PKRA News:

The PKRA Confirms First Ever Visit to Egypt

The PKRA is thrilled to announce one of the most exciting tour stops for the 2013 season, in El Gouna, Egypt. Located on the Red Sea and famed for its resort feel, El Gouna will host the PKRA in true Egyptian style. This announcement comes with an official confirmation and plans to make this a certain highlight of the year.

Members of the Professional Kite Riders Association remain incredibly excited for this first time ever event, and look forward to enjoying the favorable conditions and cultural delights that this region is known to provide. In fact, this resort area has long specialized in watersports, and has become a destination of choice for many kitesurfers across the world. Parasailing, windsurfing, and snorkeling have also become major tourist attractions of the area.

In the meantime, the PKRA continues to work on the schedule for the upcoming 2013 season. Many familiar tour stops will comprise yet another exciting year, while new and sensational places will also emerge on the schedule. With anticipation high as both the riders and the organization looks forward another banner season, the amazing competition to come will surely continue to motivate athletes during this training period leading up to a new year.

Any insight on why this hasn't hapen sooner ?
I mean egypt has long time been known as good windriders destination, so why only now ?
Rgds
Nico

Money?

Money ?
"Members of the Professional Kite Riders Association remain incredibly excited for this first time ever event,..... "
Does this mean they are incredibly excited that they can even hold an event in these financial hard times ?
Egypt is a well known kite destination and has been since forever.
I am still baffled.
N

Nico for such a big event you need sponsors. Netherlands is a well known kiting destination with some of the best known kiters in the world and it wasn't until this year that there has been a PKRA event.

They don't choose their destinations by thinking "it is a nice place let's go there", but it is rather "we've got an invite from a sponsor, let's see if we can make things happen there".

So "for the riders, by the riders" is just eyewasch then.
My bubble is burst : )
Nico

yeah, good one Nico!

"for few riders by few riders"

Who in Egypt could put up a lot of money? Attracting normal tourists is easier and cheaper I guess.

But the El Gouna owner is very rich, and knows many kiters. So I guess someone gave him the idea to do it. For sure it is a good spot (tide depending), winds are ok, warm, awesome water. And close by with cheap flights. Always good for the riders who always pay on top.

South Africa should have PKRA as well, no? So should the US. But, is PKRA everything? I think the Triple SSS is one of the best events in the world!

The principle is not only to have big spenders in that specific country, or else it wouldn't have hapened in Mauritius either (KSP).
The quality of the conditions are also of prime importance fro the event to have any kind of impact.
It also depends a lot on the motivation of the local partners, the authorities insight on the potential of kiteing tourists, ,.... .

Nico

Ive noticed there is a pretty big turnover in locations for the PKRA. Each year seems to be about 50% different than the previous year.

You cannot compare PKRA and KSP !