Great point. That's a definite advantage that kites - and windsurfers (!) - have on the rest of the sailing classes at the Olympics.


I'm starting to see this It's strange though how my comments in defense of windsurfing are seen as an attack on kitesurfing, isn't it? We're facing deeply entrenched feelings. Not everyone feels that way though, and it's definitely reassuring to see the occasional post in support of BOTH sports.

That's all I'm saying: we don't have to put windsurfing down to feel good about kiting!

Oh, for fuck's sake. 8 pages and you're (mostly) all still missing the point.

Maybe kiteboarding is more relevant/popular/accessible than windsurfing. Maybe it's not. But they're still both a better choice for an olympic event than the Finn.

The Finn brings back memories ...i use to race one of those at our sailing club way back then

Yea Ben won again. Let it die already. I might have a different opinion if I wasn't 140lb.

+1

A good way to get the Finns out would be to get Ainslie on a race board

Yes, there are all sorts of things that could be done to make room for both kiters and windsurfers at the Olympics: take out the Finns, or the 470s (they have the 49ers), or ask the IOC for new medals, etc.

nope.....windsurfing is done.

Love your positive energy

November vote and court case r going to be interesting. I expect may industry people inc manufacturers are being cautious about investing too much cash right now into the expectation just in case decision reversed.

it is kind of weird kiting was chosen with no idea of kit, rules, course or discipline (eg slalom traditional course vs something new specific to kites) with kiters themselves still arguing over what to try next from the course side of things.

It really has put everything in limbo. Will that course board be worth 1/2 in 8 months or maybe a 1/4 due to it being defunct, and will you be able to choose from a quiver of boards prior to event based of condition forecast because right now there is no way one board will cover all conditions if you want to be a winner.

I think ISAF IKA partnership was the wrong choice and a top respected and respectable pro olympic kite racer should front up and go direct to IOC and explain the real life complications (not the IKA olympic report ones) of joining a kite power sport under the umbrella of sailing and do things properly. To have ISAF telling kiters what to do with regards to anything safety related is super dangerous - eg limiting kite choices prior to events.

Was it ISAF that imposed the 3-kites limit? I thought that was the IKA... Though there's always room for exceptions: I read that a 4th kite will be allowed at the World Championships this year if the wind exceeds 25 knots...

Gunnar recently said it was ISAF here, Marcus said it was IKA on facebook a while back I think. It is all very well to say kiteracing is a light wind sport in one country but the reality is that 3 kites is pretty inconsiderate of many countries safe riding conditions/ variance of conditions.