With Kite Stock wrapped up, 140 kiters attended, still a great turnout for a local event.
Number where down from previous years, reasons being sight being cost. Is the kiting community to broke to better support local events such as kitestock?http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/gascoyne/a/21504632/kitestock-2014-hailed-as-huge-success/
Its often posted there needs to be more events, supported by the kiting brands, but with decreasing support from the kiting community its a concern for those wanting to make the effort to put up events.
For those that didnt attend kite Stock this year, what wete your reasons?
Cost
Time of year
State, distance from major ciry
Type of Events
Or what comment with what would get you to an event to participate or simple watch.
I am antisocial and if I drive all the way up there, I want some choice un crowded waves to myself so will pick any other time
Personally if I were to enter/attend again I'd like to see the wave competition on competition waves (even with swell its mediocre at best down in front of the surf club) I acknowledge that this is the best place in Dongara due the proximity of the comp to the beach/spectators, moving this particular competition to another location would make the event disjointed and hard to manage.
The Party: lots of people I know have only one interest and that's catching up with mates from interstate/metro, a party only ticket may attract more?
Proximity isn't a problem for me,
I think a location change is due, perhaps a little further north, Geraldton perhaps? Would interstate riders arrange direct flights easier and bypass the driving? The whole event could be done from Point Moore, consistent flat water freestyle on Northern End, course racing Point-Back Beach, Seppo etc, and wave riding out on the reefs, easily accessible, caravan park close by. Just the party and catering to organise and we're set!
I haven't been before but would have loved to come up .. looked fantastic .
Cost was not a factor ..
For me its distance .. I prob cant make the whole weekend because I work Saturdays .. so if it was at a closer venue ( eg Metro , Mandurah or Lancelin) then I would come for the day or so....
Select to expand quotedusta said..
what was your reason ??
under the thumb ?? :P
Spot on :P Couldnt make Friday due to work and personal commitments.
Full price and long drive for 1 days kiting & a party bit to much.
Would have consider the drive if there was clear advise on racing events.
Select to expand quoteaustin said...
Personally if I were to enter/attend again I'd like to see the wave competition on competition waves (even with swell its mediocre at best down in front of the surf club) I acknowledge that this is the best place in Dongara due the proximity of the comp to the beach/spectators, moving this particular competition to another location would make the event disjointed and hard to manage.
The Party: lots of people I know have only one interest and that's catching up with mates from interstate/metro, a party only ticket may attract more?
Proximity isn't a problem for me,
I think a location change is due, perhaps a little further north, Geraldton perhaps? Would interstate riders arrange direct flights easier and bypass the driving? The whole event could be done from Point Moore, consistent flat water freestyle on Northern End, course racing Point-Back Beach, Seppo etc, and wave riding out on the reefs, easily accessible, caravan park close by. Just the party and catering to organise and we're set!
I don't believe Dongara has the best kiting conditions available in the area to fork out the cost of the entry. Also not reliable enough weather patterns at this time of year to fully comit to taking time off school and work to get Friday off.
sorry but we did go, just didn't enter the events.
Crowd was a bit of a fizzer.(compared to other years.)
meh . the event was alot of fun . met two new faces at the campsite next to us . Had timeout from the family . Got to have a little kite when my ankle permitted it . Had more than a few beers. Had a laugh and then went home to the family sunday night . All in all a good weekend for me bar not enough kiting .
The guys at WAKSA are always looking for people to help . Darren and Drew did a bloody good job considering you can't always please everyone and instead of bitching about this or that, stand up and help out . Darren is being reported for using his own daughter for MC duties at the dinner :) Slave labour :)
Food put on down at the beach was great each day and the dinner while not 5 star filled you up ready for another day .
Bring on the 10 year anniversary Kitestock next year . And thanks to the WAKSA volunteers that gave up their time .
Maybe this should be in the WA thread as getting there from the rest of oz would be a nightmare....
The thing that stops me going to kitestop is its alot of money and time wasted if the winds no good and also im not that into waves or racing. Bit off topic but what has happened to all the local events. I remember when i was about 12 seeing a big air event down at safety bay beach when kiteboarding was pretty much brand new. Also about 5 years ago there was a comp at the pond and there was a slider jam at woodies. Now there seems to be no local events although kiteboarding has become alot more popular. Would be good to see another fun local event as alot more people are available with a waiting period for the right conditions i wonder how many people would be interested in this?
Select to expand quotesaltydawg said...
The thing that stops me going to kitestop is its alot of money and time wasted if the winds no good and also im not that into waves or racing. Bit off topic but what has happened to all the local events. I remember when i was about 12 seeing a big air event down at safety bay beach when kiteboarding was pretty much brand new. Also about 5 years ago there was a comp at the pond and there was a slider jam at woodies. Now there seems to be no local events although kiteboarding has become alot more popular. Would be good to see another fun local event as alot more people are available with a waiting period for the right conditions i wonder how many people would be interested in this?
Yeah the core slider jam at woodies, I remember the first year I felt confident enough an at a skill level to get involved was the first year this event didn't run and never would again 
Kite stock needs to be in the first week of feb where the wind is cranking.It always cranking in the first week.Mid feb just starting to border line with the end of the high wind season. Lanos would be a bit more accessible from Perth.It gets big crowds even without kite stock.Flat water ,waves and downwinder locations around !.
Ill go next year if its at lanos!
Events run by Waksa require membership! Maybe a pro rata membership for events could work as I'm sure most of the people who could give the comp a run aren't members either.
WAKSA could look into having a "fee" for non members for the Kitestock weekend to cover organisation costs and insurance.
Surely an extra $20 per registration could cover a non WAKSA entry for the weekend. Like Nick said, a pro rata membership sounds logical, given people don't go simply because they are not members.
Might end up with 50 extra kiters at Kitestock, that's only going to keep sponsors and the community happy with more $$ spent in town.
Hey might even end up with a few more memberships in the following year.
How about next year have the event up at Horricks?
World class waves at Camels or Bowes River!
World class flat water in the lagoon, if your really clever, try the pink lakes... accommodation at the caravan park.
Is this a good idea? Or am I reliving Leavers 2001 again? 
it gets more expensive every time, last few years had really **** winds too.
I agree there should be an option like an extra fee to pay when you don't want to be waksa member but still want to attend events.
Should also offer a cheaper variable of tickets which excludes the meals.
In response to local events such as Core Jam, reason it doesn't go anymore is because that was a private event organised by a few people, hardly anyone wanted to help out during the building, preparation and pack downs, were too stingy to pay the entry fees (which mostly went back into prize money) and it was ridiculously expensive with not enough sponsor backing to make it viable, was running at significant losses for the Core team without any real benefit coming out of it. Between that and trying to get council approval for events makes it difficult.
we had a ball left melb at 7am got to perth 8 am got a bus 4 hr drive to coro and awesome kite had a great time and will do it again next year with more crew. Big thanks to waksa. The tribe
Select to expand quotehamburglar said..
i didn't go cause its not in God's country,
N.S.W 
North Side of Wedge...?
Select to expand quoteChris6791 said..hamburglar said..
i didn't go cause its not in God's country,
N.S.W
North Side of Wedge...?
No Silly Wan.....
Lost a job last month, 7 kite valves broken (yep, was planning to get a new one there), and than on top of it my Brunotti board taken just before the event.
Yep, broke as... Select to expand quotediamond2001 said..
Kite stock needs to be in the first week of feb where the wind is cranking.It always cranking in the first week.Mid feb just starting to border line with the end of the high wind season. Lanos would be a bit more accessible from Perth.It gets big crowds even without kite stock.Flat water ,waves and downwinder locations around !. Ill go next year if its at lanos!
All for Lano or Wedge.
Select to expand quotediamond2001 said..
Kite stock needs to be in the first week of feb where the wind is cranking.It always cranking in the first week.Mid feb just starting to border line with the end of the high wind season. Lanos would be a bit more accessible from Perth.It gets big crowds even without kite stock.Flat water ,waves and downwinder locations around !.
Ill go next year if its at lanos!
See what I mean? This sort of thing should be out of the General section! Seriously. Like where the hell is "Lanos" and who gives a toss about the best time for WA events? etc etc etc..
If I want to know about WA *anything*, I'll just go to the WA section.
General should be moderated to exclude posts specific to a given location IMO.
So there!
Yeah yeah... red it!
ps. If there ever is a WA vs QLD comp, I'll be in it!
pss. As to why I personally did not go to WA? There is plenty of uncrowded bliss right here in QLD thanks!
Select to expand quoteAndyHansen said..
....
For those that didnt attend kite Stock this year, what wete your reasons?
....
Why would I leave my perfectly lovely patch of uncrowded water, travel for days, at great expense, to kite, or watch you and your mates kite, in your patch of water?
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..AndyHansen said..
....
For those that didnt attend kite Stock this year, what wete your reasons?
....
Why would I leave my perfectly lovely patch of uncrowded water, travel for days, at great expense, to kite, or watch you and your mates kite, in your patch of water?
Then may ask, what would make you consider traveling interstate, or even travel 2-3 hours within your own state to attend an event such as Kitestock?
The only thing I can think of is something that would allow me to do something I could not do for myself.
Interstate? Nothing at all. I would have to either be going to that place for a holiday (in which case an event being on might discourage me from going due to crowding concerns), or that going to that event might make a holiday possible (and good value and desirable etc). A kite event by itself, not a chance. A kite event combined with an arts festival? Possibly yes. A kite event combined with a quality music festival? Possibly. Definitely not a loud, boozy noise fest. It would have to have some soul about it.
Locally? Maybe a supported long distance downwinder through prime surf breaks, or access to a place I could not normally get to.
Why do people whing about WA posts when there is kitboarding subjects about Sydney Albury ,tasmania and queensland in the general section.Its a general section its for general subjects.Forums are great for selective reading.if you dont want to read it then dont click on it. Simple!...iI guess some people just want to whing about something.. Climb out from under the rock.!
Select to expand quoteAndyHansen said..
For those that didnt attend kite Stock this year, what were your reasons?
Because I refuse to wear a death-leash,
WAKSA has banned me from all their organised group activities.
It's a pity, cause the body-dragging race at KITESTOKE sounds like a real hoot.
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
Locally? Maybe a supported long distance downwinder through prime surf breaks, or access to a place I could not normally get to.
like the 32km downwinder through remote territory that happens at kitestock ?
Yeah KITESTOCK is great,
It gets some of the crowd out of MY ocean,
3 hour drive
Plus fuel ,entry fees, Waksa membership ( for some ), accommodation, lost wages. ,food,
Unreliable wind, upset wife, etc,etc
Or,
Downwinders all weekend ,
Beers and talking **** in the car park with my mates
And home by 7:00 for a home cooked meal
No contest really
I put the word out to 6 guys about going and they were all 'keen' but eventually all politely declined.
I've been kiting for 8 years and have always thought about going, I checked out the website this year and it didn't really explain much about what it was, or what you get for your money ( made it VERY clear I had to be a Waksa member- which I am but my mates aren't )
So I struggled to convince the others about going.
So you could put together a better website????
Maybe next year...
as a local the event is held at the wrong time, for a few reasons, the wind blows very regular from end of nov to middle march, however in the last 6 years its around Christmas where you get constant winds, also bringing it forward would interest shops more due to being closer to release dates of equip, imho I found it quite low key compared to previouse years, airush, wa surf, and kite west looked like they put in a huge effort with their stands, the brand of kite I fly didn't look like they even attended,also people have time off over Christmas hols, maybe its time for a change to a different venue as people get bored going to the same spot, the advertisement was also very poor, it only went up on sb a couple of weeks before the event unlike L2L, which would be another factor,as for being broke I didn't see too many old kites being flown or old boards ridden
