Posted: Fri May 03, 2002 5:34 pm
This is purely speculation on my part.
It would seem to me that due to the nature of kitesurfing contests it is such a subjective interpretation that is to be judged that it is difficult to determine a clear winner. My concern is that, due to this fact, kitesurfing will degrade into the same sort of "Prima donna" attitude of figure skating, or some such other event that relies on what the judges think, not on empirical data (such as is the case in a race, or even a hangtime competition where the results speak for themselves)
As is already becoming apparent in the other thread about the Feurte event. "So and so, should have won, but he got robbed by the judges, etc., etc."
How can you really determine who really is the better rider? There are so many different variables in kitesurfing.
Kitesurfing certainly does not lend itself to a pure results format like racing that could determine a winner, so I don't know what the solution is. Maybe set up some sort of steeple-chase type of venue (jump over bouys, rafts, etc.?) to showcase kiting's jumping ability, coupled with a best time through the course?
I only hope that kitesurfing is not headed down the slippery slope of self-aggrandizement, egos, and biased judging. It is too cool of a sport for that.
It would seem to me that due to the nature of kitesurfing contests it is such a subjective interpretation that is to be judged that it is difficult to determine a clear winner. My concern is that, due to this fact, kitesurfing will degrade into the same sort of "Prima donna" attitude of figure skating, or some such other event that relies on what the judges think, not on empirical data (such as is the case in a race, or even a hangtime competition where the results speak for themselves)
As is already becoming apparent in the other thread about the Feurte event. "So and so, should have won, but he got robbed by the judges, etc., etc."
How can you really determine who really is the better rider? There are so many different variables in kitesurfing.
Kitesurfing certainly does not lend itself to a pure results format like racing that could determine a winner, so I don't know what the solution is. Maybe set up some sort of steeple-chase type of venue (jump over bouys, rafts, etc.?) to showcase kiting's jumping ability, coupled with a best time through the course?
I only hope that kitesurfing is not headed down the slippery slope of self-aggrandizement, egos, and biased judging. It is too cool of a sport for that.