http://www.rbyc.org.au/default.asp?Page=70010&MenuID=Regattas%2F22524%2F0
NOR here
IMO, it's a bit of a joke that there's a national championship for foil boards FFS.
Seriously, how many kiters around Australia are riding foil boards? If there's more than 50, I'd be surprised. Holding a national championship for that many kiters certainly gives that particular niche of well overdue credibility sarcasm font switched on
Select to expand quoteJuddy said..
IMO, it's a bit of a joke that there's a national championship for foil boards FFS.
Seriously, how many kiters around Australia are riding foil boards? If there's more than 50, I'd be surprised. Holding a national championship for that many kiters certainly gives that particular niche of well overdue credibility sarcasm font switched on
What speaks against it Judy? Nothing!
There is a world tour now for kite foiling including an Aussie stop in Townsville and it is necessary that Australia is not falling behind again like we already did with the Formula Race.
It is a very positive approach at the right time by KA and the Royal Bright Yacht Club the organisers to give us a national platform and event to push this new high end racing part of our sport for anybody that is interested in it.
When we hosted the first national racing titles in 2011 and there was like 5 guys with race boards the rest on directionals and twin tips. Look at the Aussie kite race scene now. Australia was the biggest nation registered at the 2013 world champs in China with Ric Black making podium in his division which is a huge achievement and was only possible because we had a lot of good regattas and races in Australia.
So mate maybe open your mind a bit and support events like this!
cheers
Select to expand quoteJuddy said..
certainly gives that particular niche of well overdue credibility
Are you worried that they're getting credibility? Sorry, I don't want to come across on the front foot too much but who really cares if anyone gets credit? If someone wants some credibility then best jump in now while there's less riders and everyone's new to it! Personally I don't ride for credibility.
I don't see how it's a bad thing for the sport, it might encourage other disciplines to get formal championships going. More riders will be interested in following years with something to aim and train for, a reason for new friends with similar interests to meet and the support that comes with it for our local kiting economies. Hydrofoiling moths have done a similar thing and it's done nothing but help the class.
I'm not involved in the championship, I don't ride foils nor do I see myself getting into it but good luck to those getting the event off the ground and credit where credits due! Hopefully this roles into state championships for all disciplines and a selection process for the national events.
Good to see, I cant find much info on that link.
Is that at Brighton near Melbourne?
Are they having the different devisions within the freestyle i.e. open, masters legends and juniors?
Cheers JR
Sorry to be the Pessimist but 8 weeks notice to organise flights, accommodation, time off work, school, uni/whatever may be difficult for all outside Victoria.
How many other "sports" call a Nationals with 8 weeks notice and yet still no idea of categories/age groups etc etc.
Is this sanctioned by AKSA, our supposed National Body, whose most recent info on the "Nationals" is from 2011/12??.
If participation numbers are down, as I expect they will be, no doubt the kiting community will be accused of being unsupportive.
I can see a lot of Victorian"Australian Champions" emerging in the next few months.
Select to expand quoteJuddy said..
IMO, it's a bit of a joke that there's a national championship for foil boards FFS.
Seriously, how many kiters around Australia are riding foil boards? If there's more than 50, I'd be surprised. Holding a national championship for that many kiters certainly gives that particular niche of well overdue credibility sarcasm font switched on
Ha juddy you might open a can full of about 10 worms here 
Select to expand quotejuicerider said..
Good to see, I cant find much info on that link.
Is that at Brighton near Melbourne?
Are they having the different devisions within the freestyle i.e. open, masters legends and juniors?
Cheers JR
Yes Brighton in melbourne
The way I see it, foil boarding is the next level of competition which brings with it excitement for spectators. The more excitement for spectators means more credibility for the sport which is only a good thing.
only 3 entrants so far and not really any info on event...
As been stated, being only 8 weeks away i would expect a lot more,
can any give some more details?
- Age groups
- Rules (freestyle)
- night/other activities
- Location details
- etc
Select to expand quotesuniboy21 said..
The way I see it, foil boarding is the next level of competition which brings with it excitement for spectators. The more excitement for spectators means more credibility for the sport which is only a good thing.
Not that I'm against Foiling, I actually think it's pretty cool, but how exactly would a foil race be "exciting" for spectators? Unless they are crashing into each other or falling off I couldn't see many people watching a whole course race. (picture people silently cutting through the ocean bobbing up and down).
further details of the event including the notice of race/sailing instructions will be released to all KA members this week.
Steve contact Royal Brighton Yacht Club.
@ Rowdy wait till you see some people explode ;)
Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said...suniboy21 said..
The way I see it, foil boarding is the next level of competition which brings with it excitement for spectators. The more excitement for spectators means more credibility for the sport which is only a good thing.
Not that I'm against Foiling, I actually think it's pretty cool, but how exactly would a foil race be "exciting" for spectators? Unless they are crashing into each other or falling off I couldn't see many people watching a whole course race. (picture people silently cutting through the ocean bobbing up and down).
I'd rather watch a foil course race any day.
Since when is it about the spectators?
Shouldn't we support underground talent rather than trying to get bums on seats.
If people are interested they will come.
Good on ya for putting on the event in the first place.
Select to expand quoteUnderoath said..
Since when is it about the spectators?
Never as far as I'm concerned. I just thought that saying Foil racing is the next level for spectators and that it will add credibility is a pretty funny thing to say. We all know average joe likes to see some big goofy dangles over everything else.
I want to know if I can compete in Formula course racing and foil racing at this event. Or can I only do one or the other - on the website schedule of events, it looks like the two race disciplines are overlapping. I have both style of boards and am willing to fly them to the event if I can compete in both.
Select to expand quotetopline said..
I want to know if I can compete in Formula course racing and foil racing at this event. Or can I only do one or the other - on the website schedule of events, it looks like the two race disciplines are overlapping. I have both style of boards and am willing to fly them to the event if I can compete in both.
they will run at separate times so you can do both. Foil only 4 races scheduled, Formula 12 races.
Select to expand quoteUnderoath said..
Since when is it about the spectators?
Since sporting events are supported by corporate sponsors, who only give money to get visibility for their brand. Ever wondered why the Australian Open of surfing is in Manly where the waves are crap in summer but the place crowded instead of some remote reef break in winter swell?
That's been a big issue for the PKRA lately, the powered super fast low mobes may be really technical to do but they impress average Joe less than a good old deadman.
InTheLoop could tell you a lot about the difficulty of getting sponsors for a kiting event, so big thanks to the folks at Brighton Yacht Club for pulling that one! Let's hope for lots of riders doing both wakestyle and old school + lots of spectators, it can only be good for the sport!
As stated above, very short notice and i'm amazed that if this is supported by AKSA (or KA) that there website isnt full of information on the event.
Select to expand quoteKitepower Australia said..
Who is organising? Who do I contact regarding sponsorship of the event?
call hudo ;)
Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said..suniboy21 said..
The way I see it, foil boarding is the next level of competition which brings with it excitement for spectators. The more excitement for spectators means more credibility for the sport which is only a good thing.
Not that I'm against Foiling, I actually think it's pretty cool, but how exactly would a foil race be "exciting" for spectators? Unless they are crashing into each other or falling off I couldn't see many people watching a whole course race. (picture people silently cutting through the ocean bobbing up and down).
Kinda agree on why will it be exciting for spectators.
What makes it so compared to all the other forms of kiting?
Foiling will have big crashes? **** we all crash no mater what we ride and water goes everywhere I reckon they all look the same from 100m away, cricky look at any pics of pro freestyle events they must have big crashes cause they nearly all got knee braces!
Formula goes fast, sure foil will be faster but seriously will a spectator care if it goes around the course 2 min quicker?
Foil can go in lighter wind! while those in the sport think this is a big deal to the average joe probly dont get excited like we do.
Overseas they may get some big crowds to formula and freestyle events, but in Australia it has proven many times over to be predominately a participation sport way more than a spectator sport.
If any of the kiting disciplines was to be a spectator sport it should have been freestyle which really offers some excitement, but this is not really the case in any big way for one reason or another, who here remembers AKL that mike tried to get going all those years ago when kiting burst onto the scene?
Sailing has been around a long time in this country and with the exception of a couple of major events the crowds do not flock to watch like some other sports, I dont expect kite foiling to be any different.
I havnt seen lots of spectators at any of the foiling moth events and I reckon these guys are just as excited about there sport and think it will attract lots of sailors cause it is fast and exciting.
While the AC was a great success and showed sailing in a different way than ever before and bought sailing into the modern era they plowed buckets loads of money into it and even had to pay to get it on tele, kiting dont have that much money!
The sports that do get big crowds are generally also sports that people can kinda easily do themselves with little expense and play some small part in the sport, they can buy a racket, ball and bat or a pair of boots, even if they only get it out the cupboard once a year they still feel part of it and look up to the pros that do it really well (which they should cause they are full time pros).
With the possibility for people to mow the lawn in a cool way, do tricks, kite in light wind, race really fast, foiling has all the potential to do better than formula which realistically has about 50 active participants in the whole of Australia, but even if foiling was 10 times more successful than formula kite it still aint that big in this country.
Unless there is a large influx of money to promote a foiling event dont expect to many people to feel the stoke we do and pay more than a few minutes notice to what we are all doing in our little world 
Will be interesting for us participants if nothing else
100% supportive of every kite event in aus & acknowledge all the effort that goes into these events.
100% disappointed with lack of notice.
Hope it's epic but see you at the next one... hopefully with more than 8 weeks notice 
Foil $2500 various wings $1500 board $1000 4 racekites $10 000
That is $140000 then u might be at top of game.
Freestyle .. friend smoking most other riders (at top of game)on a 2007 vegas and a $200 board will never ever happen with formula kite/ development classes... cash rules
I dont dislike any form of kiteboarding, but I have watched racing and as far as spectator sports go it ranks very low. Exception would be some kind of slalom through big waves.. my idea.. mind u could get messy..
Having seen younger riders save so hard for even an older kite. .. I just dont see the correlation between these disciplines and youth inclusion/ encouragement.
A one design race with less expensive kit would be awesome.. might get someone entering that is under 20 without wealthy parents!
^Totally agree.
Boarder-cross type racing also seems far more inclusive of the freedom that a kite gives and is also something spectators can get more hyped about. I don't know why they don't run them more.
