5x world championships were all by the PKRA, last years world wave champ was Guilly Brandao, crowned at the PKRA event right here on the Gold Coast.

There's surely about to be a debate going on around the globe on which is the 'real world championship', the IKA event sure sounds glamorous, with 3 of the most amazing wave riding locations booked in already. Mauritius, Peru and Cabo Verde are epic locations, and will showcase each riders skills perfectly. They've got a big list of names helping out too - with last year world champ Guilly Brandao working alongside kiting celebrities like Kristin Bose and Mitu Montiero. 

Compare that with the PKRA - who are running five events for 2011 in more 'real world' locations like Cape Town and the Gold Coast. Many big names seem to have jumped ship in order to run the IKA event, but dozens of outstanding riders are sticking by the PKRA, like our local boy Keahi De Aboitiz, who is already being predicted as the world kitesurfing champion for 2011. 

Which competition do you think should have the right to crown the world champ? The real world locations, or the exotic ones. The long running, proven organisation or the new kids on the block? One thing is for sure, someone's going to be crowned the world champion, but what will the other world champion think?

Read about the Kite Surf Pro tour at their website : www.kspworldtour.com/

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