I will do my best to keep this short and to the point.....but most of you already know that's not really me. So let the ramblings begin!
First off, I 100% agree with Rick I...kiteboarding IS moving on up and moving on into the future! It's also doing it in a much safer way, making safer environments for all, thus helping to secure it's own future. I personally think that we have Rick Iossi to thank for this in a very large way. He has been here for years, being persistant for years, typing the same stuff over and over and over(cuz boneheads just don't get it the 1st 100 times) for years, working for free or next to it for years, and staying true and dedicated even while being ridiculed by some....by several some's in the beginning. In fact, in the beginning, I think he had more people against him, his ways and his ideas than he had standing beside him...yet he still persisted! Now, luckily, more and more people are starting to realize just how phuctup their thinking has been, and they are finally coming around. His ideas have gone from his local forum, to national forums, to international forums. They have gone from local competitions, to state competitions, and now even the bigger competitions. This is one hell of an accomplishment...one that he is proud of I am sure. He should be proud too! I would be. Rick, 2 thumbs up to you bro!
I also agree that a few of you are trying like hell to turn this thread into a flaming piece of shit. Nice try...but NO CIGAR!
MadMick, I think your comments were a bit strong, but those are your thoughts and opinions. Like it or not people, MadMick is entitled to those opinions. All he did was to say it like he means it. He did NOT resort to name calling(until he was attacked personally). He did not ridicule Rick or say anything negative about him or his report. He simply stated, strongly, that he disagrees. Not a damn thing wrong with that! It is his opinion. Telling him to shut up, or go away, or calling him names, IMHO, is out of line. Those that took part in that BS are doing as much...no, doing MORE than MadMick to ruin this thread. He did nothing to ruin it. We should try NOT to be hypocrits.
I know I am prolly going to catch a world of shit for saying this, but someone has got to do it. Kiteboarding is boring!
So you don't like kickers and sliders huh? Well, they never were my thing either. I always viewed them as debris on the water. However, how long do you think you can have fun dangling around underneath a set of kitelines? Spinning, flipping, twisting....Believe it or not, once you have thoroughly mastered it all, it can become boring. Look for big name windsurfers to cross over to kiteboarding and love the shit out of it for a few years while they master it, only to give it up and go back to windsurfing one day. Because it is more challenging and less boring for them once they have mastered the kites. The kickers and sliders and other toys make things more interesting for some, and they make kitesurfing interesting AGAIN for a few. Hard to say what we will see next year...maybe bigger kickers and sliders, maybe more of them, maybe less. You can bet though that you will see SOMETHING to help keep the spice in it for those that get to do it 70 hours or more a week.
I expect to see leashes common place again one day too. I have never stopped using one from the day I first started, so using them is of no hassle at all to me. I hate like hell to be unfashionable(I wear kitepants), so I'm sure the leashes will become the IN thing again cuz I USE 'EM!
I like the idea of having space for the runaway kites to go to without putting the public in danger like it was at this contest. I think an even better idea would be to have it set up like that, make damn sure the riders are aware, and let them know that any runaway kites will more than likely was ashore over in that area or can be retrieved from the trees in that area, but the contest will NOT be spending any resources on people or craft to chase your runaway kite with. LEASH IT OR RISK LOSING IT! That theirs the way it is in the real world and that their is the way it should be in the contest scene.
Pea's Out!
Johnny