Hi,
I would just quickly like to express my view.
I think it's great the nationals are going to be run this year, HOWEVER, almost no notice for the comp is pretty much as bad as not having it at all. Having it at such short notice and being held at a crappy time of year for anyone likely to attend from other states will make for an average comp at best, honestly I would be surprised if there will be over 10 riders of a decent calibre involved.
Thank you to those involved in making it happen I know it's not easy, but lets hope this drums up some support and better organisation for next years Nats or even one towards the end of this year. I would love to have attended and helped organise this one, but being the same timing as a PKRA event I won't be able to do that.
Cheers,
Alex.
Really glad someone decided to organise one this year, though short notice was also why i won't attend.
Its the week before exam week for me, and i presume for most other juniors in senior school.
Also running the freestyle over 7 days is a little over the top i think, if it was from perhaps thursday - sunday i would defiantly try to come.
Hopefully it goes well and we have one next year as well.
And just to make it easy for peps to find out more
Here is a couple of threads that has been going for the last month
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/2014-Freestyle-Formula-Kite-and-Foil-Nationals/?page=1
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/Kiteracing/AUS-Kiteboarding-Nationals-Melb-RBYC-17-23-Mar/
And the link to the KA event postinghttp://www.aksa.com.au/events?eventId=856369&EventViewMode=EventDetails
^ I assume you meant "peeps"? (people?), yes?
Also not sure if you're having a dig at me or not? I'm quite aware of those threads and have posted in them myself, I was also aware of the Nationals going ahead before being posted on the KA site... yet that still wasn't enough notice for me to be able to make it as I already had other stuff planned (as do many other people).
It would be great if something as prestigious (which it should be) as the National titles were announced at least half a year early and with some input from the riders that will no doubt be the ones attending and making the event an event...
I'm on the KA board for events, rules and regulations and we weren't contacted at all about this event happening. I did hear it was because of the change over between AKSA and KA, but still something like this event wont even get close to representing Kiteboarding properly in Australia due to the reasons I noted in my first post.
All I want to do is improve and progress Kiteboarding and our National competitions, I started this thread in an attempt to create interest and hear views/ideas that people may have for the future, nothing else.
If you have ideas for what we can do, let em rip. Personally my idea is that we take the Nationals "grass roots" if you will to a good location without much organisation or prize money and low or no registration fees. I see WA at the end of the year (or beginning) as the only real solid location.
Cheers,
Alex.
Late notice yes , age groups? divisions? not to much to ask for . Victoria done recently held the states at St Kilda- early notice yes, age groups yes, divisions yes , free entry yes , how hard is that?
^ Sad to say you're right. Every comp in AUS in the history of kiteboarding has had more notice than this had. To be honest I don't even really think it's fair to run, I'm sure others will detest that though.
I can't see why something just couldn't have been organised for the end of the year? I mean it's the 2014 Nationals, no need to rush it, we have the whole of 2014 to run it.
yea i agree with you that this event came a bit out of nowhere on short notice with 5 weeks lead time. Some of the best riders won't be able to attend due to short notice and length of the freestyle comp. Does freestyle really has to go for a whole week?
I doubt Andy Yates, Keahi.. will be able to take a whole week off for the titles and make it feasible without any price money which is a bummer if they can't come.
However, its better to have a national titles than have nothing like 2013.
Select to expand quoteINTHELOOP said..
yea i agree with you that this event came a bit out of nowhere on short notice with 5 weeks lead time. Some of the best riders won't be able to attend due to short notice and length of the freestyle comp. Does freestyle really has to go for a whole week?
I doubt Andy Yates, Keahi.. will be able to take a whole week off for the titles and make it feasible without any price money which is a bummer if they can't come.
However, its better to have a national titles than have nothing like 2013.
Are you going Marv?
Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said..
^ I assume you meant "peeps"? (people?), yes?
Alex.
Yep just got lazySelect to expand quotesir ROWDY said..
Also not sure if you're having a dig at me or not? I'm quite aware of those threads and have posted in them myself, I was also aware of the Nationals going ahead before being posted on the KA site...
**** no, glad you reminded everyone, just though I would post these links there as they contain actual competition info, date etc for anyone who missed them.Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said..
It would be great if something as prestigious (which it should be) as the National titles were announced at least half a year early and with some input from the riders that will no doubt be the ones attending and making the event an event...
I'm on the KA board for events, rules and regulations and we weren't contacted at all about this event happening. I did hear it was because of the change over between AKSA and KA, but still something like this event wont even get close to representing Kiteboarding properly in Australia due to the reasons I noted in my first post.
All I want to do is improve and progress Kiteboarding and our National competitions, I started this thread in an attempt to create interest and hear views/ideas that people may have for the future, nothing else.
If you have ideas for what we can do, let em rip. Personally my idea is that we take the Nationals "grass roots" if you will to a good location without much organisation or prize money and low or no registration fees. I see WA at the end of the year (or beginning) as the only real solid location.
Cheers,
Alex.
Couldnt agree more and sure the organisers would have liked it different, but for one reason or another and in the absence of anyone else putting their hand up 7 1/2 weeks notice is what we have to work with so hopefully we get a decent turn out.
As for the length for freestyle I can understand the organisers going down this path and allowing more time incase of bad wind, so with a longer event there is bound to be a result, hard situation to be in, plan a short event and run the risk of being skunked with no wind, sound familiar 
Select to expand quoteINTHELOOP said..
However, its better to have a national titles than have nothing like 2013.
I tend to disagree.
Also I still don't see how there couldn't have been an event later in the year (or with more notice), as I said we aren't exactly pushed for time here, we are only in February after-all... Giving people adequate time to make arrangements would be at the top of my list, as said by many no one can afford a week away at less than 2 months notice.
I'm glad people are running this, but sad it's in this way.
Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said..
^ I assume you meant "peeps"? (people?), yes?
Also not sure if you're having a dig at me or not? I'm quite aware of those threads and have posted in them myself, I was also aware of the Nationals going ahead before being posted on the KA site... yet that still wasn't enough notice for me to be able to make it as I already had other stuff planned (as do many other people).
It would be great if something as prestigious (which it should be) as the National titles were announced at least half a year early and with some input from the riders that will no doubt be the ones attending and making the event an event...
If you have ideas for what we can do, let em rip. Personally my idea is that we take the Nationals "grass roots" if you will to a good location without much organisation or prize money and low or no registration fees. I see WA at the end of the year (or beginning) as the only real solid location.
Cheers,
Alex.
Good to see another WA thread in the general section. 
Thanks Alex.
I'd like to know who is going to hang around for the scheduled week of freestyle when given the right wind, and there will be minimal entries, the event can be concluded in a day . That sounds like a program for a world cup!
Pick a day. Say Woodies! All divisions. Free kite for 5 hours. Best 10 tricks count.
A nationals championships is supposed to be to recognize the best kitesurfing talent in Australia. It needs to be available for anyone and everyone. Having it a such short notice really limits who can go and the final results will not be a true reflection of who is Australia's best kitesurfers.
People need at least a few months notice to be able to organise time off to make it to an event. I would have loved to have gone but I cant arrange time off at such short notice. Also there has been no advertising, and no official announcements from Kiteboarding Australia. I was expecting to get an email of some sort letting me know that the event is official and actually happening. The little bit of info on the website didn't foster any expectation that the event was a true nationals event. I only new about it from a thread on seabreeze that i just happened to notice on the second page. I searched for more info but could not find anything.
We should have at least 4 months notice of an event of this caliber. People who are serious about these events will train hard in the months up to the event.
Making sure that the event doesn't clash with a PKRA or equivalent event only goes with out saying. If the best guys in Australia are competing in a world event at the same time then its not really giving credit to who the true national champions are.
Select to expand quoteShan said..
A nationals championships is supposed to be to recognize the best kitesurfing talent in Australia. It needs to be available for anyone and everyone. Having it a such short notice really limits who can go and the final results will not be a true reflection of who is Australia's best kitesurfers.
People need at least a few months notice to be able to organise time off to make it to an event. I would have loved to have gone but I cant arrange time off at such short notice. Also there has been no advertising, and no official announcements from Kiteboarding Australia. I was expecting to get an email of some sort letting me know that the event is official and actually happening. The little bit of info on the website didn't foster any expectation that the event was a true nationals event. I only new about it from a thread on seabreeze that i just happened to notice on the second page. I searched for more info but could not find anything.
We should have at least 4 months notice of an event of this caliber. People who are serious about these events will train hard in the months up to the event.
Making sure that the event doesn't clash with a PKRA or equivalent event only goes with out saying. If the best guys in Australia are competing in a world event at the same time then its not really giving credit to who the true national champions are.
I agree fully with this. I am injured at the moment so cant compete, but, if I wasnt injured, I would be competing in Morocco for the PKRA, and after 3 years of no event, I was hoping to be able to finally compete in this one. I have heard from a lot of people that they cant make it due to similar reasons as you.
As rowdy says, 2014 has a long way to go, no reason to rush the event now, could have been held at the same location in november/december, with an even better chance of wind, more entrants, and more planning time, allowing for a much more organised event
Select to expand quotesir ROWDY said..INTHELOOP said..I tend to disagree.
However, its better to have a national titles than have nothing like 2013.
Also I still don't see how there couldn't have been an event later in the year (or with more notice), as I said we aren't exactly pushed for time here, we are only in February after-all... Giving people adequate time to make arrangements would be at the top of my list, as said by many no one can afford a week away at less than 2 months notice.
I'm glad people are running this, but sad it's in this way.
So if there wasn't a Nationals in 2013. And this one is maybe too short notice.
Solution:- These Nationals could be classed as the end of season 2013/14 Nationals. Then plan another for Nov/Dec and class them as 2014 Nationals.
That way 2013 Nationals haven't been missed, and all those that can't make this due to short notice have the chance to compete later in the year in the 2014 Nationals.
