The water was really foul about 5 years ago. Since they were awarded the olympics, they have been cleaning up the waterways and bay frantically. It is much better than it used to be, but they have a long way to go.

I have a house in Flamengo on the bay and the beaches are beautiful and the locals swim in the water, but I would not want to. It does get windy in there if the coast is windy, just not as windy and it will probably be gusty.

I think it would be doable especially if they are flexible with exactly where in the bay. Competitors better get their shots before...

Having the competitions in the bay would not be so good in several ways (compared to Barra beach).
-Nasty water
-Less and more unpredictable wind
-Less spectator friendly, except for following boats
-The bay is crowded by offshore vessels

The downside I can see with the beach is that the waves can be quite big, but an Olympic athlete should be able to handle that.

Last year I shoot a race competition at Barra beach in this vid
https://vimeo.com/16937594

It wont embed ?

Thanks McAbe,

Sounds like Barra beach is the place to hold the kitesurfing. The ISAF have gone out on a limb and are going to have to justify their decision in face of a much more convincing presentation by the windsurf representatives.

If the ISAF stick to their kitesurf in decision, its in their interests for it to be a success. They dont want a debacle with the kites falling out of the sky and the competition not finished.

Barra beach also looks much more like people's image of Rio than the bay, so it would be good for kiting and Rio to show that side of the city.

It would also favour the current kiters to hold the racing at Barra beach if the conditions are similar to your video, which was shot only about 3? weeks later in the year than the Olympics.
It would make it less equipment controlled and more a skill competition too.

When total strangers (to the sport..never seen it before) at the beach as me....

What do you call that ??

I answer Kitesurfing if you are on a board designed to ride in one direction...much like Windsurfing

There is also Kiteboarding which use a board designed to ride equally well in both direction...
........much like Wakeboarding..


So here is my point to you all

Windsurfers will take up Kitesurfing for Rio 2016
Kitesurfing is the Olympic sport here....directionals with straps just like Windsurfing

We are fortunate to use kites because of the variety of water vehicles we can use successfully

The windsurfers do not have the choice to do also windboarding ( bidirectional riding) with sails

Maybe one day there will be Kiteboarding (areials tricks etc)...just like gymnastics in Olympics

But the truth remains that it should be renamed KITESURFING for RIO

The type of water you ride in has nothing to do with the name of the sport

Windsurfing is done in waves or flat water and is still call that

Because their boards have a tail and nose with fins in the back only and travel in one direction

..........................just my opinion of course.....but maybe others think the same way......scary

Here in Spain, Marina Alabau (Gold Women RSX) has also said she is not bad with a kite...

Some new insight into what way the kite gear may be controlled for 2016.

http://www.boardseekermag.com/features/ ... story.html

One thing I definitely agree with: it should NOT have been windsurfing OR Kitesurfing.

Both are popular sports and classes, and certainly more popular than the other classes still in the Olympics.

One thing I definitely agree with: it should NOT have been windsurfing OR Kitesurfing.

Both are popular sports and classes, and certainly more popular than the other classes still in the Olympics.

The comment about the gear starting out 'box rule' but then becoming 'one design' just before the Olympics is interesting... I don't know that many brands will be very happy to have invested into top R&D for 3 years to see their top riders on someone else's gear at the Olympics...

My guess is that by November this year they will have to come to a decision on the final format and rules for the Olympics - and also in November the decision will be made finally as to whether kiting or windsurfing is in for 2016.

Steph seems to be expecting the gear to be very similar to todays and that riders will be registering a board, 2 sets of fins and 3 kites - much as they do now.

Lee seems to think there will be more development and the gear will have improved a lot for light wind. He thinks some particular equipment may be chosen before the Olympics (presumably the one which is considered the best) and every competitor will be supplied with the same equipment. That's similar to the windsurf RS:X system except its the same RS:X every Olympics.

Both are new ideas for sailing and both have pros and cons but in cycling for instance, all the competitors can bring their own bikes.

With what Steph is suggesting - that looks good for the current manufacturers to be involved and to keep the current kiters sponsorship going.
It does seem to have the potential for a country's kitesurf team to have their own (superior and very expensive) production run of equipment. That would suit any team that switched from windsurfing to kiting (and had the budget) - especially if the kiting is in the Bay and not at Barra Beach.