Can anyone update me on what is going on ? How many entrants ? Any wind ? What is happening ?
I am 7 hours away from being in a car and heading over to check it out !!!!!
Likewise...Im flying in later tonight.
Any updates or progress?
Is the comp site still St Kilda for Saturday and Sunday given the wind direction?
you can watch it live (kinda) here online http://www.coastalwatch.com/camera/cameras_large.aspx?cam=5600&state=VIC&camName=St Kilda
camera pans to and from the competition area
Yeah today looks good. What about tomorrow though. Its forecast to blow East-South East. Thatd be offshore for St Kilda right..?
its sayin sse tomoz 15-20, should be a nice seabreeze to finish off the comp. today was really good with heats being rune from 8.30 am untill 7.
cant wait for tomoz
Lover said,
Can anyone update me on what is going on ? Heaps
How many entrants ? Lots
Any wind ? Yes
What is happening ? Taken the lid off another one. hic
I am 7 hours away from being in a car and heading over to check it out !!!!!Have ya left yet?
This town aint big enough for both of us.
Almost in st Kilda - looking forward to seeing you all. Haak how did you get across the border you little Mexican ? Are you there to provide hAppy endings for the competitors ?
Some awesome stuff going on today, I would have to say the masters are riding the best out of everyone though. One fella was doing crow mobes
and another dude did a kiteloop back to blind 
WTF... Masters are meant to be crap but they are schooling everyone. Im glad I'm not in it so I don't get LOL'D by the masters.
and another dude did a kiteloop back to blind WTF... Masters are meant to be crap but they are schooling everyone. Im glad I'm not in it so I don't get LOL'D by the masters.
Awesome riding. Great day. Well done all- seeing Andy yates live was unreal.can't wait for tomorrow
Week of wind was awesome...some photos to capture the spirit of the week. Sorry, not too many close ups. Camera limitations :(
www.icloud.com/system/cloudos2/index.html.en-us.gzip
na stamp. jojo threw a couple, but another bloke was throwin some aswell. cant beleive jojo aint the only person in oz throwin them now!
Was a pretty sweet couple of days....
First day, was massive electrical storm, torrential rain etc.... St Kilda was not looking a pretty picture...
Day two wind was up nice and early, and everyone put in a massive day, organizers, judges and competitors to rack up nearly 12 hours of completed riding, finishing up the single elim's and starting on some of the double's...
Today (Saturday 13th) Saw the wind kick in again around 11.30am at a steady 15 - 20 knots, solid crowd, and overcast weather with the sun busting out now and then.
The guys ran through the double elimination finals, of the open womens was decided, with winner Chrissy Gaudieri taking out the title and a wildcard entry to next years PKRA gold coast stop.
The Juniors was tight, with Ewan Jaspan and Keahi De Aboitiz throwing down, with Keahi eventually taking the title.
The Masters was a close one, where Mario won the first round of double elims against Scotty Solar (chromobe scotty), the guys then went back on the water after the masters final for the second chance and Scotty took that one out and therefore title.
The open mens, had Ewan and Keahi battle it out for 2nd and 3rd, shortly after their Junior's final with Keahi, successfully defending his second place from single elims and then taking on Andy Yates in the final.
Was a tight final to watch, Susi Mai on the beach calling the shots for Kitelife, the Redbull tent and DJ's pumping out the tunes, Hudson emceeing from Nic's final judgement bus, judges, photographers, spectators and fellow kiters all watching eagerly to see who would take out the title....
In the end it was a experience on a major competition stage that counted as Andy Yates took the title of 2010 Australian freestyle kiteboard champion, with Keahi De Aboitiz runner up and Ewan Jaspen third.
Considering all of the top three riders in Australia as judged by this competition are teenagers it is fair to say that the future of progression of kiteboarding within Australia is looking promising.
Big props to all the competitors for making the trip and sharing their style and attitude with everyone. It must be said that as an event it was successful, the location was although slightly light at times, perfectly situated within walking distance to a tourist hot spot.
Featuring a large crowd of spectators predominantly from a non kiting background, all equally impressed by the style, grace and fluidity of riding from competitors, backed by commentary, pimp tunes and general event vibe, expert judging and an array of main stream media coverage, it is fair to say thank you.... To the sponsors for putting up the $ to make it possible to happen, and to George from Kitemag for making it happen.... Kudos.
Tomorrow (Sunday the 14th Feb) Will see more events kicking off at the same competition location (just up from St Kilda Pier) Such as the Boarder Cross, Kitelife Challenge, Pro Rider Shootout and the Kitemuster....
Check the kitemag website for details but from what I can gather...
Kitelife Challenge...
Will kick off at 11.00am, this is an event where we have been following the journey of varying sportspeople as they learnt kiteboarding for the first time and are now demonstrating to a live and TV audience how easy it is to learn the sport and how much fun it is.
Pro Rider shootout...
Lots of international riders in town at the moment, to assist with both filming for Kitelife, judging the freestyle nationals and to promote and progress the free style scene in Victoria. Demo event, and a chance to see first hand what the best in the world can do with a kite and some wind.
Boarder Cross...
Entry open to all kiters!!! For only $5 kiter can enter and compete it this event. It is essentially the same as the Port Phillip Cup as run by Kite Republic, with a course type race with varying legs of upwind, crosswind and downwind plus a number of inflatable obstacles which riders must negotiate to complete the course.
All money raised will be donated to the lifesaving club, great event, awesome spectacle, maybe even some carnage!!!
Kitemuster....
Just what you think it is... getting as many kites in the air at the same time as we can.... why??? Why not!!!! Visually will look amazing and considering the day is coinciding with St Kilda Festival (300,000 - 500,000 festival goers) It will certainly generate some interest, and be great to be a part of.
So come down tomorrow, come say g'day, loads of free music and entertainment, giveaways, and much much more!!!!
PS All the highlights of the nationals and week of wind tour will be on Kitelife Series II which will air Tuesdays at 8.00pm (EST) on Foxtel channel 183.... and if you don't have Foxtel, don't stress, we will be putting it out on DVD very soon....
Cheers again
Paul Cousins
Pretty sure Alexander Lewis-Hughes won the mens open title, I snapped a pic of him with his trophy on my phone last night.
AKSA National Championships
We have just seen the completion of the AKSA Australian Kiteboarding Championships. We are proud of the spirit all competitors have shown in this contest as a result we expect a surge in opportunities for kiteboarding.
This event would not have got off the ground without the unwavering support of the Australian Kiteboarding Association.
I would especially like to thank Chris Wardel and Phil Morrow for their endless hours of work they have put into make this event a reality.
Secondly I would like to thank our major sponsor Red Bull and I hope the success of this event forges a closer bond with the brand.
Our presenting sponsor Cabrinha kites have backed us 100 per cent. Thank you Hudson for sharing in our vision and seeing the potential this event can bring to our sport.
Chris Sal from Kite Republic, thank you for your friendship, teaching me to kite and supporting not only this event but my magazine from day 1. None of this would have happened without the faith you showed in me so thank you.
I am lucky enough to have five right hand men: they are Hooky (Tim Nanninga), Andrew Jaspan, Paul Felsovary, Ryan Fehily and Nick from Kite Republic. These guys have worked their guts out to make this happen and have been with me all the way.
This event has attracted some of the best kiters in the world. They are Jesse Richman, Andy Yates, Kristen Boese, Jules Hosp, Sam Light, Tom Court and Susi Mai. You have all made sacrifices to be here and it is rare to receive such brilliant support. You are welcome to Melbourne anytime.
Anton Richardson, on behalf of the riders we are honoured with the opportunity you have given our best competitors to compete in the PKRA. We will do everything we can to ensure your event on the Gold Coast is as well supported by local kiters as this event is.
The judging at this event has been world class under the direction of our head judge Toby Bromwitch.
Toby you have lifted the standard for Australian Nationals. Thank you. Alexander James Lewis-Hughes, Tom Court and Sam Light thanks for being our judges.
Our media sponsors have generated huge interest in our event. They are Extreme Kites, Seabreeze.com.au, Kite Life and Foxtel.
Special thanks to Paul Cousins and Susi Mai from Kite Life for their commentary.
As you all know events like this are expensive to put on. We would not have got here without the support from these brands.
XLR8ED DJ hire, Sure Tech Security, Fakie, Smoothstar skateboards, Fluid Kiteboarding, Gale Force Kites, Find boardsports, SHQ, Paqua, Blue Eye, Graffi-t, Australian Kite Surfari, Derevko wetsuits, Nobile, Kite Power, Barz sunglasses, JN kites and Slingshot.
Please support these fantastic brands that have shown so much faith in me.
Last but not least I would like to thank our volunteers who have also been here since day 1. They are Ivan Salmon, James McCann, Scott Fleming, Simon Blake, Karen Grant and Rosie Espanio.
George Ierodiaconou, Kite Mag, publisher
Results of the 2010 AKSA Australian National Kiteboarding Championships held at St Kilda beach, Melbourne, Feb 11 to 13, 2010.
Men
1. Andy Yates (Caloundra)
2. Keahi De Aboitz (Noosa)
3. Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
(Note: Keahi and Ewan get a "wild card" into the PKRA World Tour comp to be held in Gold Coast in December as Andy is already competing as the world's No 5)
Women
1. Chrissy Gaudieri (Perth)
2. Shannon Duckar (Perth)
3. Michelle England (Newcastle)
(Note: Chrissy given a wild card into the PKRA World Tour
comp)
Juniors
1.Keahai De Aboitz (Noosa)
2.Ewan Jaspan (St Kilda)
3.Lincoln Reeves (St Kilda)
Masters (over 35s)
1. Scott Sollar(Terrigal, NSW)
2 Mario Steffan (Adelaide)
3. Rob Sellar
The Andy Yates Talent Award, best up and comer; Lindsay Hobbs,15 (Gold Coast)
AKSA appointed judging panel: Toby Bromwich, head judge at St Kilda comp and one of six full-time PKRA World Tour judges Sam Light, from Hayling Island, UK, and 2009 British Kite Surfing Association Men's Open winner, ranked 5th in PKRA World Tour circuit.
Tom Court from Isle of Wight, UK, ranked 11th and on the PKRA World Tour circuit and until recently UK No 1 for under=18 Alexander "Sir Rowdy" James Lewis-Hughes, experienced kiter and judge from Elliot Heads, NSW. Jesse Richman, Maui, Hawaii, 2009 and 2008 KPWT World Champion.
Well, it's gotta be said.... good job on a great event George and to all those who helped out and all the riders who made the effort to get to melbs.
The footage looks pimp and will be ready in the upcoming episodes of Kitelife...
cheers
