Some interesting points.http://www.sailinganarchy.com/fringe/2012/kiteboard%20racing%20-%20facts%20and%20fiction.pdf
All of Asia apparently don't think it is 'sailboard (windsurf) propaganda". All Asian MNAs have voted unanomously to have RSX reinstated at the ISAF meeting in November. Rumours of Europe doing the same. The Dutch have also indicated their intent to pursue the matter.
I think it is very likely that RSX will get reinstated in Nov. It was a very close vote in the first place and conservatism is the winner world wide currently in decision making processes. The benefits to kite racing from it being in the spot light has been fantastic and the number of people taking it up and interest from sailing clubs and sailing community unprecedented. This will remain no matter what happens in Nov. I think they regret the one design nature and limitations with the RSX format and windsurfing is a shrinking sport. Natural selection will eventually lead to it being replaced with something else - even if it is not kite racing.
Not sure how you can say its a dying sport. oversubscribed at the RSX worlds this year in Cadiz - 120 men, 80 women. Lets see - kite racing worlds - 11 women was it?
The sailing/yachtie community/organisation will always be interested when a class goes Olympic. Just wait till they take control of kite racing -things will change. Perhaps they'll assist kites or perhaps they'll provide very little assistance like they have with RSX over the years. The last 2 Olympics Australia has qualified a man, yet they won't send someone unless they finish top 6 in the world championships. Yet the guys are expected to do this with no/little support or coaching.
Time will tell if they can get their act together for kite racing.
All Olympic sailing classes are the same, as **** as it is if there is a low chance of getting a medal they won't send anyone, not saying its right just the way it is. I personally did 2 Olympic campaigns and had little to no support, had to paddle in from the test event in china, it's sport and sailing isnt main stream like some other countries so no matter who you are untill your getting good results you'll be paying your way. And everyone starts the Olympic campaign knowing the benchmark. Everyone keeps saying how strong the rsx is but how many Aussies are going to these worlds at Cadiz?(4 Aussies. 3guys 1gal and good on them and good luck) Maybe it's in yachting Australia's best interest to get kiting as we might get more representation on the world level. Ever think of it that way? Each country will vote the way they can get the best result. Because results mean cash, cash means we as a sport prosper.
There was only 1 Aus woman in Cadiz as the woman for London had already been selected. The 3 men were still trying for a spot. The ISAF worlds were held in perth just 4 months before where there were 6 Aus men and 4 Aus women. Most of these are youth sailors or just out of youth. They were aiming for Rio so not much point spending thousands to go to Cadiz.
Will there be more kite surfers after the initial excitment settles? and they realise how much it costs to do all the iasf world cup events to qualify etc. Doubt there will be more than what rsx has.
Don't see any Aus kiters at all have done any kiteracing world titles yet.
There has been one ozi at the last two world champs.
But it is a new thing here in OZ so this will change.
Yes those facts dont sound to appealing to keep up with an Olympic class sport.
With those sort of numbers at the last Perth isaf worlds for the RSX class I am not sure what all the fuss is with so little kite racing at the moment when it is such a relatively new sport.
As has been pointed out before, there was no RSX class racing before it's introduction into the Olympics, so I guess that puts Kiteracing ahead at the same point relative to it's Olympic introduction.
If we can have healthy competition outside the Olympic movement with similar equipment then I guess Kiteracing should prosper and grow, I think this is and was the case prior to it being selected anyway and whether or not it succeeds in the November vote I am sure it will continue to grow naturally anyway.
PW you sound butthurt mate ?
Personally i don't give a toss about either kiting or windsurfing at the olympics as the whole olympics event is a crock of sh!t
Windsurfing is hardly a dying sport. Techno293 youth class is the second largest youth fleet in the world estmated ar 7 to 8 thousand and growing and close to challenging opitmist to be the largest. It has been selected as one of two classes for the youth Olympics. The next worlds have 370 entries. The amount of time and money invested by people and countries far exceeds just those sailing at the top level in rsx and to dump it and lay waste to all that for a sport that is in infancy unproven in large fleets and light winds and as yet has no established pathways for youth is criminal.
Bring on kiteracing it looks like it has a good future but dont tell us windsurfing is dying the facts show windsurfing has most number of countries participating at olympic level in sailing has huge particiapation from women and the second largest youth fleet. kiteracing has many years to go before it comes anywhere near what is already being delivered to the sailing world by windsurfing.
Best of luck to windsurfing. This forum is for kite surf racing - can we please ask the windsurfers to leave it specifically for that.
