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Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

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Toby
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Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby Toby » Mon Jan 15, 2024 2:32 am

Sad news:

bakl.png

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby bennettmaeve » Mon Jan 15, 2024 3:24 am

So sad Mike's had to make that decision. Also, Full Power Tarfia is now supported by the GKA on their tour. Seems BAKL has hit though waters ahead.

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby esignoretti » Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:12 am

I'm really sad to read about this setback, this guy was instrumental in building all the hype about Big Air and this new generation of riders. I really hope he will find new ways to bting back BAKL on top.

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby mati » Mon Jan 15, 2024 10:29 am

esignoretti wrote:
Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:12 am
I'm really sad to read about this setback, this guy was instrumental in building all the hype about Big Air and this new generation of riders. I really hope he will find new ways to bting back BAKL on top.
Yes, sad news. i am going to CT this weekend for a few weeks and was expecting to see some BAKL action.
Unluckily, the new generation is not supporting his huge efforts to run well organized comps around the world. Just Giel and Cohan (currently injured) were following the tour. At least for the CT stop, the top guys were no attending, making it more difficult for the organization to collect the founds sponsors wise to run the competition. The BAKL was left behind by the riders as a second tier comp, and most of them just compete if they have nothing better to do, and it is not far away from them.
In last week's kitesurf365 podcast, Mike, speaks about this. They can't offer good price money, because they don't have the top riders, and the top riders don't attend, because there is no good money.
With GKA, BAKL, KOTA (and fly-to events), Cold Hawaii and Megaloop Challenge the calendar is full of events, most of them ran in the second half of the year. BAKL and GKA big air should merge in one tour in my opinion, making a more interesting and sustainable schedule.

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby Toby » Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:07 pm

Without BAKL there would be only two big air comps, KOTA and Megaloop challenge.

The sport owes them a lot. And specially the big air riders, all of them. That’s a shame.
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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby rw30 » Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:24 pm

well, it's just far (from Europe, where most top dogs are located) and since even the top riders are not staying in CT for entire season / after KOTA, it's difficult to make them come back just for that one event. Rount trip plane ticket with equpiment is easily 1000€, then accommodation, well, expensive stuff.
I guess they shall focus on events in Europe to avoid such issues in future.

anyway, from fan perspective, what a pity! event in Misty Cliffs would provide spectacular highlights, that's for sure

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby mati » Mon Jan 15, 2024 1:29 pm

Toby wrote:
Mon Jan 15, 2024 12:07 pm
Without BAKL there would be only two big air comps, KOTA and Megaloop challenge.

The sport owes them a lot. And specially the big air riders, all of them. That’s a shame.
GKA will held 3 big air comps this year. Lord of Tram, Full Power Tarifa and Gran Canaria. It would be nice if they work together for a 5 events a year calendar, with 3/4 fix locations and 1/2 new places every year (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Australia, NZ etc) to promote the sport.
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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby a99 » Mon Jan 15, 2024 2:09 pm

Very sad that it was cancelled. But in EU i think sich event can’happen in winter, only CT is perfect place, also nest of best place for big air jumps. Cold Hawai is big compromise, water is dirty color, cold, not so spectacular place as CT, but of course much more affordable. Sad that big Brands (with cosmic price for equipment - bar now near 700e, kite alreadu near 3k) want support joinly each giving for example 4-5k (and still gerting logos as sponsors and etc) what is really not substantial money for sich brand giants.

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby Javig84 » Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:37 pm

What a shame! Mike must really be under pressure to have to call it off. BAKL is the best way to develop new riders .

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Re: Update on BAKL Cape Town - cancelled

Postby Shivix » Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:10 am

Understandable and good that Mike is taking care of himself. Unfortunate news.


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