PKRA 2002 TOUR EVENT FINALS IN BRAZIL CANCELLED-TOUR RANKINGS STAND AFTER 4 EVENTS AND CHAMPIONS ANNOUNCED!
(Maui, Hawaii, USA-October 22,2002) With some long-standing question of political and economic stability, the PKRA Brazil Tour Final was cancelled after a rider vote to not accept less than the Guidelines criteria for Prize monies. The disappointment came when the Brazil Organizer notified the Association of financial difficulties arising from an economic downturn during a politically sensitive time in Brazil. The PKRA was notified that the Event would happen only if the Riders were to accept a 2/3 decrease in Prize money. ($10,000, instead of $30,000, with $5,000 going to the Tour Purse.) In consideration of the Events and Organizers that met the PKRA sanctioning Guidelines for the year, the Riders felt strongly not to negotiate Guideline criteria. Last attempts were made to secure additional sponsors to pull in the resources that were missing, but with so little time left before the venue start, those attempts proved unsuccessful. The Riders resigned not to support the Event as a Tour stop, though the Event was charted to still happen as a non-Tour ranked contest. Finally, the Organizer decided not to run the Event at all and officially cancelled. The PKRA would like to apologize to anyone this may have inconvenienced!
Therefore, the PKRA World Tour 2002 is officially finished and the Tour rankings from the completed 4 Events, including one throw out, stand. The $20,000 Tour Purse will be distributed from this Final Ranking.
2002 PKRA WORLD TOUR CHAMPIONS:
MENS CHAMPION: MARK SHINN-UK NAISH
WOMENS CHAMPION: CINDY MOSEY-NZL NORTH
2002 PKRA WORLD TOUR RANKINGS:
MENS-
1ST- MARK SHINN-UK NAISH 4.4pts
2ND- MARTIN VARI-ARG CABRINHA 6.7pts
3RD- SEBASTIAN CATTELAN-FRA WIPIKA 11pts
4TH- JAIME HERRAIZ-ESP NORTH 14pts
5TH- DAVID TYBURSKI-USA WIPIKA 14.7pts
6TH- ADAM KOCH-USA NAISH 18pts
7TH- JEFF TOBIAS-USA SLINGSHOT 19pts
8TH- FLASH AUSTIN-USA NAISH 22pts
9TH- WILL JAMES-USA NORTH 25pts
10TH- ABEL LAGO-ESP SLINGSHOT 26pts
10TH- MARC RAMSEIER-SUI CABRINHA 26pts
12TH- STEVE KELLNER-SA SLINGSHOT 31pts
WOMENS-
1ST- CINDY MOSEY-NZL NORTH 2.1pts
2ND- INGRID KOELLBICHLER-AUS UNSPONSORED 7pts
3RD- ANKE KIRCHNER-GER CABRINHA 12pts
4TH- LAUREL EASTMAN-USA NORTH 13pts
5TH- CLAIRE BUNTON-UK TAKOON 14pts
6TH- FIONA WEDENIG-SUI SLINGSHOT 14pts
*For a complete Ranking list go to http://www.pkra.info
With what has been determined by the Riders as a successful start and close for the inaugural Tour year, the PKRA is busy formulating Guidelines for the 2003 Tour season, and is soliciting for interested Organizers on hosting a sanctioned Tour event in 2003. Interest thus far indicates an increase in events for next year, rider feedback shows a possible increase to 8 events! Hopes are for a Tour calendar by January 2003. The Association is also soliciting for a 2003 Tour sponsor(s) and magazine partners to help promote the opportunities inherent in this dynamic sport! Also in progress, is the editing for the four half-hour OLN (Outdoor Life Network) television shows (http://www.olntv.com) on the four events-The Paul Mitchell Pro Kiteboarding World Adventure. Air scheduling will be released by late November. The shows will be solicited for air in other countries once finished, posting of those airings will follow distribution.
The Professional Kite Riders Association would like to thank the following:
Gerard Polak- Organizer Podersdorf, Austria
Victor Martins- Organizer Margarita, Venezuela
Lorenzo Sancassani- Organizer Cabarete, DR
Rene Egli- Organizer Fuerteventura, Spain
(Including all of their awesome staff and Event sponsors!!)
Peter Englehart- Senior Vice President of Programming/Production at Outdoor Life Network
Bennett Productions
Big Bang Productions
Dave Nash
Rod Parmenter
Our OLN sponsors:
Paul Mitchell
Red Bull USA
SBC Kiteboard Magazine
Primedia
And to all the Publishers, Editors, Writers and Photographers- giving us some love/pages/exposure in all those awesome kiteboard Publications!
And to Industry for supporting all the incredibly talented Riders!