yes because they keep buying $5000 printers in the hope there gay gopro snaps will somehow look better only to try and push them on to some other unsuspecting punter for a loss!!!
There is always a million reasons not to do something and only one reason to do it.
I suspect if the WAKSA committee took onboard half of the suggestions on this thread and changed the format, then this time next year the suggestions would be:
"We should have Kitestock at Dongara again. Have it over 3 days. Run several fun Kite events covering each discipline and have dinner at the Priory."
I too had a backlog of work things that 'had' to be done instead of going to Kitestock last weekend.
Luckily Wifey and I don't celebrate Valentines day because our Wedding anniversary is a week after Valentines day (Sizzler on Valentines day with the kids is not my idea of a celebration).
Packed the car late on Thursday night, got a few hours sleep and left early Friday.
We get out of Perth every 2nd weekend on average and what a relief it was not having to pack the large esky, gas cooker, plates, bowls, cooking things, utensils, etc etc. And there was no last minute food shopping. Just had to pack watersports gear (and beer). No making my own food for 3 days. Freedom!
The busy work week soon left my mind and i was soon very happy that I went up. We had a great Kitestock last weekend. Been stoked about it all week. No doubt there are a hundred other kiters that went along and have been quietly stoked all week too.
Well done and a big thumbs up to the WAKSA committee for organising a great event!!!
I found it very relaxing, the weather and the water was beautifully warm, there was plenty of space to Kite, and we met alot of friendly kiters on the beach, on the bus and at the Pub.
Sambalicious were back on Saturday night and yet again got nearly everyone onto the dance floor. They even played there new a song about the stoke of heading out for a kite :)
It was great to see and speak to people who are engaged with different kiting disciplines than what i usually see at the beach. For example a ten minute conversation with a race kiter on the beach revealed a whole new world that i wouldn't have learned about otherwise.
Here's to the 10th Kitestock being a big one next year!
Great job WAKSA, for many years its been fab.
I think time for a change though. A change of thinking.
Time to get local comps happening again folks - focus on your own crew, get connected, have fun and welcome outsiders who take the time and pay the money to travel.
In my experience your local council will be only too willing to help out.
I think WAKSA need to come up with an weekend insurance option especially for travellers..also need to change it up a bit also with some new ideas and promotion.
Maybe a new location also just for a change.
Throw some cash prizes at the comps.
I guess its largely a volunteer type gig so these guys do such a good job..
Select to expand quoteAndreC said...
I think WAKSA need to come up with an weekend insurance option especially for travellers..also need to change it up a bit also with some new ideas and promotion.
Maybe a new location also just for a change.
Throw some cash prizes at the comps.
I guess its largely a volunteer type gig so these guys do such a good job..
The event is volunteer run, but in part paid for by all WAKSA Members and by event fees./sponsorship.
A portion of every members fees ($30) goes towards waksa events funds with KS being the main event these funds are allocated towards.
Select to expand quoteAndreC said...
I guess its largely a volunteer type gig so these guys do such a good job..
Not largely........ it is a volunteer organisation. If people took home a wage then they are open to criticism. But really all these ideas and suggestions should be tabled at the committee meetings. You're all committee members right ?
Well maybe committee members could take the ideas to the 'table' dusta. Idea generation shouldn't be left to just a few minds sitting around a table. Take the good ones and throw them around.
I went to peel a few old stickers off the back of my car the other day and thought at the time how well they reflected my kitestock experience over the years.
As you can see 2008 and 2009 really stood out and still do(nuking winds, good times etc), 2010 and 2011 things started to fade (the wind just didn't co-operate like it did in the first years), 2012 was the last year I went and although the wind was not that good I still enjoyed myself because I had started getting into SUP so spent most of the weekend paddling.
The last couple of years I haven't made it to KS, not so much because I didn't want to go but more because I work a lot of weekends and there is only so many I can have off.
I got pretty heavily into SUP and try to get to all of the SUP events that I can, surfing titles, races, fun events, National Titles etc., so by the time KS comes around I found I had used up all of my leave passes from work.
I'm not sure wether the location should change or not, I go to Lancelin often so kind of liked the road trip aspect of going that bit further to Dongara/Port Denison and camping out.
It is not that far and it is a great location as far as having miles of hard beach that you can drive on and the surf club right there for a base, enough caravan parks and accommodation etc.
Yes it is not really flat water and not much in the way of waves but it is a pretty good compromise.
I very much appreciate the effort of all those that have been involved with making it happen over the years and hope there is others that will grab the reins (or keep hold of them) to make sure it keeps happening in some form or other.
Regardless of where it is I will be trying to get to it next year.
