The Angostura Bitter All Australian Kite Of Origin

Hi Fellow Kiters

I would like some serious feed back, your thoughts and if you would be interested in competing in this event as I would like to see this become a reality and a annual event on the kiting calander for Australia and WA.

It would be held on one of WA's main summer beaches Cottesloe/ North Fremantle (subject to council approval) to show case our sport to the general public and non believers to our sport. This would help break down the barriers to show the public how friendly, safe and fun this fantastic sport really is.

The way it would work is that you would kite for the state you were born in e.g. I was born in VIC grew up in NSW but now live in WA so I would kite for Vic. If you are a new resident to Australia and have residence then you would kite for the state you now live in. So it would be MATE against MATE, STATE against STATE.

It would be all run in conjuction with all the affiliated bodies WAKSA, AKSA and other groups throughout Oz. It would be a four day event with registration starting on a Thursday morning and allowing 2 - 3 hours of free ride time to warm up and get use to the conditions. There would be three categories and they are:

1) Freestyle - mens and ladies
2) Biggest Air Hang Time - mens and ladies
3) Kitecross - mens and ladies

All catergories will have a masters section for the older kiters who want to compete and just have gerally great time.

Thursday arvo would kick off with the freestyle heats .
Friday would continue freestyle heats till we have the finalists and move into the Big Air Hang Time heats category.
Saturday would continue Big Air until we have finalists and then start the Kitecross category and run it till we have the finalists. You would be able to enter into all three events if you like.

ALL FINALS WILL BE HELD ON THE SUNDAY and prizes would be awarded at the VIP after party.

I would be looking at contacting kite companies to be apart of the event as prizes and also opportunities for riders to get sponsorships. A water company and beer company would be asked to supply product as sponsors. Angostura Bitters would supply the Lemon, Lime and Bitters to drink during the days and plenty of rum cocktails at night. Clothing and kiteshops would also be ask if they would like to be on board as prize sponsors and even non kite companies if they want to be a part of the fun.
Fuel TV and Kite TV would also be asked if they could come over and film for a show on the event and try to also arrange commercial TV coverage as well.

We would also ask a kite school to be there for people that are interested in the sport and discuss the safety aspects and getting started.
This event could really help our cause and show people that it is safe and fun if carried out in a fun and friendly safe arena.

The out come would be which ever state has the most finalist in the the finals or the most first winners will win braging right for the year as well as the prizes.

Your valuable feed back would be most appreciated.

Specimen

Yep, I'm in. Go South Australia.

Sounds Awsome!!! But maybe hold it in a different state each year? Just a thought....

Yeah thats a possiblity as well. Thanks Keep the suggestions coming, this is a peolples kiteing comp and everything will be taken on board to make it a kick arse event, that you want to go to.

I like it . It's a sure way to get some of us east coasters over when it becomes a state against state thing.

XX angie

Give me five zillion dollars to move to France for five minutes and you can call me whatever you like, e hoa.

good idea but trying to get people to organise it in a different state each year could be pretty hard. It's hard enough to find people in aus to run the nationals.

But if kiters were organizing it then it would be a certain event each year!

ADEN.

Very true. Hands up who is prepared to run this series of events.
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I think I hear the crickets in the garden.

I heard there's still three blokes living in Perth that were actually born in WA! Not sure if they kite though.

One of them does, I've kited with him. He's just a beginner though. Not sure about the other two.

I commend your enthusiasm Duncan. This is a huge undertaking. Don't forget, only about 2% of kiters are actually skilled enough to compete in a freestyle event. The majority of weekend warriors are simple plodders.

We are planning a race series over here on Botany Bay this summer. That way everyone has a chance of winning something no matter their level of skill.

Perhaps start with a simple format to attract the maximum number of competitors. The vast magority of spectators don't know one handle pass trick from the next and sponsors like to see clear results. Board-a-cross looks spectacular, like a steeple chase on water. Sponsors and spectators can work this one out easily.

You will need WAKSA on side for the insurance and hands on duties, etc.

Just my thoughts, hope it all helps.

Hi all,

Could someone detail what a "Board-a-cross" or kite-X event consists of??





Graeme,
Could you fill us in on how your race series will operate??

I know SAKSA are interested in more events but one of the hardest exercises is to get the initial planning of a concept from "what a great idea" to "wow, that went well!!!"

Shared info of the details of events may just be the key to having more events in each state.
Once each state's kiters become more comfortable running events they may be more inclined to host National / State of origin comps.

Regards
the fossill

Hi D_Meredith79
Good idea on the skill level of riders. Maybe there could be an aged category for the freestyle events. But thank for the feedback it's all great.

Cheers
Specimen

hahahah

Specimen,

when do you hope to have the event?

Juddy